Why Chinese Man Mike Zhang Was Crowned Chief In Kano State, Nigeria

Chinese trader, Mike Zhang was made Chief of Chinese community in Kano state last April.

Zhang was turbaned in an effort Scooper gathered was aimed at enhancing business between the Chinese and Kano indigenes including resolving trade disputes.

According to a statement by Sa’adatu Baba-Ahmad,  the Emir's spokesman, lack of organised leadership makes it difficult to solve conflicts that emanate from business transactions between Chinese and Kano traders.

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II

By this appointment, Zhang, will be referred to as “Wakilin Yan China” following his turbaning on April 25 at the Emir’s palace in Kano.

He is responsible for the proper management of the Chinese community and he would act as their representative in the Kano royalty in times of need.

Baba-Ahmad clarified  that the instalment was very similar to that of ‘Sarkin Inyamurai’, chief of Igbo residents in Kano and ‘Sarkin Yarabawa’, chief of Yoruba residents in Kano and was a move to establish a peaceful coexistence between non-indigenes and their host.

He maintained that Zhang's appointment became necessary due to the rapid increase of Chinese businessmen in Kano who did not have proper representation and trading union.

"The rise in Chinese traders has caused several conflicts between the Chinese and Kano traders and this is a problem the Emir wants to solve to prevent a more complicated situation in the near future," he said.