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Currency & Trade Site

Kurmi Market (Historic Trade Hub)

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About

Kurmi Market in Kano is one of the oldest continually operating markets in West Africa, dating to at least the 15th century. It served as a terminus for trans-Saharan trade caravans dealing in gold, salt, kola nuts, textiles, and enslaved people. The market was a major hub for currency exchange, where cowrie shells, gold dust, and later Maria Theresa thalers circulated.

Location Details

Latitude: 11.9933
Longitude: 8.525

Exact (town level)

About This Data

Currency and trade sites represent locations associated with pre-colonial Nigerian economic systems and trade networks.

Locations are based on historical trade route documentation and archaeological evidence.

Sources

  • Kano Chronicle

    Historical Record

  • Nigerian Trade History Documentation

    Academic (compiled)

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