"I have met few Hausa people in all the time I've lived the UK, but I have many Yoruba and Igbo friends and have met hundreds of others.

I know we're all one; ever since the British decided to bring these three distinct peoples together under one nation called Nigeria, we have shared a destiny and a future. But the Hausa and Fulanis- two distinct groups united by Islam, inter-marriage and history- remain mysterious to many Nigerians abroad due to their relative invisibility. Below are some reasons why I think this is so."

1. Private people
"Hausas are private, reserved people who mind their own business. They are often, in very Islamic states, not as exposed to Western influences as other groups which means that emigration to the UK or the US is not the 'great ideal' they've dreamed about as a result of consuming Hollywood movies or music, as it is to others. Because of their Muslim religion, Islamic countries like Dubai and Saudi Arabia."

2. Simplicity
"Hausa people are known for their simplicity (rich Hausa men have been known to walk everywhere and wear the same clothes even though they can afford cars and expensive clothing) so the bright lights of Hollywood or the golden streets of London doesn't hold the same appeal. They are modest and unmaterialistic and don't have the need to obtain expensive things from abroad."

3. Laid Back
"Of course they enjoy the finer things in life, but Hausas don't often go to the great lengths others do to secure a visa to the West. The rigmarole of waiting in line under the hot sun for the whole day outside the US Embassy, the thousands of Naira necessary to secure your tickets out and the paperwork and often dodgy means of acquiring visitor status to enter these countries is not something they pursue. It could be said they lack drive and ambition, which is untrue. A Hausa man's home is his castle and he's able to be content with the little he has as long as he provides for his family."

4. Less Education
"Northerners are also less educated than their Southern counterparts. Indeed, many eschew Western-influenced education for traditional Islamic schooling, so going overseas to study and embark on a career is not open to them. They may also prefer travelling to Arab and Islamic countries because they see the West as Christian-influenced which puts them off coming here."

5. Docile women
"Hausa/Fulani women are even less likely to be university-educated than their men, and are sometimes married at an early age, thus their aspirations are stunted and their opportunities for exploring the world limited by their tradition and home lives."

6. Knowing No one Abroad
"Another limiting factor to Northerners going abroad may be the fact that they don't know many of their kinsmen living in other countries. If you know people in Mongolia the thought of going there could appeal, otherwise you might choose to stay home instead. Yorubas and Igbos have large communities in many areas around the world so stepping off the plane they have the name of an 'Uncle' or a church to go to. "

7. Wealth and Poverty
"There are many wealthy Hausa/Fulani Alhajis who do travel abroad, send their children to study in Western universities and conduct business in different countries, but they don't always live amongst other Nigerians. There are also many poor Malams who cannot afford to travel even if they wanted to and learn to make do with the little they have. "

8. You have met them but didn't know
"Some Fulanis don't 'look' Nigerian. You may also know or have met Nigerians but didn't know they were Hausa/Fulani. So next time you meet an African with a Muslim name, you might be talking to a Hausa or Fulani person; a minority amongst Nigerians in the diaspora."

Source: http://hausanigerian..com/2011/03/why-you-dont-meet-many-hausa-people.html

I read this article and I found it interesting, so I wanted to hear what people's opinions are about it when it comes to Hausa's abroad

You're on point.

They do tend to keep low profiles.

we dey plenty in London. holla for links

DanKan0:

we dey plenty in London. holla for links

oh that's interesting, I would like to see the links because when I read the article I agreed because I rarely encountered one in the US either.

tpia@:


They do tend to keep low profiles.

I wonder why?

Pls post links.

anonymous6:

oh that's interesting, I would like to see the links because when I read the article I agreed because I rarely encountered one in the US either.

I wonder why?

just their nature, i should think.

even in nigeria they're the same way.


they're in the US also but i dont think they mix much with southern nigerians possibly because of compatibility issues.

tpia@:

just their nature, i should think.

even in nigeria they're the same way.


they're in the US also but i dont think they mix much with southern nigerians possibly because of compatibility issues.

Interesting but you are right when it comes to America I have heard this a little from muslim yoruba's about hausa's they encounter

I've met a few and few times been mistaken for Hausa.

@OP I once believed that perhaps religion was another factor. I thought they may have favoured countries such as KSA as an abroad location due to faith (pertaining to those that are Muslims) which may facilitate in settling in   - although this was just an assumption I used to hold.

However despite that Hausa can be taught here in the UK.

DanKan0:

we dey plenty in London. holla for links 

Sannu. Ina kwana?

will too much islamic conservatism allow them to explore the world

@ emöfine

barka. kina ingila ne? ko me?

Anyway if you want to see a lot in one place go to Brimingham or Coventry Uni in England. Its like Ahmadu Bello University: Zaria   

emöfine:


@OP I once believed that perhaps religion was another factor. I thought they may have favoured countries such as KSA as an abroad location due to faith (pertaining to those that are Muslims) which may facilitate in settling in   - although this was just an assumption I used to hold.

However despite that Hausa can be taught here in the UK.

Sannu. Ina kwana?

You have some correct points, Interesting

DanKan0:

@ emöfine

barka. kina ingila ne? ko me?

I'm a beginner ban gane ba so I'm stuck

If you're asking if I'm in England then a(yes).

DanKan0:

Anyway if you want to see a lot in one place go to Brimingham or Coventry Uni in England. Its like Ahmadu Bello University: Zaria   

Lol @ your last sentence. I guess I have a reason to visit Birmingham Uni now.

DanKan0:

Anyway if you want to see a lot in one place go to Brimingham or Coventry Uni in England. Its like Ahmadu Bello University: Zaria   

have made few (prolly lyk 3 ) hausa friends in birmingham buh they are def not much compared to other guys

emöfine:

I'm a beginner ban gane ba so I'm stuck

If you're asking if I'm in England then a(yes).

