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English: The Kano Durbar is a fantastic festival and procession held regularly in Kano, Nigeria. Featured in the processions are thousands of horsemen in antique ceremonial gear - the horses wearing ornate bridles and saddles; the men in billowing colorful robes and turbans. According to this article, the durbar was encouraged by the British during colonial times as a way of redirecting the efforts of warring factions into a unified ceremonial event. The durbars are held on major Muslim holidays, but also staged for special occasions, such as visits by important dignitaries. The northern part of Nigeria, where Kano is located, is a Muslim area, and the horse culture reflects a mix northern African and native Nigerian styles (Islam spread into Nigeria from its origins in Arabia via the Saharan trade routes).