₦airaland Forum

The relationship between Hausa as a language and Europe as continent started in the late 18th century. It was revealed that the first Hausa man who set his foot on the soil of Europe was a slave from present day Borno. He was a slave to a Tunisian trader named Abdurrahman, who visited Denmark
for business purposes in 1773.

In the Denmark, he met with an explorer-cum-traveller in person of BG Niebuhr, who visited Arabian Peninsula with a group of friends earlier before Abdurrahman visited Denmark. During his stay in Denmark, Niebuhr befriended Abdurrahman and urged his slave to teach him Hausa and Kanuri. He learnt the meaning of some words from him and jotted them down. These words were published in 1791 in a book titled The Life of Niebuhr in Denmark.

The above marked the beginning of Hausa words in Europe. However, the name of that slave was not recorded anywhere in history.

In 1792, another Moroccan businessman called Alhadj
Abdussalam Shebeni, who seldom travelled to England for business, informed their noblemen about a land and tribe called ‘Housa’. He also informed them that the Hausa people are literate as they could read and write in Arabic or Ajami.

That information prompted the government of England and some African states to scratch more about Hausa. Among the early explorers and travellers who visited Hausaland were Dr Henrich Barth and JF Schon. In an attempt to ease his journey, and get easy access to Hausa communities and Timbuktou,...Click link to continue reading https://gobirmob.com/history-of-first-hausas-to-cross-over-europe-in-ancient-times/

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Nice read.

With the Trans-Sahara trade route, I don't think those would have being the 1st to set foot on European soil, my belief is that hausas might have being to Rome and never come back, there are accounts of nubians during Roman empire, not only that during the ottoman empire which is European by the way, blacks were the eunichs at the court.

masseratti:
With the Trans-Sahara trade route, I don't think those would have being the 1st to set foot on European soil, my belief is that hausas might have being to Rome and never come back, there are accounts of nubians during Roman empire, not only that during the ottoman empire which is European by the way, blacks were the eunichs at the court.

The "blacks" in rome were mostly numidian and like you said nubian who technically arent even black. Most slaves in the middle east and the ottoman empire were from sudanese, east african and central african regions. Most hausa slaves remained within hausa states like having kanoan slaves in katsina and vice versa. The few hausa slaves that made it out of africa were most likely the ones in kanem-bornu. In any case this was the first documented instance of a hausa person in europe may not necessarily be the first. As far as slavery goes historically hausas were very lucky.

ReysonDrabek:
The "blacks" in rome were mostly numidian and like you said nubian who technically arent even black. Most slaves in the middle east and the ottoman empire were from sudanese, east african and central african regions. Most hausa slaves remained within hausa states like having kanoan slaves in katsina and vice versa. The few hausa slaves that made it out of africa were most likely the ones in kanem-bornu. In any case this was the first documented instance of a hausa person in europe may not necessarily be the first. As far as slavery goes historically hausas were very lucky.

nubians are blacks, nothing like technically black or not, like you said "documented" if that Malian knew what king had set foot in mecca, am very sure lots of blacks from the sahel region must av being to Europe through slave trade, the trans Sahara slave trade was bigger /older than the Atlantic slave trade.

masseratti:
nubians are blacks, nothing like technically black or not, like you said "documented" if that Malian knew what king had set foot in mecca, am very sure lots of blacks from the sahel region must av being to Europe through slave trade, the trans Sahara slave trade was bigger /older than the Atlantic slave trade.

The nubians (people inhabiting nubia) that existed during the roman empire whether your insecurity will allow you to believe it or not were not black, nor were they white. Its like when people ignorantly claimed cleopatra (caesars egyptian wife) was black. During this period the present day egyptians you see (who contrary to popular opinion are not arab but an ethnicity of their own) were already settled in these regions. And if she was probably brown. Some of these nubians had red hair and blue eyes so i dont know what your definition of black is. If you are talking about nubians as an ethnicity then thats an entirely different case because then theres no way theyd be hausas since the manuscript was referencing their ethnicity. The rest of what you are saying i dont really know what you mean, are you talking about mansa musa or what? Again most of the trans saharan trade took place within central to east africa. Sure a few hausas may have found their way there but they had no significant numbers. This is documented as the first because there is no other evidence of hausas present in europe.

