When the Guests Outdance the Hosts: Reverse Acculturation in Sabon Gari Kano

This study investigates the dynamics of acculturation in Sabon Gari, Kano – a historic migrant settlement established during British colonial railway construction in 1911. Challenging conventional acculturation theories, the research reveals a paradoxical cultural assimilation pattern where the Hausa host culture has been significantly influenced by migrant communities, contrary to initial hypotheses. Through archival analysis of Bako's (2006) historical work and contemporary interviews, the study employs Unidirectional Acculturation Theory to examine this unexpected cultural reversal. Findings demonstrate that migrant cultures have dominated the area's social fabric despite Kano's status as a preeminent Hausa city, suggesting the need to reconsider traditional acculturation models in artificially created urban spaces. The paper concludes by advocating for expanded research on how such cultural enclaves influence broader metropolitan identity formation.