TRIBES IN KADUNA STATE

Kaduna state is a state in the North Central part of
Nigeria. It is also known as the centre of learning because it is a home of
many educational institutions in Nigeria. Hausa is mostly spoken by the people
of Kaduna just like any other northern states. There are also over 60 tribes in
kaduna. Below is a brief profile of some of them.

The people of Hausa are generally known as Hausawa in the North.
Hausa is the major language spoken in Kaduna for both personal and business
purposes. The number of Hausa speakers in Kaduna cannot be estimated because
they can be found all over the state.

The real origin of the Gbagyi people is still a mystery.
Many historians believe that the origin of the Gbagyi people started from Chad
in before they migrated to present day Borno state in 1400AD. They later moved
to Zaria province in 1700AD. They are found in Chikun LGA in Kaduna state. Most
of Gbagyi people are Muslims with only 30% of them as Christians. Gbagyi people
can also be found in other Northern states like Niger, Borno, Abuja and a
little part of Nasarawa state. They are estimated to be over a million Gbagyi
speaking people. Their major occupation is farming.

The Adara Tribe is one of the largest tribes of the Southern
Kaduna people. The Kaduna state Government recently created two chiefdoms for
the people because of their growing population. The Chiefdoms were created in
Kadara land with their headquarters as Kachia and Kajuru. They have a
population of about 358,000 people. About 55% of them practice the Christian
Religion while a large number of them practice the African Traditional
Religion.

The Akurmi people have their origin traced to the Middle
East (Yemen). The Akurmi people are said to have settled in countries like
Chad, Sudan, Iran and Egypt before coming to Nigeria. They relocated to Nigeria
while fleeing from Jihads as they did not want to be Islamized. They are
currently found in Pambeguwa in Kubau LGA, Yarkasuwa in Lere LGA, Saminaka and
other parts of Kaduna state. They can also be found in some parts of Borno and
Kano state.  About 88% of the people are
Christians and about 6% of them practice the Islamic Religion. Their population
is estimated at about 67,000 people.

The people of Bajju are popularly known and called Kaje by
the Hausa speaking people living with them. The Bajju people constitute one of
the largest tribes found in the Southern part of Kaduna state. With an
estimated population of over 600,000 native speakers. They can be found in
Jemaa, Kachia and Zangon-Kataf LGA of Kaduna state. Their traditional ruler
also called the Gado is always consulted before farming, marriages, festivals
and other activities can be done.

The Bakulu people are mostly found in Kauru and Kachia LGA
of the state. Bakulu is a chiefdom with about 80,000 native speakers. Before
the creation of Bakulu chiefdom in 2000, they were under the administration of
the Zaria Emirate. There are four ruling houses in the chiefdom that produces
their king and also at least two chiefs each to form the king makers of the
chiefdom. The four houses are Ikum, Gukwu, Gunkyana and Ampaga. The people of
Bakulu are also called Ikulu people and they have 10 districts that make up the
community with Kamuru as their headquarters.

Gwandara tribe is one of the tribes that are closest to the
Hausa tribe. They are scattered all over Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Kaduna
state. Gwandara people are mostly Muslims with a population of 45,000 people. One
of the most important Items used by Gwandara people is palm oil. They use it
for different purposes both for house use and for traditional purposes. Another
item common to the Gwandara people is mat which is sold in the market.

The origin of the Atyab people is traced to the earlier Nok
people. They form the larger part of the Katab group and they are mainly found
in Zango Kataf LGA of the Southern part of Kaduna state which is formally part
of the Zaria province. The occupations found within the people include farming,
hunting and fishing. They practice two types of marriages which include Nyeang
A̱lala which is a marriage done by the parents of the boy by putting a necklace
around the neck of the girl and Khap Ndi which is done by betrothing a girl to
a boy or young man when the girl of 7 years old. The population if the people
of Atyab are estimated at about 130,000 people.

The Ham or Jebba people are mostly found in Jeba and other
Local Government Areas of Kaduna state. They have about a hundred villages
which they use for their settlement. The Ham people are believed to have
originated from Egypt about a thousand years ago. Har Kwain (Kwoi) is the
traditional headquarters of the Ham people and it is where the palace of Kpop
Ham is located. Kpop Ham is the title of the traditional ruler of the ham
people. The population of the Ham people id estimated at about 174,000 people.

The people of Ninzo are found in Jema’a LGA.  They are considered as one of the minority
tribes of Kaduna state. Their population is estimated at about 100,000 people. The
Ninzo people are the occupants of the following communities: Abu, Kwassu,
Ninche, Randa, Fadan Ninzo, Kaura, Tattaura etc. Their major occupation is
farming with a few of them that are into hunting.