Hausa in Cameroon


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Islam (Sunni)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Republic of Cameroon is located on the western coast of Africa, just south of Nigeria. Combined with the Fulani, the Hausa are the largest ethnic group in West Africa. The Hausa are originally from an area known as "Hausaland," a region covering 75,000 square miles and straddling the borders of Niger and Nigeria. The Hausa began to migrate to Cameroon at the end of the nineteenth century. In the nineteenth century, very few of the Hausa immigrants came to Cameroon with wives. Instead, as soon as they began to make a living in any area, they would take local wives and start to build families. However, they would invite Hausa priests to settle near them so that their children would be educated in the Koran. This was done in order to reduce the influence of the children's non-Hausa mothers, and to keep the Hausa culture alive. Traditionally the Hausa had a feudal society where the ownership of land and other valuable resources was restricted to certain families and individuals. Those beneath them were the commoners who mainly worked the land but benefitted very little from it. They Hausa were traditionally merchants who traded ivory and kola nuts with North African traders. Between 1884 and 1916, Cameroon was a German colony. The Germans recruited many Hausa traders to act as guides and as spies. Some Hausa soldiers even served in the German campaigns. The Germans favored the Hausa over other tribes due to their more civilized and trade-oriented society. Though the Hausa are especially populous in Nigeria where they are merging with the Fulani, they also live in most West African nations and as far east as Sudan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

This is a very prominent people group throughout West Africa. They have their own clothing style, their own cuisine, and their language and culture dominates West Africa. The Hausas were very instrumental in developing the economy in Cameroon. The Hausa are very industrious people and they do not tolerate idleness. In fact, they have been known to hold down several occupations at the same time, such as positions in the military, trade and commerce, social services, and in the spreading of Islam. They are known for being merchants who sell tie-dye clothing and leather goods. Others tend cattle or grow wheat, sorghum, millet, and maize. The Hausa usually wear loose flowing gowns and trousers. The gowns have wide openings on both sides for ventilation. The trousers are loose at the top and center, but rather tight around the ankles. Leather sandals and turbans are also typical. For casual wear, a taggo (long jumper) may replace the big gown, and they might wear a plain cap instead of a turban. The early Hausa priests and traders influenced many non-Hausa in West Africa to adopt this style of dress. They wanted to be associated with the privileged group of people who enjoyed access to kings and wealthy people. Today, however, more and more people wear European style clothing. Their society has always been very patrilineal, which meant that the line of descent was through the father's side of the family. Hausas tend to marry cousins and distant relatives. Hausa women are given less educational opportunities than men. In fact, they are often confined to the home, except for visits to relatives, ceremonies, and the workplace. They are primarily responsible for tending to the children and doing the household chores. This includes providing the water and fuel needed for cooking. In addition, they are expected to invest the rest of their time in some type of trade. The money they earn is used in financing their daughters' dowries. Some have wrongly assumed that Boko Haram comes from the Hausa because the term itself is from the Hausa language. But Boko Haram is mainly from the Kanuri and Fulani tribes.


Today members of the Hausa community are highly trained, educated and assimilated into the political and social life of many African countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Some of the Hausas have become very rich. They are deeply involved in the politics of their communities.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Hausa of Cameroon are virtually all Muslim. The Hausa identify with Islam, but many of their religious practices have been mixed with local traditions. For example, they believe in a variety of spirits, both good and bad. Traditional rituals include making sacrificial offerings to the spirits and to the spirit possessed. Family members perform most rituals, but they call upon specialists to cure diseases. They believe their priest, or malams, have the best charms. According to the malams, different magical formulas have different effects. The priests claim to have cures for every aspect of human desire or concern. The malams are welcomed guests among Hausa people because they believe that the priests' prayers will be answered.


What Are Their Needs?

Hausa culture is strongly linked to Islam, making it difficult to reach this people group with the gospel. Islam has been carried throughout West Africa by Hausa traders and priests, and nearly everyone expects a Hausa to be Muslim.


Prayer Points

Pray for Hausa elders in Cameroon to welcome Christ's ambassadors into their communities. Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive Hausa families to seek and find the blessings of Jesus Christ. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among the Hausa people in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.


Scripture Prayers for the Hausa in Cameroon.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Hausa
People Name in Country Hausa
Pronunciation HOW-sah
Alternate Names Adarawa; Adarawa Hausa; Arawa; Arewa; Fellata; Hausa Ajami; Hausa Fulani; Hausawa; Kurfei; Maguzawa; North Hausa; Soudie; Tazarawa
Population this Country 434,000
Population all Countries 56,939,000
Total Countries 16
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 9
PeopleID3 12070
ROP3 Code 103733
Country Cameroon
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 43  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Cameroon
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 43  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Widespread..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.08 %)
0.10 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.90 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Hausa
Language Code hau   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Hausa
Language Code hau   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Hausa

Primary Language:  Hausa

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1857-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1880-1965)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1932-2020)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hausa Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hausa YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hausa Contemporary Bible Biblica
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hausa YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hausa Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Erik Laursen, New Covenant Missions 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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