The popular and historic 525-year-old Kano dyeing pit situated in the ancient Kofar Mata area in Kano State is currently facing extinction. In a recent visit to the once fascinating, ever-busy dyeing pit, our correspondent observed that it is now in shambles.The Kofar Mata dyeing centre was established in 1498 by Muhammadu Dabosa, who came to settle in Kano from Rimaye in the present day Katsina State.
Speaking on the situation, the secretary of the centre, Haruna Baffa, said the act was on purpose despite that it didn't look healthy. "A lot of tourists come to us from all over the world to have a look at how we operate and how we have managed the use of the same method we inherited to produce such textile materials with excellent quality," he said.
The dyeing business has continued to suffer neglect from successive governments as those in it complain of lack of support and encouragement from the authorities concerned, as well as the coming of the Chinese into the business. "However, insecurity, particularly in the North, have been a key contributor to the decline in our business as these people no longer feel safe to come. We know it was not always like this; and we are hopeful that soon, this shall become history.
"It was with the coming of this new administration that everything changed, but we are hoping that everything would go back to how it used to be and even more.