THE HILLSIDE SCHOOL, ABUJA.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARD
We may have different religions, different languages,
different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race.
–Kofi Annan
MOTHER TONGUE
(TRIBES OF THE WORLD)
PROJECT:
IN COLLABORATIONWITH
NAV BHARTI PUBLIC SCHOOL INDIA
INTRODUCTION
The Hausa tribe is the most prominent ethnic tribe in Nigeria. It is also one of the
largest tribes in West Africa. Hausas are very unique in various aspects of their
culture. They have several practises which are exclusively found among them. Apart
from the stereotyped characteristics of the Hausas virtually known to all, there are
several other important and interesting facts you must know about them.
Islam arrived in the area by the fourteenth century. By the fifteenth century, there were
a number of independent Hausa city-states. They competed with each other for control
of trade across the Sahara Desert, slaves, and natural resources. In the nineteenth
century, the region was unified by a jihad(Islamic holy war) and became known as
Hausa land. The British arrived and colonized the area in about 1900. Even during
colonial times, the city-states and their leaders maintained some autonomy. Many
Hausa traditions were preserved until late in the twentieth century.
LOCATION & LANGUAGE
The Hausa people are concentrated mainly in north western Nigeria
and in adjoining southern Niger. The hausa tribe is a diverse but
culturally homogenous people based primarily in the Sahelian and
Sudanian area of the Northern Nigeria and South eastern Niger. This
area is mostly semi-arid grassland or savanna, dotted with cities
surrounded by farming communities. The cities of this region—
Kano, Sokoto, Zari, and Katsina, for example—are among the
greatest commercial centers of sub-Saharan Africa (Africa south of
the Sahara Desert). Hausa people are also found living in other
countries of West Africa like Cameroon, Togo, Chad, Benin, Burkina
Faso, and Ghana.
Hausa is the most widely spoken language in West Africa. It is
spoken by an estimated 22 million people. Another 17 million
people speak Hausa as a second language. Hausa is written in Arabic
characters, and about one-fourth of Hausa words come from Arabic.
Many Hausa can read and write Arabic. Many can also speak either
French or English. The main hausa speaking area is northern Nigeria
and Niger. Most Hausas speakers, regardless of their ethnic
affiliation are Muslims.
FOOD & CLOTHING
 Staple foods include grains (sorghum, millet, or rice) and maize, which
are ground into flour for a variety of foods. Breakfast often consists of
porridge. Sometimes it includes cakes made of fried beans(kosai)or wheat
flour(finkasau).Lunch and dinner usually include a heavy porridge(tuwo).It
is served with a soup or (miya).Most soups are made with ground or
chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers. To this are added spices and
other vegetables such as spinach, pumpkin, and okra. Another interesting
food in Hausa land is that there is an abundance of meat, especially beef,
since they do a lot of cattle rearing. They have popularly grilled delicacies
such as Suya, Kilishi etc. Cow milk known as nunu taken with fura is also
one of their frequent and treasured meals. They also have plenty of root
vegetables such as onions and carrots.
finkasau
Fura de nunu
kilishi
Kosai
Suya
Tuwo
Hausa men are recognizable by their elaborate
dress. Many wear large, flowing gowns(babban
riga)with elaborate embroidery around the neck
and a robe-like dress with design called Jalabia
or Juanni . They also wear colorful embroidered
caps(fula). Hausa women wear a wrap-around
robe made of colorful cloth with a matching
blouse, head tie, and shawl. Hausa women also
use jewelries, ornaments and paintings a great
deal. The laali or henna paintings are also an
indispensable part of their make up.
Babban riga
Jalabia
Laali/Henna paintings
Hausa women attire
Hausa women hairstyles
FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS:
ARGUNGU FESTIVAL
The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four-day festival in The State of Kebbi, in
the North-western part of Northern Nigeria. The festival usually took place in
Argungu, the capital city of Argungu Emirate Council. The geo-physical nature and
characteristics of the festival site in Argungu are river areas (matanfada, mala,
gamji), irrigation, and orchards (lambu in Hausa). the majority of fishermen are the
followers of Islam and Predominant farmers.
The Argungu fishing festival is an annual festival celebrated to mark the end of
hostilities between the sokoto caliphate and the kebbi Kingdom. It is usually
celebrated during the month of February after the conclusion of all farm works.
The contestants are supposed to look for and catch a big fish, the person with the
biggest fish would be declared a winner. The winner would be given $10, 000 The
festival was first staged in 1934 in Argungu and ever since then it has become an
important event in the calendar of the kebbi state government in Nigeria.
Argungu Festivals: the
hunt for the biggest fish
DURBAR FESTIVAL
Durbar festival is an annual festival celebrated in several cities of Northern Nigeria. It is
celebrated at the culmination of Muslim festivals Eid al-Fitr (commemorating the end of
the holy month of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (as a remembrance to Prophet Ibrahim who
sacrificed a ram instead of his son). It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the
Emir and his entourage on horses, accompanied by music players, and ending at the
Emir’s palace. The festival is full of colourful procession, pump and pageantry which
are led by the Emir and it features a competition between the royal Calvary, drummers,
trumpeters, praise singers and wrestlers, making it a widely viewed event in Northern
Nigeria. The festival also showcases the full procession of villagers as they gather at the
public square or in front of the Emir’s palace where this spectacular and amazing event
takes place every year.
The festival begins with each group racing across the square at full gallop, swords
glinting in the sun. They pass just few feet away from the Emir, and then stop abruptly
to salute him with raised swords. The last and most fierce riders are the Emir’s
household and regimental guards, the Dogari. After the celebrations, the Emir and his
chiefs retire to the palace, and enjoyment of the occasion reigns. This fanfare is
intensified by drumming, dancing and singing, with small bands of Fulanis performing
“shadi”.
DURBAR
FESTIVAL
THANK YOU