Earlyface

Hausa
The Hausa are people found mostly in the West
African regions of northern Nigeria and southeastern
Niger. They are also found in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire,
Cameroon, Sudan, and Chad and smaller
communities scattered throughout West Africa and
across the Sahara. They speak the Hausa language
and they are culturally close to the Fulani, Mande
Songhai, and Tuareg as well as other groups in Chad.
Hausa people established a number of strong states
in Eastern Niger, Northern and Central Nigeria. They
took control of the Central and Northern Nigeria
from the Nok and Sokoto, who were previously
controlling the area. They gradually became a strong
force to reckon with in Africa by the 1100 CE.
The Fulani, an African ethnic group, invaded the
Hausa states 1810. The similarities in Hausa and
Fulani culture allowed for significant integration
between the two groups, who in modern times are
often referred to as “Hausa-Fulani” instead of the
individual groups.
The Hausa language has more native speakers than
any other language in the Sub-Saharan Africa. The
main area where Hausa is been spoken is the
northern Nigeria and Republic of Niger. Hausa is also
widely spoken in northern Ghana, northern
Cameroon, and other major West African cities.
In terms of numbers, Hausa is one of the world’s
major languages, and its widespread use in many
West Africa countries makes it probably the most
useful single language in the region. The study of
Hausa provides one of the most informative entrees
into the world of Islam in West Africa. The influence
of Hausa language on other Islamic languages in
West African is apparent. Many cultural practices of
Hausa such as dressings and food are shared by
other Islamic communities due to the dominant
position which Hausa language and culture have held
for long.
They have a very restricted dressing code due to their
religious beliefs. The men are easily recognized for
their elaborate dress which is usually a large flowing
gown known as Baba Riga and a robe called ‘Jalabia’.
The female mostly wear wrappers made with
colourful cloth with a matching blouse, head tie and
shawl.
The most common Hausa foods are made of grains
such as sorghum, millet, rice, or maize which are
ground into flour for different kinds of food. The
flour food is popularly known as ‘Tuwo’ in the Hausa
language. The Hausa prefer to eat bean cakes known
as ‘Kosai’ and a porridge that looks like pap known as
‘Koko’ as breakfast.

Hausa Women
Hausa have an ancient culture that had a wide
coverage area. They have long ties with the Arabs
and other Islamic peoples in West Africa, such as the
Mandé, Fulani and the Wolof through extended long
distance trade.
The Hausa people have been an important factor for
the spread of Islam in West Africa. Then rural regions
retained their animist beliefs while their urban
leaders welcomed both Islamic and African traditions
to make their ruling legitimate. Scholars of Islam in
the nineteenth century rejected the hybridized
religion practiced in royal courts, which brought up a
desire for reform that lead to the formation of the
Sokoto Caliphate. After the formation of this state,
Islam became firmly entrenched in rural areas.
One of the animist religions practiced extensively by
the Hausa before Islam was Maguzawa. The religion
has remained fully intact in the rural areas of Hausa
land. It often includes the sacrifice of animals for
personal ends. It is believed that the practice of
Maguzawa magic for harm is illegal