Impacts of Colonialism on the

Hausa Ethnic Group

Adam Throne
Colonial West Africa
Professor Willis
The Hausa People live predominantly in Northern Nigeria and Southern Niger. Their estimated
population of 20 million makes them one of the largest ethnic groups in the region. Prior to
European contact, the Hausa were strongly influenced by Muslim travelers along trans-Saharan
trade routes. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the neighboring Fulani tribe successfully
invaded Hausa states and based the new Sokoto Caliphate off of an Arabic emirate system. As a
result, even upon the arrival of Europeans, the Hausa were shaped more by their religion than by
colonial rulers. Nevertheless, French and British governance in Niger and Nigeria respectively
still had impacts on the cultural identity of Hausa. Redefining the political structures of the
Hausa limited central power by intensifying pre-existing rivalries, and a new capitalist cash-crop
economy created poverty and a decline in regional influence.

The foundation of the Hausa identity continues to be Islam rather than colonialism. Prior to
European contact, the Hausa had established themselves as the dominant ethnic group along the
West African coast. Coastal cities allowed for easy transportation and access, so the coastal cities
of Hausaland served as the western end of sub-Saharan trade routes. Valuable spices, silks, and
other goods were imported to this region, and the Hausa were met by an influx of ideas and
cultures from as far away as the Middle East. Hausa law, language, and social structure all have
ties to Islam. Colorful mosques and statues from the pre-colonial period can still be found today.
The invasion of the Fulani stained the purity of Hausa lineage, but the Sokoto Caliphate unified
the Hausa states into a commanding force. When the British ventured inland at the turn of the
twentieth century with the intent of colonizing beyond the Nigerian Coast, they discovered a
society far more advanced than those which surrounded it. Although the British and French
significantly altered Hausa culture, the traces of Islam and the Fulani are permanent.

By altering the local power structure during occupation, the British upset the centrality which the
Sokoto Caliphate provided. In his journal “Changing Family Structures Among the Rural
Hausa,” A.D. confirms that the Hausa were already advanced prior to British arrival: “[Islamic
land law and population densities] have facilitated the development of individual control over
land among the Moslem Hausa, which has brought the practice of land tenure far closer to the
English concept of freehold.”1Although this paper focuses on pre-colonial themes, it provides the
necessary context to understand the role of colonization. Since they were more similar to the
Europeans than other ethnic groups, the Hausa were favored in the restructuring of Africa from
the start. According to F.S. Miles in “Hausaland Divided,” Frederick Lugard had success placing
individuals who promised to obey his commands in positions of power while conquering
Nigeria: “In 1906, the British saw an opportunity to restore the “legitimate” rulers of the emirate
to their proper place in Daura.”2 The Fulani had long held power over the caliphate, but the
British saw the Hausa as a less radical and more manageable alternative. Lugard’s goal was to
allow the Nigerians to govern themselves under British regulation. Following the Berlin
Conference and creation of Niger, a similar system of stabilization was instituted by the French:
“Politically and administratively, the driving ethos behind French colonial policy in Africa was

1
Goddard, A. D.. 1973. “Changing Family Structures Among the Rural Hausa”. Africa: Journal
of the International African Institute 43 (3). [Cambridge University Press, International African
Institute]: 208.
2
Miles, William F. S. Hausaland Divided: Colonialism and Independence in Nigeria and Niger.
Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994.
centralization.”3 Unfortunately, given the religious history in the region, this restructuring led to
chaos.

By using colonial rivalries to their advantage during conquest, the British intensified emerging
differences between ethnic groups in Nigeria. “Hausa Colonial Agency in the Benue Valley” by
Moses E. Ochonu breaks down the system of indirect rule installed by the British by analyzing
the middle belt of Nigeria. Although this source is limited to two highly conflicted states, its
depth cannot be overlooked. Ochonu confirms again the elevation provided to the Hausa by pre-
colonial Muslim influences: “[The] British belie[ved] that a greater Hausa input in colonization
was necessary to overcome the supposedly greater “backwardness” of the region.”4 This is true,
but problems started arising when Hausa agents abused their positions. Ochonu notes this: “They
helped to fulfill British colonial demands but also carried out their own self-interested initiatives
in the name of the British.”5 Villagers resented the heavy taxes placed on them by their Hausa
overlords. This reinforced a growing notion that even the unjust actions of the Hausa were
supported by the British.6 Furthermore, the centralized system of rule seemed foreign to non-
Muslim ethnic groups concentrated in the South where the Sokoto Caliphate had not taken hold.
Ochonu offers a hypothesis as to why the Europeans proceeded to force their system upon the
Igbo: “The aim of creating chieftaincy among non-Muslim communities was to integrate them
into what was considered the political mainstream of Northern Nigeria.”7 The British preference
of the Hausa caused other ethnic groups to feel inferior and built a rising tension. The colonists
wished to establish strong footholds for the future, and ultimately this tore their colonies apart.8

