Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hausa
The dominant cultural group in northern Nigeria (Hausaland), the Hausa (with 27 million
in Nigeria and almost six million in Niger) have played an important role in West African
history. From their bases in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zaria, the Hausa developed a repu-
tation as a fiercely independent mercantile people, with Islam the dominant force. This mix
of spiritual devotion and worldliness means that you'll likely see Quranic script alongside
symbols of modern technology, such as bicycles and aeroplanes, in the mud-relief patterns
on house walls in the old quarters of Nigerian towns such as Kano and Zaria.
The emirs of the Hausa states are known for the pomp with which they live and travel.
Their bodyguards traditionally wear chain mail, carry spears and ride strikingly capar-
isoned horses, while attendants on foot wear red turbans, and brilliant red-and-green robes.
Except on ceremonial occasions, especially during the Islamic festivals of Eid al-Kebir (Ta-
baski) and Eid al-Fitr, these days you'll more likely see an emir riding through town in a
large American car, with the horn sounding - very Nigeria.
Although the city states, caliphates and trappings of power of Hausaland are what
brought the group its renown, rural communities are the bedrock of Hausa society. Many
rural Hausa farm grains, cotton and groundnuts; sacks of groundnuts stacked in pyramids
are one of the distinctive sights of many Hausa markets.
More than half of the almost 280 million West Africans are Nigerians. The numbers of Yoruba, Hausa or
Igbo alone each exceed the national population of every other national country.
