List of the major Hausa states in Nigeria and their unique heritage
The Hausa people are among the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, with a history and cultural hubs that extend to other African regions. Although there is no Nigerian state that is 100% Hausa, states like Bauchi, Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara are widely recognised as majority strongholds due to their large Hausa-speaking populations. Professor Moses Ochonu, an expert in African history, explains that the Hausa heritage is defined by a unique blend of linguistic dominance, cross-border influence, and traditional emirates.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- List of Major Hausa States in Nigeria Today
- Historical background of Hausa states
- What defines a “Hausa state”?
- Common misconceptions about Hausa states in Nigeria
- How Hausa culture extends to other Pan-African countries
- The role of the Emirate: do they still matter?
- What are the 14 Hausa states?
- What are the 7 Hausa states?
- How many Hausa states are in Nigeria today?
- In which countries is Hausa dominant?
- Which part of Nigeria is Hausa?
Key takeaways
- Hausa is one of the most culturally unified ethnic groups in Nigeria.
- Historically, Hausa states were divided into two categories: Hausa Bakwai (the true Hausa states) and Banza Bakwai (the satellite states).
- Today, several northern Nigerian states are predominantly Hausa-speaking and remain central to Hausa heritage.
- While centuries of intermarriage have created mixed ancestry, Hausa and Fulani are distinct ethnic groups with unrelated languages and unique cultural origins.
- The Hausa heritage not only includes Muslims and Christians but also traditionalists known as Maguzawa.
List of Major Hausa States in Nigeria Today
Today, the Hausa people dominate much of northern Nigeria. While no state is 100% Hausa, the following are widely recognised as major Hausa strongholds due to their large Hausa-speaking populations:
- Bauchi state
- Borno state
- Kano state
- Katsina state
- Plateau state
- Taraba state
- Niger state
- Adamawa state
- Kaduna state
- Sokoto state
- Jigawa state
- Kebbi state
- Zamfara state
These states remain the cultural, political, and economic centres of the Hausa tribe in Nigeria.
Source: UGC
Historical background of Hausa states
Before Nigeria’s creation, the Hausa were already organised into well-structured kingdoms. These kingdoms were divided into two groups:
Hausa Bakwai (The Seven True Hausa states)
The original Hausa states, believed to be founded by Bawo and his six sons, were regarded as the true Hausa kingdoms. They include:
- Daura
- Kano
- Katsina
- Zaria (Zazzau)
- Gobir
- Rano
- Biram
These states were purely Hausa-speaking and represented the heart of Hausa civilisation.
Banza Bakwai (The Seven Satellite states)
Another group of states was linked to the Hausa through conquest or intermarriage. These were not considered “true Hausa” but were heavily influenced by Hausa culture. They include:
- Zamfara
- Kebbi
- Yauri (Yawuri)
- Gwari (Gwariland)
- Kwararafa (Jukun territory)
- Nupe
- Ilorin (sometimes included, depending on historical interpretations)
Source: UGC
What defines a “Hausa state”?
When people talk about Hausa states today, they often mean different things. According to Moses Ochonu, a Professor of Modern African History at Vanderbilt University, popular references to Hausa states usually fall into two main interpretations:
- Viewing all Northern states as Hausa states: Many people, particularly from Southern Nigeria, incorrectly label the entire Northern Nigeria as Hausa. This reference is often based on the assumption of a “monolithic north where everyone is Hausa and Hausa is everyone’s first language and a regional lingua franca.”
- Viewing Hausa states by historical and cultural roots: For some others who are familiar with the historical geography of Northern Nigeria, they reference Hausa land as the Northwest states where Hausa people remain the majority.
Common misconceptions about Hausa states in Nigeria
Professor Ochonu shares four common myths about the Hausa heritage that must be corrected:
- Not all Hausa speakers are Hausa people: Not every Hausa speaker is ethnic Hausa. Many use it as a second language, and also because it “facilitates trade and cross-cultural interactions in most parts of Northern Nigeria.”
