Overview
Kajuru Castle is a privately built stone castle in the Kajuru area of Kaduna State, in the North West zone. It is a modern building in medieval European style, unusual in Nigeria, and it operates as private accommodation rather than as a public monument.
History
The castle was built in the late twentieth century by a German expatriate resident in Nigeria, constructed in stone with towers, battlements and vaulted interiors in imitation of a European castle. It was a private residence before being opened for paying guests and events, and it has since changed hands. The building has no connection to the pre-colonial fortifications of northern Nigeria, and it should not be confused with the historic earth walls of cities such as Kano; its interest is architectural and contemporary.
What to expect
The building sits on high ground in the hills south of Kaduna, and its stonework, courtyard and towers are the reason people come. It is run as private accommodation, so access is arranged in advance rather than by turning up, and the surrounding roads are rural. Current booking and access information should be checked directly, since arrangements have changed with ownership.
Connected history or culture
The castle stands in a state whose deeper history runs through the emirates covered under traditional institutions and the sculpture described on the Nok terracotta page, found in this same part of the country.