The northern Nigerian city of Kano, 
which dates back to the eighth 
century, has a population of about 
one million. Reflecting the Islamic 
custom of keeping married women in 
seclusion, mud-brick walls surround 
every house or compound. 
Two girls carrying bowls of cooked 
food stop to talk in the street. Free 
from the rules of purdah, children 
move in and out of their own and 
other people’s houses. Women 
depend on them to sell food or other 
goods prepared at home. 
