Five powerful kingdoms that existed centuries before the formation of Nigeria in 1914

Hausa Kingdoms

The Hausa Kingdoms dominated what is now northern Nigeria reaching into parts of Mali and Ghana. For many centuries, the Hausa took over parts of Nigeria and expanded into other parts of West Africa thanks to their advanced army and brutal wars.

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According to several academics, the Hausa land gained its power and dominance through the expansion of the Hausa trading people during the first millennium. The Hausa state developed mainly due to its advancement in trade and education of its people.

The Kingdom began as seven states started by rich merchants and traders with royal lineage who bought off smaller settlements. The history of the Hausa Kingdoms is rich, lengthy and complicated due to the existence of these seven states that contributed to the expansion of the kingdom at different times. Through extensive records, much of the history of the kingdom can be accounted for.

The Kingdoms fell due to internal wars between the seven states for absolute dominance met with external wars from the west to take over the kingdom. By the turn of the 19^th century, the states had been weakened and taken over by the Fulani Empire and shortly after, by the British.