Throwback: Inside Kano’s 1988 Dan-Daodu Male Prostitution Trade

In 1988, four streets in Sabon-Gari, Kano were known for dingy hotels and brothels. Freetown, Abadina and Santigiwa stood side by side, with Weatherhead just 600 metres away. A unique feature set this district apart. The prostitutes wore light make-up, feminine clothes and spoke in high voices—but they were all male. Known locally as dan-daodus, they sold their bodies to men for cash rather than pleasure. Most dan-daodus were young men aged 14 and above. Some paid ten naira a day for a tiny hotel room. Others waited on the streets from dusk, hunting for customers. Hotel rules often forced clients to take them elsewhere. When work was slow, these young men sometimes acted as intermediaries for female sex workers. They earned five to ten naira commissions by introducing clients to girls they knew. Many said poverty drove them into the trade.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.