ReysonDrabek:
The nubians (people inhabiting nubia) that existed during the roman empire whether your insecurity will allow you to believe it or not were not black, nor were they white. Its like when people ignorantly claimed cleopatra (caesars egyptian wife) was black. During this period the present day egyptians you see (who contrary to popular opinion are not arab but an ethnicity of their own) were already settled in these regions. And if she was probably brown. Some of these nubians had red hair and blue eyes so i dont know what your definition of black is. If you are talking about nubians as an ethnicity then thats an entirely different case because then theres no way theyd be hausas since the manuscript was referencing their ethnicity. The rest of what you are saying i dont really know what you mean, are you talking about mansa musa or what? Again most of the trans saharan trade took place within central to east africa. Sure a few hausas may have found their way there but they had no significant numbers. This is documented as the first because there is no other evidence of hausas present in europe.

I don't call Egyptians Arab, they themselves don't call themselves Arab, Nubians are negro from Sudan, to Ethiopia and from their ancestral land kush, nothing more nothing less, don't confuse them with Maghrebs, Egyptians, Arabs, Indians are Caucasians period, yes the human race intermarries /mix that's why we all have different features, but some are more prominent than others, Nubians are blacks nothing technical about it.

masseratti:
I don't call Egyptians Arab, they themselves don't call themselves Arab, Nubians are negro from Sudan, to Ethiopia and from their ancestral land kush, nothing more nothing less, don't confuse them with Maghrebs, Egyptians, Arabs, Indians are Caucasians period, yes the human race intermarries /mix that's why we all have different features, but some are more prominent than others, Nubians are blacks nothing technical about it.

So what are you talking about, are you talking about nubians as in the occupants nubia during the roman empire or the nubian indigenous ethnic group (yes, theyre black)? Either these points negates your comment that hausas were possibly among them. Because one, the occupants of nubia at the time werent black and nubians as an ethnicity is not an umbrella term for all black people.

ReysonDrabek:
So what are you talking about, are you talking about nubians as in the occupants nubia during the roman empire or the nubian indigenous ethnic group (yes, theyre black)? Either these points negates your comment that hausas were possibly among them. Because one, the occupants of nubia at the time werent black and nubians as an ethnicity is not an umbrella term for all black people.

Roman's call blacks negros, Nubians are part of Negros, they are the one nearest to the immediate Caucasians because of geography, just like Indians who are Caucasians are the nearest to mongoloids because of Geography too, human race mixed,

If the trans Sahara slave trade is the oldest and biggest in history, definitely hausa slaves must have ended up in Europe at one time or the other, one reason we never had a written account of them is that unlike the transatlantic slave trade that was abolished, the trans Sahara trade wasn't until early 21st century and its still on a way practiced underground, last country that abolish it was Mauritania in the 70s.

masseratti:
Roman's call blacks negros, Nubians are part of Negros, they are the one nearest to the immediate Caucasians because of geography, just like Indians who are Caucasians are the nearest to mongoloids because of Geography too, human race mixed,

If the trans Sahara slave trade is the oldest and biggest in history, definitely hausa slaves must have ended up in Europe at one time or the other, one reason we never had a written account of them is that unlike the transatlantic slave trade that was abolished, the trans Sahara trade wasn't until early 21st century and its still on a way practiced underground, last country that abolish it was Mauritania in the 70s.

Mate, the romans didnt call blacks anything. The classification of races that tagged black people under "negroes" happened long after the roman empire. Romans were actually known to be quite progressive. Their tags are usually accurate and they dont refer to people by races. You said there instances of nubians in rome so thats exactly what it means, nubians. Thats not an umbrella term for all blacks such that because there were nubians it automatically means other black ethnicities were involved.

Again i'm not rejecting that notion. it had nothing to do with what being abolished when, there are records of sudanese east african and bantu slaves all over arabian manuscripts, why are there none of hausas? like i said, these instances were few. Its easy to speculate but the fellow he listed is the first bonafide account of a hausa person in europe. Like i said, everything else is speculative.