- Not everyone from Northern Nigeria is Hausa: Being from the North does not make one automatically Hausa or a Hausa speaker. For example, most people from middle belt states like Benue, Kogi, and Kwara do not speak Hausa.
- Not all Hausa people are Muslims: While most ethnic Hausa people are Muslims, there are also many Hausa Christians, including traditionalists known as Maguzawa. “In states like Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Kaduna, where almost everyone speaks Hausa as either first or second language, Christians are either the majority or are a significant minority.”
- Hausa and Fulani are not the same: Although these two ethnic groups have intermarried for centuries, they remain distinct and even live in separate communities in many Northern states. “The languages are not even related and belong to different language families; There are Fulani people who do not speak Hausa, although most of them do. And very few Hausa people speak Fulfulde.”
How Hausa culture extends to other Pan-African countries
Hausa is the second most widely spoken African language across the continent after Swahili, and its influence creates a “Pan-African consciousness” that stretches beyond Nigerian borders. Professor Ochonu explains that this widespread phenomenon has helped build the following:
- Strong cross-border trade networks: There are Hausa diasporas in several West and Central African countries that were largely products of Hausa merchants’ trading activities across many countries.
- Pan-African Hausa identity: The presence of Hausa-speaking people in several countries across West Africa forms a sense among Nigerian Hausa people that they are connected to or are part of a large continental Hausa demography and culture.
- Media ecosystem: Major international broadcast brands such as BBC, VOA, Deutsche Welle, and CGTN have established Hausa desks that produce and disseminate news and non-news content to audiences in several African countries. Also, within Nigeria, Hausa print and broadcast media, social media, films, and music continue to strengthen cultural ties among Hausa speakers.
These media forms forge solidarity and identity based on a common language and shared cultural idioms, further constructing a Hausa consciousness that transcends state boundaries in Nigeria and national boundaries in Africa.
The role of the Emirate: do they still matter?
Despite not having any constitutional authority, the Emirates still play an important social and cultural role in Nigeria. Professor Ochonu said:
The emirates and emirs retain a symbolic role as rallying points of the pride and historical memory of the people in their domains. They are custodians of culture and Islamic authority.
In practice, emirs and their subordinate rulers, such as district and village heads:
- Help resolve conflicts at the local level.
- Presides over family legal and land-related matters.
These roles they perform “complement the role of government, helping to form a local layer of governance, and often serve as a first line of defence against disorder and conflict.”
What are the 14 Hausa states?
The 14 Hausa states are traditionally divided into the Hausa Bakwai (7 true Hausa states) and the Banza Bakwai (7 satellite states), making them 14.
What are the 7 Hausa states?
The 7 Hausa states, known as Hausa Bakwai, are Daura, Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Gobir, Rano, and Biram.
How many Hausa states are in Nigeria today?
About 13 northern states are predominantly Hausa-speaking, though Hausa people can also be found across other parts of the country.
In which countries is Hausa dominant?
Beyond Nigeria, the Hausa language and culture are dominant in Niger and are also spoken widely in Chad, Cameroon, Benin, and parts of Ghana and Sudan.
Which part of Nigeria is Hausa?
The Hausa people are concentrated in the northern region of Nigeria, particularly in states like Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto.
The major Hausa states in Nigeria represent a rich blend of history, culture, and heritage that continues to shape the country’s northern region. From the ancient Hausa Bakwai kingdoms to the modern Hausa-dominated states, the Hausa people remain a cornerstone of Nigeria’s identity and influence across West Africa.
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Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
Mary Ugbodaga (Lifestyle Journalist) Mary Ugbodaga is a Legit.ng journalist with 7 years of experience in journalism and media communications. She graduated from Covenant University in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies. Mary previously worked as a journalist at TheCable, CNBC AFRICA, Voice of Nigeria, KPMG Nigeria. Email: mary.ugbodaga@corp.legit.ng.
