By Jimoh Babatunde

Gidan Makama Museum or Kano Museum is situated in Kano. This building served as temporary palace of Kano before the current palace, Gidan Rumfa was constructed in the 15th century. It has significant collections of arts, crafts and items of historic interest related to the Kano area. Located in a 15th-century historical building which is recognised as a National Monument by government, the museum is divided into many galleries, each with their own centre of focus.

Galleries include the Zaure in the main entrance with displays of traditional materials, city walls and maps of Kano, the history of statehood, Kano in the 19th century, the Civil War, economy, industry and music.

Gidan Makama Museum is one of the thirty-two museums under the National Commission for Museums and Monuments. It is located in the heart of Kano Old City, opposite the Emir’s Palace. Gidan Makama (Makama’s House) is both a National Monument and a Museum. It is known for its traditional architectural excellence. It has superb historical and ethnographic collections on Kanawa civilization and Hausa land in general.

Gidan Makama was built in the 15th Century A.D by Emir Abdullahi Burja as residential complex for Rumfa, his grandson. Prince Rumfa was later appointed Makaman Kano, heir apparent to the Emir. This explains why the house is referred to as Gidan Makama, though some prefer to refer to it as Gidan Rumfa. When Rumfa moved to his new palace, subsequent Makamas continued to use the complex as their official residence, a situation that more or less persists till date.