ReysonDrabek:
Mate, the romans didnt call blacks anything. The classification of races that tagged black people under "negroes" happened long after the roman empire. Romans were actually known to be quite progressive. Their tags are usually accurate and they dont refer to people by races. You said there instances of nubians in rome so thats exactly what it means, nubians. Thats not an umbrella term for all blacks such that because there were nubians it automatically means other black ethnicities were involved.

Again i'm not rejecting that notion. it had nothing to do with what being abolished when, there are records of sudanese east african and bantu slaves all over arabian manuscripts, why are there none of hausas? like i said, these instances were few. Its easy to speculate but the fellow he listed is the first bonafide account of a hausa person in europe. Like i said, everything else is speculative.

oga please where did the word negro comes from? What's the etymology if that word, I don't know where u get your history from, am not trying to win an argument or try to be right it won't bring me money...hausa yoruba Igbos are much more modern names adopted by these people who share common culture and language, heck a Roman won't know what the hell or ego the hell a Hausa will be or is, anyone from Sudan downwards is negro to them same as the nubians who are the closest Nubians to our own closest Caucasians the Egyptians... Simple no rocket science.

There were no "Hausa men from Borno" in the 18th century. That 'Hausa man' was probably a Kanuri.

masseratti:
With the Trans-Sahara trade route, I don't think those would have being the 1st to set foot on European soil, my belief is that hausas might have being to Rome and never come back, there are accounts of nubians during Roman empire, not only that during the ottoman empire which is European by the way, blacks were the eunichs at the court.

atleast u have to know that Hausa are civilised before the coming of Europeans they can build a well constructed house they wear clothes they are very crafty they make swords, turban, dye clothes that are are transported to as far to Middle East or north africa they know how to read and write they have system of transportation like using Horses, camels, donkey and I know three hundred year s back ur ancestors don't know all this.

labani06:
atleast u have to know...

This has nothing to do with the issue at hand. Please delete this comment.

RedboneSmith:
There were no "Hausa men from Borno" in the 18th century. That 'Hausa man' was probably a Kanuri.

Well you have to entertain the idea of hausa slaves in borno. Its a possibility but the part that got me is the fact that he speaks kanuri as well, absolutely possible that hed been there for a while and probably grew up there as a slave. I was going to raise the same point but i decided to give the narrative the benefit of the doubt on the grounds that it was absolutely plausible.

masseratti:
oga please where did the word negro comes from? What's the etymology if that word, I don't know where u get your history from, am not trying to win an argument or try to be right it won't bring me money...hausa yoruba Igbos are much more modern names adopted by these people who share common culture and language, heck a Roman won't know what the hell or ego the hell a Hausa will be or is, anyone from Sudan downwards is negro to them same as the nubians who are the closest Nubians to our own closest Caucasians the Egyptians... Simple no rocket science.

The etymology of the word doesnt matter if you refer to my earlier statement, the romans didnt call black people negroes.

I dont know about the others but hausa as a word has existed for at least a millennium.

Again you're wrong. Romans are well informed and would know everything about everyone they were involved in. Everything else you're saying is a baseless assumption. If they can make the distinction between nubian, carthaginians and numidian they will extend the courtesy to other demographics. Mind you, the roman definition was more about a region than a people so their definition of nubians will be its inhabitants. All these people, numidian, carthaginian and nubian were darker than romans and other europeans, were not black. These were the ancestors of the berbers (and by extension tuareg/kel tamasheq) and egyptians. Saying that they are is akin to saying zidane and benzema are black.

ReysonDrabek:
The etymology of the word doesnt matter if you refer to my earlier statement, the romans didnt call black people negroes.

I dont know about the others but hausa as a word has existed for at least a millennium.