Lol @ your last sentence. I guess I have a reason to visit Birmingham Uni now.

whose teaching you?

tayo_tee:

have made few (prolly lyk 3 ) hausa friends in birmingham buh they are def not much compared to other guys

they will know more of course them 3

its mainly religious

DanKan0:

whose teaching you? 

I'm tutoring myself but if you wan teach me I no mind

emöfine:

I'm tutoring myself but if you wan teach me I no mind

Best way to learn is to watch the subtitle movie on youtube. There's quiet a lot of films, If you can handle the 'nonsense' lol. Some people like it though. I think they try small lol.

Bethnals@yahoo.com is my mail if any Question

most of the hausas in the u.k are mostly concentrated in the southampton, bournmouth, portsmouth areas, and when they are in london. they live in the high brow areas. thats why we seldom see them around. also they are good in minding their business i have also meet some of them in manchester. you can easily pass dem for people from other parts of africa due to their dressing mode.

muyo2001:

most of the hausas in the u.k are mostly concentrated in the southampton, bournmouth, portsmouth areas, and when they are in london. they live in the high brow areas. thats why we seldom see them around. also they are good in minding their business i have also meet some of them in manchester. you can easily pass dem for people from other parts of africa due to their dressing mode.

so basically they would be more closer to a hausa from Niger then a Igbo or yoruba from their own country of Nigeria; one thing I also notice about them is their religion is their culture, their religion overides their culture in a way. Up til this day I'm yet to know their culture completely just their muslim religion

anonymous6:

so basically they would be more closer to a hausa from Niger then a Igbo or yoruba from their own country of Nigeria; one thing I also notice about them is their religion is their culture, their religion overides their culture in a way. Up til this day I'm yet to know their culture completely just their muslim religion

what you mean on the bolded

are religon/culture not related lol? Just take religon more serious maybe that why it seems like that lol,

DanKan0:

what you mean on the bolded

are religon/culture not related lol? Just take religon more serious maybe that why it seems like that lol,

you are right they take religion very seriously and yes religion and culture goes hand in hand but what I am saying is that is what I have noticed

I am Hausa from republic of Niger ,living in United states for over 8 years. I've met lot of Nigerians,and none of them believed me when I said I am Hausa.
They said my accent doesn't sound west African.

In my apartment complex ( Indianapolis) ,there are some Yoruba next door,and they never knew that my wife and I are Hausa til they heard us speaking Hausa . One guy was like
" are you Hausa ?",and I said yes ,we are Hausa from Zinder- Niger ...lol
They confused us with Sudanese or Somalis,because of the way my wife dressed and our accent.
There are lot of Hausa in United states,you have to go to mosque to meet them,and if you ever doubted seeing one,you might confuse him/her to Sudanese,unless you ask his/her nationality.

Baayanjida: I am Hausa from republic of Niger ,living in United states for over 8 years. I've met lot of Nigerians,and none of them believed me when I said I am Hausa.
They said my accent doesn't sound west African.

In my apartment complex ( Indianapolis-Indiana ) ,there are some Yoruba next door,and they never knew that my wife and I are Hausa til they heard us speaking Hausa . One guy was like
" are you hausa ?",and I said yes ,we are Hausa from Zinder- Niger .
They confused us with Sudanese or Somalis,because of the way my wife dressed and our accent....lol .
There are lot of Hausa in United states,you have to go to mosque to met them,and if you ever doubted seeing one,you might confuse him/her to sudanese,unless you ask his/her nationality.

maybe because many Hausa's don't travel out to the US like other tribes in Nigeria do

There are tons of Hausa's in London and I went to uni with a few of them. However, most of them don't live among other Nigerians - they tend to live around Arabs. Just go to Edgware road - all the way to Neasden - and you'll see quite a lot of them there. West London also has a decent Hausa population.

Anyway, if you're a Muslim - Hausa's aren't hard to find especially if attend the big mosques. Those people don't act like Nigerians - they're just so different and I like that..

Because they are not Nigerians they are actually awera rebublicans and should be in a serparate country. (the fulani should be driven into the sea)

... i like hausa people tho, especially their language

pleep: Because they are not Nigerians they are actually awera rebublicans and should be in a serparate country. (the fulani should be driven into the sea)

... i like hausa people tho, especially their language

lol, funny though because some people say that hausa and fulani act differently from the rest of Nigeria when it comes to swagger, mentality and etc, that in a way when people do meet them face to face it's hard for them to believe they are Nigerians in general

anonymous6:

lol, funny though because some people say that hausa and fulani act differently from the rest of Nigeria when it comes to swagger, mentality and etc, that in a way when people do meet them face to face it's hard for them to believe they are Nigerians in general

Lol we can defintely tell when we see a non hausa nigerian. But non-hausa nigerian can never tell a hausa unless you hear the lang.

shymexx: There are tons of Hausa's in London and I went to uni with a few of them. However, most of them don't live among other Nigerians - they tend to live around Arabs. Just go to Edgware road - all the way to Neasden - and you'll see quite a lot of them there. West London also has a decent Hausa population.

Anyway, if you're a Muslim - Hausa's aren't hard to find especially if attend the big mosques. Those people don't act like Nigerians - they're just so different and I like that..

Lol its true, most of the 'nigerian' functions doesn't involve hausa's. Jus like nollywood doesn't involve hausas and Naija music. Etc

bethnals:

Lol we can defintely tell when we see a non hausa nigerian. But non-hausa nigerian can never tell a hausa unless you hear the lang.

Interesting I am surprised, I would have never expected differently lol