The Hausas of the Sub-Saharan Africa
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The traditional Hajj route north and east of the Sahara is where most Hausas are found. They are the largest ethnic group in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hausas are a diverse but culturally homogeneous people based primarily in the Sahelian and the sparse savanna areas of southern Niger and northern Nigeria. A good number of Hausa's are also found in Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Chad, Sudan, and Central African Republic. They are also present in Republic of the Congo, Togo, Ghana, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Senegal and the Gambia.
The Hausa speak an Afro-Asiatic language of the Chadic group which is the most spoken indigenous African Language.
Daura, in northern Nigeria, is believed to be the oldest city of Hausaland. The Hausa of Gobir, also in northern Nigeria, speak the oldest surviving classical vernacular of the language. Historically, Katsina was the centre of Hausa Islamic scholarship but was later replaced by Sokoto stemming from the 19th century Usman Dan Fodio Islamic reform.
The Hausa are culturally and historically closest to other Sahelian ethnic groups, primarily the Fulani; the Zarma and Songhai; the Kanuri and Shuwa Arabs.
The people of Agadez and Saharan areas of central Niger, the Tuareg and the Hausa groups are indistinguishable from each other in their traditional clothing. They both wear the tagelmust and indigo Babban Riga or Gandora. But groups differ in language, lifestyle and preferred beasts of burden. Tuaregs use camels, while Hausas ride horses.
Hausas were famous throughout the Middle Ages for their cloth weaving and dyeing, cotton goods, leather sandals, metal locks, horse equipment and leather-working. They were often characterized by their Indigo blue dressing and emblems which earned them the nickname "bluemen".
Islam has been present in Hausaland as early as the 11th century - giving rise to famous native Sufi saints and scholars such as Wali Muhammad dan Masani and Wali Muhammad dan Marna in Katsina. By the 14th Century, Hausa traders were already spreading Islam across west Africa. The Sultan of Sokoto is regarded as an important Muslim spiritual and religious personality. His lineage connection to dan Fodio has continued to be recognised. One of the most significant Sultans was Siddiq Abubakar the third, who held the position for 50 years between 1938 and 1988.
Magudanci, an African Traditional Religion, was practised extensively before Islam. In the more remote areas of Hausaland, the people continue to practise Magudanci. Practices include the sacrifice of animals for personal ends, but it is not legitimate to practise Magudanci magic for harm. People of urbanized areas tend to retain a "cult of spirit possession," known as Bori. It incorporates the old religion's elements of African Traditional Religion and magic. A small Christian minority also exists among the Hausa.
The Hausa culture is rich in traditional sporting events such as Dambe or traditional boxing, Takkai or stick fight, Kokawa or local wrestling. These activities were originally organized to celebrate harvests but over the generations developed into sporting events for entertainment purposes.
The most common food prepared by Hausa people consists of grains which are ground into flour for a variety of different kinds of dishes. This food is popularly known as tuwo.
The most famous of all Hausa food is most likely Suya, a spicy shish kebab-like skewered meat. A dried version of Suya is called Kilishi.
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