Located at the Kofar Mata Gate at the edge of the Old City, these ancient indigo dye pits are one of Kano's most vivid sights. Lengths of cloth hang drying from wooden frames while workers pound the fabric in deep pits filled with a fermented indigo solution. You can watch from the walkway above or buy finished cloth directly from the craftsmen.
Kofar Mata Dye Pits
Ancient indigo dye pits in use since 1498
A story
The pits at Kofar Mata have been in continuous operation since 1498, making them the oldest surviving dye pits in Africa. The dyeing process — indigo-soaked cloth beaten and stretched by hand — has not changed in over 500 years.