Northern Nigeria: Background to the study
p. 2-4
Texte intégral
1Contemporary northern Nigeria has undergone tremendous physical, political, social, cultural, educational and religious transformations, since the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sultan of Sokoto.6 The late Premier of northern Nigeria was a symbol of unity to the North because of his selflessness and purposeful leadership. The continuing enthusiasm with which northern leaders visualize and resolutely pursue the interests of the North can be attributed to Sir Ahmadu Bello. In his time the North was a homogeneous entity devoid of overt intra- and inter-political, religious and ethnic rivalries. One may attribute this peaceful atmosphere to the strict adherence to Christian and Islamic religious precepts, and to the moral values these religions espoused. Hausa, the undisputed lingua-franca of the Northern Region, was the identifying factor which enabled any northerner, irrespective of his mother tongue, to enjoy the privileges of brotherly love, peace, security, etc. In the spirit of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, a solid cultural and political base was laid under the leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Mallam Aminu Kano, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, Jolly Tanko Yusuf, Joseph Tarka, Sir Kashim Ibrahim, Dr. Christopher Abashiya, and Alhaji Isa Kaita.
2Today, one can hardly speak of a homogeneous North. The breakdown of family values has retarded educational advancement and nurtured inter- and intra-religious turbulence. External contact and the sharp decline in the economic well-being of the people have led to acculturation and the breakdown of family values.
3Northern Nigeria covers 281,872 square miles,7 and shares a boundary with Chad and the Niger Republic to the north, the Benin Republic to the west and the Cameroon to the east. The southern part of northern Nigeria is known as the Middle Belt, and comprises Plateau, Benue, Kwara and Kogi states. The Kanem Bomu, Adamawa, Bauchi and Sardauna regions constitute present day northeastern Nigeria, i.e., Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba and Bauchi states. The central north comprises Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, while the northwestern area comprises Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto states. From this vast area, sixteen states emerged.
4The Hausa (Habe) people used to be the most numerous people in northern Nigeria and controlled many of the trade routes across the Sahara. The Hausa, as well as the non Hausa of the old North, were good farmers, skilled craftsmen and astute traders. Hausa hegemony, however, was totally destroyed by the Muslim jihad of Uthman dan Fodio which began in about 1804 and continued for about 30 years. One by one, the Hausa were replaced by Fulani rulers. Today Hausa refers more to the language group than to the actual Habe people, who are very few in number. In southern Nigerian cities, the so-called Hausa traders can still be found engaging in long-distance trading.
5A great Muslim empire was founded upon the conquest of the traditional Hausa states by Uthman dan Fodio, who also became the first Sultan of Sokoto, the centre of the empire. The present Sultan, Emirs and many leaders in northern Nigeria trace their genealogy to the great Fulani leader, with the exception of the Nupe and other tribes in Niger, Plateau, Benue and Kogi States and the Kanuri of the kingdom of Bomo.
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