The major tribes in Kaduna State are not few as the land itself is historically deeper than thought or known. Kaduna is a commercial state just like Kano state. Economically, the Kaduna State economy was ranked 15th largest state in Nigerian economy from 2002 to 2008, and it made up 3.3% of Nigerian GDP. While agriculture contributed 30% of SGDP in Kaduna.
Kaduna state cultivate cotton and peanuts (groundnuts) for exporting and domestic extraction of Peanut oil. In the state there is National Institute of Leather and Technology, to improve modern technology and traditional method.
Kaduna, was taken up by Lord Frederick Lugard and his colonial colleagues when they moved the capital of the then Northern Region from Zungeru to Kaduna city in 1916. This move of the colonial office to Kaduna city started in 1912–1918/20 with the initial effort having been made in 1902 from Jebba to Zungeru.
Modern Kaduna State is home to the sites of some of Africa’s oldest civilizations, including the Nok civilization that prospered from c. 1500 BC to c. 500 AD.
List of the Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna State
Below are some of the universities and polytechnics that you can attend in the state:
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
- Air Force Institute of Technology (Nigeria)
- Federal College of Education, Zaria
- Greenfield University Kaduna
- Kaduna Polytechnic (1968), Kaduna
- Kaduna State University
- National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna Study Center
- Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria
- Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), Kaduna
- Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria
The Major Tribes in Kaduna State
Kaduna State is populated by about 59 to 63 different ethnic groups, if not more, with the exactitude of the number requiring further verification through field work. Most of the tribes that are formally included as the major tribes in Kaduna state are listed here with details enough on their mode of dressing, language, and culture.
Kamaku Tribe
Kamaku is both a tribe and a town in Kaduna state. The Kamaku tribe occupies part of Kaura local government area. The people of Kamaku are Christians and are known to engage majorly in farming.
This people have similar cultures with other northern tribes.
Kadara Tribe
The kadara tribe is one of the many tribes in southern Kaduna. It is also one of the biggest tribes in the southern part of Kaduna. The people of this tribe occupy Kajuru and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna state. They have a population of about 300,000. It is believed that the Kadara people migrated from a part of Jos.
This people are Christians and also take part in trading and farming. They imitate the Hausas in dressing and food.
Kurama Tribe
The Kurama people have their roots in the Middle East. They migrated from present day Yemen to present day Southern Kaduna long before the emergence of Islam. They moved along the Sahara desert gradually until they arrived northern Nigeria.
The people of Kurama speak Hausa language and are Muslims. They dress and feed just like the Hausas.
Ham Tribe
Hamis both a tribe as well as a local government area in Kaduna state. The people of this tribe speak the Hyam dialect. They mainly occupy the Jaba local government area. However, they are not limited to this local government area. They can also be found in Kagarko and Kachia local government areas. It is believed that the Ham tribe migrated from Egypt a long time before the arrival of the Europeans.
Most people in Jaba are farmers. Also, the Jaba tribe practises Islam.
Asholio Tribe
The Asholio tribe occupies Kaura local government area of Kaduna state. Not much is known about the ancestral home of the Asholio tribe. Over time, the people of this tribe have adopted the cultural practices of some of their neighbors. This has greatly weakened their own traditions.
Farming and trading are some of the major occupations of Asholio indigenes. Also, a mixture of Islam and Christianity is practiced in this tribe.
Hausa Tribe
The Hausas in Kaduna are found in the Northern part of the state. Although the Hausa tribe is the dominant tribe in the whole of Northern Nigeria. However, in Kaduna state, this tribe is just one of the many tribes. The Hausa tribe in Kaduna might not be big, however, they are still very influential. A lot of the tribes around them appear to have adopted their cultures and way of life.
The Hausas speak the Hausa language and are predominantly Muslims. Their major occupations are farming and trading. Men from the Hausa tribe put on Babban riga while women tie wrappers on blouse and cover their heads with hijabs. The Hausas have very reach meals. One of them is “tuwo.”
Kagoro Tribe
The Kagoro people are believed to have migrated from Sudan. They are peaceful people and are also Muslims. As a result of their dressing, this people can easily be mistaken for Hausas by people from the southern part of Nigeria.
The Kagoro people are farmers and are known to feed on processed millet and maize.
Katab Tribe
The Katab people are found in Zango-Kataf LGA in southern Kaduna. This people are Christians and also believe that they are the original inhabitants of Kaduna. Although the Katab people arrived Kaduna before the Hausas, they have taken up the cultures of the Hausas. This is evident in their dressing and food
Fulani Tribe
The Fulanis in Kaduna state occupy the northern part of the state. They are very similar to the Hausas in their way of life. It is believed that the Fulanis migrated from parts of the Middle East. The Fulanis in Kaduna have been involved in various clashes with other tribes in the state. A lot of times, it is believed that this clashes are for religious reasons.
Fulfude is the language that is spoken by the Fulanis. Also, Islam is the predominant religion that is practiced by this people. The Fulanis are majorly cattle rearers and are nomadic in nature. Men from this tribe put on Babban riga while women tie wrappers on blouse and cover their heads with hijab.
Kaje Tribe
The Kaje people are also known as Bajju. They occupy Zangon Kataf LGA in Kaduna state. This people speak a language called Jju and have a population of 300,000.
The people of Kaje are superstitious and are mainly traditionalists. This people eat the same food as the Hausas and also dress in similar ways.
Other Kaduna Tribes are:
- Atakar Tribe
- Kaje Tribe
- Bassa Tribe
- Bina Tribe
- Gure Tribe
- Gwandara Tribe
- Gwari Tribe
- Jaba Tribe
- Kagoma Tribe
- Kajuru Tribe
- Kamaki Tribe
- Kiballo Tribe
- Ayu Tribe
- Kafanchan Tribe
- Koro Tribe
- Moruwa Tribe
- Rumadu Tribe
- Rumaya Tribe
- Scrubu Tribe
- Uncinda Tribe
- Nunku Tribe
- Mada Tribe
- Kamaku Tribe
- Kanikon Tribe
- Ribang tribe
- Ham Tribe
- Kuturmi Tribe
- Tsam (chawai) tribe
- Ruruma tribe
- Kaguu (Kahugu) Tribe
