Onono Onimisi Rafatu, a writer and founder of the Onono Onimisi foundation, has challenged deep-seated misconceptions about the indigenous people of Kano State, calling for greater cultural respect and understanding.
In a statement titled “Misconception About the Indigenous People of Kano State,” issued on Thursday, Onono, who hails from Kogi State, debunked stereotypes that portray Kano residents as illiterate and culturally intolerant.
According to Onono, two major misconceptions dominate perceptions of Kano people: that they lack education and are cultural bigots.
“Many hold onto these views, such that when they meet educated Hausa individuals, they question their origins, which is debasing and fosters an inferiority complex,” she said.
She highlighted the contributions of Kano’s educated elites, who have represented Nigeria admirably in various fields, as proof against these claims.
Onono described the widespread nature of these stereotypes as “cantankerous,” particularly the assumption that Kano people’s pride in their language equates to poor command of British English.
She also addressed the misuse of the term “Aboki,” often taken to mean illiterate, when it actually means “friend” in Hausa. “It’s embarrassing when a Kano person is labelled this way,” she remarked.
Emphasising the need for cultural sensitivity, Onono advised visitors and residents to respect Kano’s traditions to fully enjoy the historic city.
“If you find it hard to adapt, areas like Sabon Gari or Jaba Axis, home to people from southern, eastern, and western Nigeria, offer more flexibility,” she noted. However, in Kano’s indigenous communities, respecting local customs is essential, she added.
Reflecting on her own experience as a non-indigene, Onono shared how she initially faced challenges adapting to Kano’s cultural norms.
“I wore body-tight clothes, and children and Almajiris giggled at me,” she recalled. Her guardian later explained the importance of culturally appropriate dress, and with time, Onono adjusted.
“I adapted, and it made all the difference,” she said.
