The emergence of central political authority in Kano was closely associated with the foundation of birni (city) Kano itself. This was like other Hausa states where the birane (cities) were the centers of political authority. These cities developed as a result of immigration of diverse groups who have no kinship relationship and were integrated gradually displacing authorities whose power depended on kinship loyalties.

It has been suggested that political authority in Hausaland evolved from farming family groups whose farms were very close to their homes and they were separated by waste-lands. These separate settlements were called kauyuka or unguwoyi (sing. kauye, unguwa). It was further suggested that authority was of two types family and communal. The communal authority was vested in the sarki (ruler) which was recognized for specific purposes. Especially farming which was the backbone of the economy. The sarkin noma (king of farming) coordinated all the farming activities including the religious rituals for rains. The head of the family unit regulated all other affairs not related to agriculture. The kauye was a collection of these independent family units gidaje (sing. gida) each headed by the maigida (family head). The society expanded as a result of immigration of families who were not related to each other, unguwoyi and kauyuka merged and became towns garuruwa (sing. gari). The community leader of the gari was known as sarkin gari who was assisted by ward heads masu ungwuwani (sing. mai unguwa). As the town developed the authority of the sarki became expanded beyond the farmland with diminishing emphasis on kinship since most of the immigrants were not related.

The birni (city) evolved from the gari (town). The birni of antiquity was cosmopolitan; it was an urban center with a considerably large population of diverse groups who lack kinship relations with one and the other. Economic factors were responsible for the growth of birane (sing. birni) of ancient Hausaland, because only buoyant economy could support a large population. Agriculture supported by fertile soil was the mainstay of the economy. The iron industry also supported agriculture by producing farm implements. Dutsen Dala, which was an iron site, was the foundation of Kano the greatest of all Hausa birane. Birnin Kano became the nucleus of fertile Kasar (country of) Kano. Trade and religious attraction was contributed to the growth of Kano. Dutsen Dala and Kurmin Jakara both located in Birnin Kano were centers of iskokai (spirits) adored by the ancient Hausas. Barbushe the first known Sarkin Kano was a chief priest of Tsumburbura which were also iskokai. For any birni to flourish it needed security thus another very important feature of any birni of ancient Hausaland was the ganuwa (city wall) which was a fortification. It has been suggested that this security of the birane was an essential element in their emergence as centers of "unusual political power". The emergence of states in Hausaland appeared to have been linked with the foundation of birane as these centers of political power.

Political authority is closely associated with class distinction. In Hausaland members of the ruling class were known as masu sarauta and the talakawa are the commoners. The sarki was the head of the sarauta and also the head of state and all the state officials were masu sarauta. The office of the sarki (king) was dynastic and in Kano throughout the pre-jihad era it was vested in the family of Bagauda. The masu sarauta were fief holders given to them by the sarki for their loyalty. The system was complex and it took several years to develop. The most important innovation was the creation of the Tara ta Kano (literarily Kano nine) by Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Rumfa. This was the Council of State made up of the senior state officials: galadima, madaki and wambai (always a slave) who were considered greater than the sarki, followed by makama, sarkin jarumai and sarkin bai (always a slave) who were considered equal to the sarki and the last three who considered less than the sarki were: barde, sarkin dawakin tsakar gida and turaki. The Tara ta Kano underwent several transformations during the pre-Jihad period as explained by Fika (1978) and Temple (1909). For example barde and turaki were later expelled and replaced by dan iya and ciroma respectively  

One of the functions of the Tara ta Kano might have been the selection of the new sarki from amongst the ‘yan sarki (sons of the King). It has been reported that the sarki always feared the consensus of the members of Tara ta Kano (Ado-Kurawa 1989). Some members of the sarauta had specific functions for example sarkin kasuwa was in charge of the market, the sarkin kofa was the official gate keeper. These and some other titles later became less important. The sarakuna of important towns such as Gaya, Birnin Kudu, Dutse, Bebeji and Ringim were later incorporated into the sarauta. Rano also later lost its independence and became part of Kano. During the emirate period these sarakuna were relegated to the status of manyan dagatai (territorial chiefs) and they were considered below other hakimi (title holders) in precedence and they became vassals of the powerful hakimi who were resident in the city. There were also sarauta titles that were reserved for royal slaves throughout the history of Kano for example shamaki, dan rimi, salama, kasheka, turakin soro and kilishi while other titles were later converted from royal slave titles to the nobility.

The first Islamic scholar who lived in Kano and wrote a political treatise in Arabic was perhaps Shaykh Muhammad bn Abd al-Karim al-Maghili. He was in Kano during the reign of Sarki Rumfa (1463-99). He was a great Maliki Jurist and political theorist. He wrote Ta'’if fi ma yajib al-Muluk (The obligation of the Princes) (Baldwin 1932) and Mukhtasar mimma yajuz li ’l-hukkam fi radd al-nas an al-haram (summary of permissability of turning away people from unlawful acts by those in authority) (Palmer 1915) to guide Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Rumfa. It is not clear whether he wrote his al-Mughni al-nabil fi sharh Mukhtasar al-Khalil (A commentary on Mukhtasar Khalil) in Kano. Muhammad b. Ahmad (a.k.a. Aida Ahmad) (824-936AH/1469-1529CE) is said to have resided in Kano and other parts of Hausaland he was an author and contemporary of al-Maghili. He was given ijaza (certificate) to teach by some scholars in Egypt and Hijaz and he wrote a commentary on the Mukhtasar. He may have taught in Kano before he became the Qadi (judge) of Katsina. Another Maliki Jurist who resided in Kano during the Baguadawa period was Makhluf al-Bilbali apart from his knowledge of Fiqh he was also a Muhadith (scholar of Prophetic traditions) he had memorized the Sahih al-Bukhari. Some of his judgments and legal views have been documented.