The Major Tribes in Sokoto State

Sokoto state is a northern state that has a very long history with the leadership of the country. It will therefore be interesting to share the major tribes in Sokoto state and some very vital information about the number of ethnic groups that characterize the state.

Sokoto is one of the 36 states of Nigeria, located in the extreme northwest of the country on the national border with the Republic of the Niger. Its capital and largest city is the city of Sokoto. The state is located near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2005 it has an estimated population of more than 4.2 million.

Islamically, the city is predominantly Muslim and an important seat of Islamic learning in Nigeria. The Sultan who heads the caliphate is effectively the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims.

Since its creation as a state in 1976 (from the bifurcation of the erstwhile North-Western State (Map) into Sokoto and Niger States, Sokoto state has been ruled by governors, most ex-military officers, who succeeded each another at short intervals.

Sokoto, as a region, knows a longer history. During the reign of the Fulani Empire in the 19th century Sokoto was an important Fula state, in addition to being a city, of what was then west central Nigeria.

The Major Tribes in Sokoto State

Sokoto state is strictly a Fulani state, only that it is added up with some cultural Hausa backgrounds. Here are the major tribes in Sokoto state which you can only find as factual as possible:

Hausa Tribe

The Hausa tribe is one of the three most recognized tribes in Nigeria and it is also one of the major tribes in Sokoto State. The Hausas have a very different culture from people in the southern part of Nigeria. Their foods, their dressing and cultures bear no similarity with those of the southern tribes. The uniqueness of the Hausa culture has made it last for centuries without undergoing any form of change even in the face of civilization.

The Hausa people are mainly found in the Sahelian and Sudanian regions of Nigeria. The Hausas in Sokoto are majorly found in the state capital. In other parts of the state, they live in small settlements.

Islam is the predominant religion that is practiced by the Hausa people. Although these people were not always Muslims, contact with traders from North Africa and Mali made them accept this religion. The Hausas are blessed with lots of rich dishes. Most of their foods are made from millet, maize and rice. To make a meal, these cereals are ground and are used to make Tuwo.

Fulani Tribe

The Fulani tribe is certainly one of the major tribes in Sokoto state. The nature and way of life of the Fulani tribe are a little unknown. This is because of the fact that they are spread across many lands and have acquired some of the cultures of neighboring tribe. There are basically two groups of Fulani. They are the settled group and the nomadic group. The nomadic group is more popular than the settled group. As a result of this, a lot of people with little or no knowledge about the Fulanis believe that they are all nomads.

The Fulanis speak a language called Fulfude. There are many dialects of fulfude, however, the difference can only be spotted by the Fulanis. The Fulani people are majorly cattle rearers.

As a matter of fact, cattles are a representation of the culture of the Fulani tribe. The men from the Fulani tribe put on flowing gowns that are known as Babban riga while their women tie wrappers on blouses and cover their heads with hijab.

Read Also: The Ten Oldest States in Nigeria

Other Tribes Are:

• Kwenga Tribe
• Shonga Tribe
• Uncinda Tribe