The dye pits in Nigeria's ancient northern city of Kano are said to be the last ones of their kind after five centuries of existence. The preparation of the indigo dye takes up to a pungent month, then fabric is soaked for up to several hours for the darkest hues. The indigo dye pits use no chemicals, 50-year-old Lawan Ismailu explained. The effects are felt beyond the dye pits, said Idayat Hassan, director of the Center for Democracy and Development in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. Still, the indigo cloth continues to attract the rich and royal from the Kano emirate who have a taste for the past.

Source: Fox News February 21, 2019 09:11 UTC