TRIBES IN KATSINA STATE

Katsina
State, is  dominated by the Hausa, with
two of ancient “seven true Hausa States”, Katsina and Duara, forming
part of it. The Fulani people have also become a part and parcel of every day
activities in the state since the 19th century Usman Dan Fodio-led Jihad,
weilding big influence in politics, the economy and religion.
This is an
essay about tribes in Katsina State. They are not different from the two
suspects: the Hausa and the Fulani, but for the sake of record let’s again take
a look at their history, language, and overall way of life.

Hausa

The Hausa are the largest ethnic group in Katsina State, constituting more than 70 percent of the state’s overall
population
. They are everywhere
in the state, playing very significant roles in both the formal and informal
sectors of the state’s economy

The Hausa are very influential culturally in Katsina State, although political power have
largely eluded them since the 19th century.

The Hausa language is the most widely-spoken language in Katsina State. The language is used
by both natives and non-natives in both formal and informal interactions.

Major Hausa subgroups in
Katsina State are the Katsinawa and the Daurawa.

Fulani

The Fulani
are a nomadic people who have been influential in the politics, economy and
history of the geographic space now known as Katsina State since the dawn of
19th century.
 The Fulani have also been very influential
throughout western Africa for over a thousand years. They played a significant
role in the rise and fall of the Mossi states in Burkina Faso, and also
contributed to the migratory movements of people southward through Niger and
Nigeria into Cameroon.
The Fulani
were responsible for introducing and spreading Islam throughout much of western
Africa. The height of the Fulani empire was between the early 1800s and early
1900s. This power was consolidated under Usman Dan Fodio and was centered in
Sokoto. Dan Fodio was a devout Muslim who used religious fervour to ignite
troops to undertake series of Jihads.
Following
the early success of Fulani Islamic warriors, non-Islamic Fulani joined ranks
with their fellows to form an extensive and powerful empire across much of
northern Nigeria.

Maguzawa

The
Maguzawa are an Hausa tribe found in Katsina and Kano States, mainly in rural
areas surrounding the capital cities of the two states.
The
Maguzawa are predominantly farmers. When not engaged in farming during the dry
season, they subsidize their income in other ways. Maguzawa women often trade
on items required within their communities.
There
exists a strong distinction between the Maguzawa and their Hausa cousins in the
city who relatively are more educated and who strongly follow Islam. The
Maguzawa are often mistreated by their city cousins who are better educated and
heavily influenced by Muslim outsiders and the government.
A Maguzawa
community is led by a Sarki who is the overall head of the several important
areas of their lives. There is the head of farming, the head of the pagans, and
the head of the bush.
The famous
alcoholic beverage known as burukutu is consumed heavily and used in all
ceremonies among the Maguzawa. The rate of alcoholism is very high. In fact,
the head of pagans among the Maguzawa is usually the best burukutu drinker of the
community.
There are
close to 200,000 Maguzawa in both Katsina and Kano States.

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