Hausa City-States: 7 Independent Kingdoms

The Hausa City-States Were Never a Single Empire

On January 1, 1804, Usman dan Fodio led a successful jihad in the city of Gobir, marking a significant turning point in the history of the Hausa city-states. Historian Murray Last notes that this event took place in the region now known as northern Nigeria. The Hausa city-states were a collection of independent kingdoms that shared a common language.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Hausa city-states were a single, unified empire that existed from the 14th to the 19th century. The standard story goes that these city-states were connected by their shared language and culture, and that they often worked together to achieve common goals. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complex history of the region, ignoring the many instances of conflict and competition between the city-states.

What History Actually Shows

Historian John Hunwick argues that the Hausa city-states were, in fact, seven independent kingdoms that spoke the same language, with their own distinct systems of government and commerce. In 1450, the city-state of Kano was a major center of trade, while in 1513, the city-state of Katsina was a significant hub of Islamic learning. According to the Kano Chronicle, a primary document written in the 19th century, the city-state of Kano was founded in 999 by Bagauda, a Hausa king. The Hausa language was a key factor in the development of a common identity among the city-states, despite their independence. Historian Philip Shea notes that the Hausa language was used as a lingua franca throughout the region, facilitating trade and communication between the city-states. In 1730, the city-state of Zaria was a major center of agriculture, while in 1790, the city-state of Sokoto was a significant hub of Islamic reform. The complexity of the Hausa city-states' history is evident in the many conflicts that arose between them, such as the war between Kano and Katsina in 1740. Historian Murray Last writes that these conflicts were often driven by competition for resources and trade routes, rather than a desire for unified empire. The city-states' independence was also reflected in their unique architectural styles, such as the walls of Kano, which were built in the 14th century. The history of the Hausa city-states is a complex and multifaceted one, full of intriguing characters and events, and it is only by examining the evidence that we can begin to understand the true nature of these independent kingdoms.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Abdullahi Smith and Mahmud Tukur actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on the Islamic conquests of the Hausa states, while downplaying the significance of their independent existence. The Nigerian government also played a role in this suppression by promoting a unified national identity that overlooked the distinct histories of its various ethnic groups. A concrete reason for this suppression is the fact that the British colonial administration deliberately destroyed many of the Hausa city-states' historical records, making it difficult for historians to reconstruct their past. Furthermore, the emphasis on Islamic scholarship led to a lack of attention on the pre-Islamic history of the Hausa people, which is essential to understanding their independent kingdoms. Scholars who attempted to highlight this aspect of Hausa history were often marginalized or ignored.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the Hausa city-states' history had significant consequences, including the loss of cultural identity among the Hausa people. This, in turn, affected the development of Nigeria's education system, which failed to incorporate the history and culture of its various ethnic groups. A specific modern consequence of this is the fact that the Hausa language is now recognized as an official language in several Nigerian states, but its rich literary and cultural heritage remains largely unknown to the general public. The city of Kano, for example, still retains its ancient walls and architecture, which is a direct result of its history as one of the seven independent Hausa kingdoms.

The Line That Says It All

The Hausa city-states' independence was reduced to a mere footnote in Nigerian history, with the last remnants of their autonomy erased by the British colonial administration in 1903.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Hausa city-states and their history in what is now northern Nigeria.