By Junaidu Danladi
Yesterday Saturday 17th January 2026 on my way coming back to Kano from Ile-Ife after attending a two-day Energy and Environment in Nigeria Workshop organized by the York University, Canada and the Harriet Tubman Institute held at Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, I received a shocking news of the demise of Alhaji Bature Abdul’aziz.
Alhaji Salisu Abdul’aziz popularly known as Bature Abdul’aziz Mai Gwanjo was born in 1950 at Adakawa quarters in Kano city. His father Malam Abdul’aziz hailed from Hadejia in present Jigawa state. Unlike many of the prominent Kano traders that came from trading families, Alhaji Bature belong to the family of scholarship. His father Malam Abdul’aziz was an erudite Islamic scholar that devoted most of his life in learning and teaching Islamic scholarship.
Alhaji Bature started business career first as a groundnut agent buying groundnut from some rural areas of Kano for Alhaji Sunusi Dantata and later served under his major business mentor, Sharif Abdu Basakkwace of Adakawa quarters. Sharif Abdu was a prominent textiles trader who introduced Alhaji Bature to the textile business. After acquiring some capital, he started selling of used clothes (Gwanjo) in Sabon Gari Market in Kano.
Although, he was into so many business activities such as selling of cement in Lagos (1975-1978), textile trading in Kantin Kwari Market from 1988, Alhaji Bature was mostly known for his used clothes trading. That was why he was called Mai Gwanjo.
Alhaji Bature died yesterday Saturday 17th January 2026 at the age of 76.
Alhaji Bature was one of my key informants during my research on the history of Kantin Kwari Market. I first met him in May 2013 in the office of the late Professor Dahiru Yahya. After a little introduction, he accepted my request to interview him on Kantin Kwari Market and other related issues. We met at his home-office along Hadejia road on 22nd June 2013. After entering the office, I noticed that the office was decorated with numerous awards he received from different traders, students and community associations. Having realized my curiosity, he explained to me how these associations recognized his efforts.
In that interview, he was able to give a lot of data that was very useful to my research. In fact, he gave the data more than what I wanted. I was so excited for this because many traders even below his rank refused to accept my interview for reasons best known to them!
As a trader-activist, he was very instrumental in the formation and development of different traders’ unions such as National Harmonized Traders Union (NAHATU), Kano State Traders Union (KASTU) and Kantin Kwari Traders Association. In all the above associations he served as chairman.
In my interview with him, I realized how he and other traders’ leaders struggled to ensure the protection of the interest of indigenous traders especially in the wake of external “domination” of Kantin Kwari Market.
Alhaji Bature will be remembered for his numerous contributions to the development of Nigerian economy especially in the promotion of trading and industries.
As we mourn this great loss, it is very important for other traders to emulate his good example for a better society.
Finally, let me call on his family and other associates to look at the possiblity of documenting his illustrious life in form of a book for posterity. Students like me and other esteemed scholars will be willing to actualize this good effort.
Allah Ya gafartawa Chairman.
Junaidu Danladi
Department of History
Bayero University Kano.
