Professor Tijani Naniya of Bayero University, Kano, has claimed that the term “Hausa-Fulani” emerged during the early stages of the Nigerian Civil War and was introduced to create division between the Hausa and Fulani ethnic groups.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Naniya said the term originated in the Southeast and was not used during the colonial era.
“The term ‘Hausa-Fulani’ was coined during the early period of the civil war. It originated from the Southeast, in order to create a semblance of division between the Hausa and the Fulani. Before that, during the colonial period, there was no use of the term ‘Hausa-Fulani.’ What’s bringing the issue up now is politics,” he said.
Naniya explained that during the colonial period, Northern Nigeria, particularly the former Sokoto Caliphate, was predominantly Hausa, while Fulani figures occupied key traditional leadership positions. He argued that this shared political structure fostered unity, which colonial authorities relied on to maintain order and consolidate support, adding that current debates over the term are largely driven by contemporary political considerations.
