Abstract:
Hausaland, located in present-day northern Nigeria, was a key trading hub in West Africa. Its strategic position enabled trade with North Africa, Sudan, and other West African regions. The trans-Saharan trade network linked Hausaland to North Africa, significantly influencing the development of Arabic manuscript culture as important commercial and intellectual centers in Hausaland, such as Kano and Katsina, owed their greatness to their contact with north African commercial centers. This commercial interaction allowed for the exchange of manuscripts and ideas between scholars from both regions, profoundly shaping Hausaland's Arabic manuscript traditions. Consequently, increased trade with North Africa, led to the establishment of local scriptorium in Hausaland for copying and illuminating manuscripts. This paper aims to analyze the emergence and growth of intellectual exchange between Hausaland and North Africa, highlighting the impact of this contact and the contributions of select scholars in introducing new texts that fostered a unique mixture of Arabic and Hausa cultures.
Keywords: Hausaland, Trans-Saharan trade, North Africa, Ajami manuscript, Tsangaya
DOI: 10.36349/sokotojh.2025.v13i01.001
author/Aliyu, S. S., Muhammad, M. S. & Samaila, A.
journal/Sokoto JH | Vol. 13, Issue 1 | Dec. 2025
