Located in present- day northern Nigeria, the Hausa Kingdoms were a group of neighboring states that flourished from the 14th to the 19th century. Despite their cultural and economic achievements, the Hausa Kingdoms remained loosely connected and lacked a central authority, making them vulnerable to external domination.

In the 14th century, missionaries from Mali introduced Islam to the Hausa Kingdoms, which became an integral part of their culture. The kingdoms also established trade relationships with neighboring regions, exchanging goods like textiles, leatherwork, and metalwork for salt, cloth, and other commodities.

The Hausa Bakwai (Seven True Hausa States) consisted of Biram, Daura, Gobir, Kano, Katsina, Rano, and Zaria (Zazzau). Each state had its own ruler and was known for its unique cultural practices and traditions.

In the 19th century, the Fulani conquered the Hausa Kingdoms and organized them into emirates. The British later took control of the region, attaching Bornu to form the Northern Region of the Protectorate of Nigeria.

Zaria: A Historic Kingdom and Emirate

Zaria, also known as Zazzau, was one of the original Hausa Bakwai and a significant kingdom in the region. Founded in the 11th century, it was known for its slave raids and trade relationships with the Sahara region. Queen Amina expanded the kingdom' s domain in the 16th century, but it later came under the control of Kororofa (Kwararafa) and eventually became a tributary state of the Bornu kingdom. In 1804, the Muslim Hausa ruler of Zaria pledged allegiance to Usman dan Fodio, leading to Fulani rule in 1808.