Inside Kano’s Secret Party Paradise, Where Sharia Law Ends and Nigeria’s Wild Nightlife Begins
A tale of two cities exists within Kano, Nigeria's conservative northern state, where an invisible boundary separates strict Sharia law from a vibrant, unrestricted nightlife that rivals Lagos and Abuja. While the traditional city center observes Islamic law, the area known as Sabon Gari pulses with a different energy after dark. In the heart of Kano, it's easy to spot families gather for peaceful evening walks and shoppings. But cross into Sabon Gari, and you'll find a transformed landscape where clubs blast music until dawn, alcohol flows freely, and social restrictions fade away. This district has effectively become a "no-go zone" for the Hisbah (Islamic police), who elsewhere in Kano have made headlines for destroying bottles of alcohol and enforcing strict moral codes. "We have our own lifestyle here," explains a local nightclub owner at Club 47, dubbed the "London […]