Hausa Kingdoms facts for kids
The Hausa Kingdoms, also known as Hausaland, was a group of states created by the Hausa people. These states were located between the Niger River and Lake Chad, in what is now northern Nigeria. Hausaland was positioned between the powerful kingdoms of Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to the west, and the Kanem-Bornu kingdom to the east.
Hausaland grew into an important political and cultural area during the first thousand years CE. This happened as Hausa people moved westward into the region. When they arrived, the land was changing from forests to open grasslands (savannah). They began growing grains, which helped more people live there. The Hausa people shared a common language, laws, and customs. They were skilled in fishing, hunting, farming, salt-mining, and working with metal.
By the 14th century, Kano became the strongest city-state. It was a major center for trade across the Sahara Desert, dealing in salt, cloth, leather, and grain. The history of the Hausa people is often told through the Bayajidda legend. This story tells about a hero from Baghdad named Bayajidda. He killed a snake in the well of Daura and then married the local queen, Magajiya Daurama. The legend says he had a son named Bawo with the queen and another son named Karbagari with her maid.
Even though the seven Hausa states shared the same family background, language, and culture, they often fought fiercely with each other. Each state wanted to be the most powerful. They constantly went to war and sometimes even worked with invaders against their sister states. This stopped them from becoming a stronger, united force.
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The Story of Bayajidda
The Bayajidda legend explains how the Hausa states were founded. It says they were started by the sons and grandsons of Bayajidda. Bayajidda was a prince whose exact origin varies in different stories. However, the most common version says he married Daurama, the last queen of Daura. His marriage marked the end of the time when queens ruled the Hausa people.
The most famous part of the story tells how "Abu Yazid," a prince from Baghdad, arrived in Daura. He asked an old woman for water, but she told him about a big problem. The only well in Daura, called Kusugu, was guarded by a snake named Sarki. This snake only allowed people to get water on Fridays. Since "Sarki" means "King" in Hausa, it might have been a way to describe a powerful ruler. Bayajidda bravely killed the snake. Because of his courage, the queen married him. After his marriage, people started calling him Bayajidda, which means "he didn't understand (the language) before."
The Seven True Hausa States
The Hausa Kingdoms began with seven main states. According to the Bayajidda legend, these states were founded by Bawo and his six sons. Bawo was the son of Bayajidda and Queen Magajiya Daurama. Another son of Bayajidda, Biram or Ibrahim, from an earlier marriage, also founded a state. These seven states were home to Hausa-speaking people:
From the very beginning of Hausa history, these seven states divided up their work based on where they were located and what natural resources they had. For example, Kano and Rano were known for their indigo dye. Cotton grew well in their flat lands, so they became the main producers of cloth. They would weave and dye the cloth, then send it by caravans to other Hausa states and beyond. Biram was the first capital. Zaria was known for providing workers. Katsina and Daura were important market centers because they were close to the trade routes coming from the desert in the north. Gobir, located in the west, was known as the "Chief of War." Its main job was to protect the Hausa lands from invaders like the kingdoms of Ghana and Songhai.
Other Hausa States
The Bayajidda legend also mentions other states, sometimes called "Banza Bakwai" or "bastard/bogus seven." These states were founded by the seven sons of Karbagari. Karbagari was the son of Bayajidda and a slave-maid named Bagwariya. They were called "Banza" because of their mother's slave status.
- Zamfara (a state with Hausa-speakers)
- Kebbi (a state with Hausa-speakers)
- Yauri (also called Yawuri)
- Gwari (also called Gwariland)
- Kwararafa (the state of the Jukun people)
- Nupe (the state of the Nupe people)
A Brief History of Hausaland
When the Hausa Kingdoms Were Strongest
The Hausa Kingdoms were first mentioned in writings around the 9th century. By the 15th century, they had become important trading centers. They even competed with the Kanem-Bornu and the Mali Empire. The main goods they traded were slaves, leather, gold, cloth, salt, kola nuts, animal hides, and henna.
At different times, the Hausa states tried to unite under one central power, but this unity never lasted long. In the 11th century, Gijimasu of Kano led conquests that created the first united Hausa Nation, but it was short-lived.
During the rule of King Yaji I (1349–1385), the religion of Islam first came to Kano. Many Muslim traders and religious leaders came from Mali, the Volta region, and later from Songhay. King Yaji appointed a judge (Qadi) and a prayer leader (Imam) to help run the state. Later, Muhammad Rumfa (1463–1499) built mosques and religious schools. He also asked a scholar named Muhammad al-Maghili to write a guide on how to govern according to Muslim laws. Many other scholars came from Egypt, Tunis, and Morocco. This made Kano a major center for Islamic learning.
Islam helped trade grow and created a larger network for buying and selling goods. Religious scholars (Ulama) provided legal help, safety, and introductions for traders. By the end of the 15th century, Muhammad al-Korau, a religious leader, took control of Katsina and declared himself king. Scholars were also brought to Katsina from North Africa and Egypt. A group of scholars grew under the king's support. Hausa rulers observed Ramadan, built mosques, performed the five daily prayers, and gave money to the poor (zakat). Ibrahim Maje (1549–1566) was a reformer who introduced Islamic marriage laws in Katsina. Generally, Hausaland remained split between the Muslim city leaders and the rural communities who followed local traditional beliefs.
During this time, a traveler named Leo Africanus wrote about the political and economic situation of Hausaland in his book Descrittione dell’Africa. It's not known if he actually visited Hausaland, but he mentioned that it seemed to be under the control of Songhai. For example, he wrote that the king of Zamfara was killed by the Songhai ruler, and the people became their subjects.
The Decline of the Hausa Kingdoms
Even though the Hausa states grew steadily from the 15th to the 18th century, they were constantly weakened by wars, both among themselves and with outside groups. By the 18th century, they were tired from fighting and struggling economically. Famines became very common during this time, and the rulers (Sultans) collected heavy taxes to pay for their wars.
Although most people in Hausaland were Muslim, by the 19th century, they were conquered. This conquest was led by a mix of Fulani warriors and Hausa farmers. The reasons given for the conquest included a mix of religious practices (syncretism) and unfair social conditions. By 1808, the Hausa states were finally taken over by Usuman dan Fodio and became part of the Hausa-Fulani Sokoto Caliphate.
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