The British and French also rebuilt the Hausa economy to their own benefits which eliminated
the Hausa reputation among traders. Although a transition to cash crops boosted Hausa exports
for a short while, in the long-term it limited the economy. This created poverty and resulted in a
widespread migration to coastal cities. “Trade Networks in West Africa” confirms that
Hausaland and Sokoto served as important stops on a vast trans-Saharan trade network during
the pre-colonial period.9 “Raw Material Production for Export in Northern Nigeria” by Abubakar
Babajo Sani focuses on the livestock industry of the Hausa and Fulani during the Colonial
Period. In doing so though, it reveals important information about the impact of colonialism on
Hausa output in general. According to Babajo, there was only one purpose of colonizing Western
Africa: “The continued expansion of British capitalism.”10 Europeans were so interested in

3 Ibid. Pg 95
4
Ochonu, Moses E. Colonialism by Proxy: Hausa Imperial Agents and Middle Belt
Consciousness in Nigeria. 127.
5 Ibid. Pg 106
6 Ibid. Pg 115
7 Ibid. Pg 114
8 Ibid. Pg 128
9
Olivier J. Walther (2014). Trade networks in West Africa: a social network approach . The
Journal of Modern African Studies, 52, pp 179-203. doi:10.1017/S0022278X14000032.
10
Sani, Abubakar Babajo. 2009. “Raw Material Production for Export in Northern Nigeria: The
Experience of the People in the Livestock and Allied Industries Under British Rule C. 1900-
1960.” African Economic History 37. African Studies Program, University of Wisconsin-
Madison: 110.
benefiting themselves that they did not consider the longevity of their processes. Britain in
particular, due to it’s small size and lack of resources, exploited Nigeria. On top of personal
taxes imposed by agents, Britain approved its own sales taxes as well. Babajo cites this: “Locally
manufactured goods on transit were very heavily taxed, while imported English manufactured
goods were exempt.”11 This made direct trade with the English more rational than interstate
commerce and commerce with other ethnic groups. On top of this, the construction of
infrastructure led to the decimation of the pre-existing Hausa economy. In 1912, a new railway
connected the Northern farms and mines to ports in the South.12 This dominated previous Hausa
trade methods, such as horse caravans, by reducing freight costs and increasing efficiency. Since
inland farms were now able to sell goods in larger quantities at a quicker pace, the trans-Saharan
trade came to an end.

The disappearance of the trans-Saharan trade marked an end to the source of distinction that had
for so long benefited the Hausa. A previously balanced and well-cultured trade system was now
limited to groundnuts and non-renewable resources. When demand for these sunk and drought
hit, the Hausa were devastated. Rural farmers were forced to toil unrewarded on their farms or
migrate to cities in search of new labor jobs. This created dense and unsanitary cities. Due to
their new social standing, Hausa men and women in particular were faced with difficulty in the
Nigerian job market. According to “Trafficking in Slavery’s Wake,” prostitution surged among
the Hausa: “Women found sex work to be ‘more profitable’ than the locally available peasant
occupations.”13 Europeans made few attempts at curving this problem, and in fact they played a
major role in the spread of STD’s. A culture once noted for its fine architecture and trade
capabilities became a brothel for visiting soldiers.

In conclusion, changes to the political and economic structure of the Sokoto Caliphate by
European colonists led to the demise of the Hausa people. The French and English each followed
a different path of governance: “The English eased problems for the peasants: they abolished
raiding, fighting. But the French squeezed the Hausa: they confiscated millet, they made men
carry giginya until they died.”14 In both locations though, tension and violence erupted. Poor
economic conditions and a lingering sense of inferiority ultimately led to the Nigerian Civil War
of 1967 between the Hausa-led federal government of the North and Igba coalition in the South.
This war highlighted that the Hausa still identified with their Muslim roots despite new political
borders.

11
Ibid. Pg 112
12 Ibid. Pg 115
13
Benjamin N. Lawrance and Richard L. Roberts and Kevin Bales and Jody Sarich et. al.
Trafficking in Slavery's Wake: Law and the Experience of Women and Children in Africa.
Athens: Ohio University Press, 2012. 111.
14 Miles, William F. S. Hausaland Divided: Colonialism and Independence in Nigeria and

Niger. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994. 101.

 Bibliography
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Sani, Abubakar Babajo. 2009. “Raw Material Production for Export in Northern Nigeria: The
Experience of the People in the Livestock and Allied Industries Under British Rule C. 1900-
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Madison