Again you're wrong. Romans are well informed and would know everything about everyone they were involved in. Everything else you're saying is a baseless assumption. If they can make the distinction between nubian, carthaginians and numidian they will extend the courtesy to other demographics. Mind you, the roman definition was more about a region than a people so their definition of nubians will be its inhabitants. All these people, numidian, carthaginian and nubian were darker than romans and other europeans, were not black. These were the ancestors of the berbers (and by extension tuareg/kel tamasheq) and egyptians. Saying that they are is akin to saying zidane and benzema are black.

oga I rest my case you are right, if I start dissecting what you wrote here with facts from internet well known names, you will still not agree, it's Monday morning, etymology of a word does not matters its your opinion that matters, who told you Carthaginians are dark in any forms? Are Tunisians dark in anyform? They are white point blank, whites comes in different shades and tones depending on geography, Nubians are blacks pure and simple of course the tone of their Black is different from west Africans or south African, heck in Nigeria it self we have different shades of skin tones, southern Kaduna people are darker that average Igbos, Hausa name has being in existence for over a thousand years, oga please don't go into that debate, there was nothing like the name Hausa in the 17 century, all have city states, the name was adopted in the early 18th century... Go and read your books please... Its Monday morning.. Money has to be made.

labani06:
atleast u have to know that Hausa are civilised before the coming of Europeans they can build a well constructed house they wear clothes they are very crafty they make swords, turban, dye clothes that are are transported to as far to Middle East or north africa they know how to read and write they have system of transportation like using Horses, camels, donkey and I know three hundred year s back ur ancestors don't know all this.

the people you call hausa where the last stop for the slave/salt trade on the trans Sahara route, they traded with the Arabs, tuaregs, Maghrebs, salt was a very valuable commodity in the past its natural for they to acquire skills from advances civilization, of course 300 years back my ancestors can't know that because he was in a lush fertile place where all he needs has being cater for by nature around him, but right now his progenitors will take your ancestors offsprings to school and teach them civility.

masseratti:
the people you call hausa where the last stop for the slave/salt trade on the trans Sahara route, they traded with the Arabs, tuaregs, Maghrebs, salt was a very valuable commodity in the past its natural for they to acquire skills from advances civilization, of course 300 years back my ancestors can't know that because he was in a lush fertile place where all he needs has being cater for by nature around him, but right now his progenitors will take your ancestors offsprings to school and teach them civility.

u are lying because wallahi u don't have the knowledge to teach us we northerners school activities and all the civilisation we have during the ancient times non of it is acquired from any advance civilisation it was invented by our ancestors

labani06:
u are lying because wallahi u don't have the knowledge to teach us we northerners school activities and all the civilisation we have during the ancient times non of it is acquired from any advance civilisation it was invented by our ancestors

chai.... Lolzzzz I agree with you, you happy now?

masseratti:
chai.... Lolzzzz I agree with you, you happy now?

ok

masseratti:
oga I rest my case you are right, if I start dissecting what you wrote here with facts from internet well known names, you will still not agree, it's Monday morning, etymology of a word does not matters its your opinion that matters, who told you Carthaginians are dark in any forms? Are Tunisians dark in anyform? They are white point blank, whites comes in different shades and tones depending on geography, Nubians are blacks pure and simple of course the tone of their Black is different from west Africans or south African, heck in Nigeria it self we have different shades of skin tones, southern Kaduna people are darker that average Igbos, Hausa name has being in existence for over a thousand years, oga please don't go into that debate, there was nothing like the name Hausa in the 17 century, all have city states, the name was adopted in the early 18th century... Go and read your books please... Its Monday morning.. Money has to be made.

Well whats the whole point of this discussion if you dont try to dissect everything i write? if you have facts that prove the contrary then please go ahead. The etymology doesnt matter because the word negroe is a relatively more recent phenomenon. No, tunisians and carthaginians arent white, at least not compared to the romans. sicilians and other southern italians are seen as dark in italy and they're about the same shade as north africans. You keep saying nubians are blacks and you fail to see how that disproves your statement. If your point is romans were referring to nubians as an ethnicity (they werent BTW) then that still means hausas are disqualified because hausas arent nubians.

The word hausa has been found in arabian manuscripts dating back to the 10th century in the words of writers like Al Yaqubi. Hausa is not only an ethnicity (the ethnicity of the habitants of these states) but the name of the language as well. You seem extremely ignorant about these issues and you're telling someone else to go read his books. The irony.