Zamfara State is a state in
northwestern Nigeria
.
Its
capital is Gusau
and its
Governor is
Mahmud Shinkafi, a former member of
the All Nigeria People's
Party (ANPP), now a member the People's Democratic Party
(PDP). Until 1996 the area was
part of Sokoto
State
.
Zamfara is peopled by Hausa and Fulani peoples. Major groups of
people include the Zamfarawa mainly peopling Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum
and Talata Mafara Local Governments areas. Gobirawa peopled
Shinkafi Local Government. Gobirawa actually migrated from the
Gobir Kingdom. Burmawa are found in Bakura and Fulani peopled
Bungudu, Maradun, Gusau and are scattered all over the State. In
Tsafe, Bungudu and Maru Local Governments are mainly Katsinawa,
Garewawa and Hadejawa. While Alibawa peopled Kaura Namoda and
Zurmi.
Although the people of Zamfara have over the years struggled to
have autonomy, it was not until 1996 that the then Military
Administration of the Late General Sani Abacha created Zamfara
State out of Sokoto State. With an area of 38,418 Square
kilometres, It is bordered in the North by Niger republic, to the
South by Kaduna State. In the east it is bordered by Katsina State
and to the West by Sokoto and Niger States. It has a population of
2,069,373 according to the 1991 census and constitutes of fourteen
local government areas.
History
The area today called Zamfara state was one of the old Hausa
city-states like Kano, Katsina, Gobir, Kabi and Zazzau. It extends
up to the bend of River Rima to the north west and River Ka in the
south west. Zamfara Kingdom was established in the 11th century and
flourished up to 16th century as a city-state. Its capital has
shifted with the fortunes of the kingdom from place to place like
Dutsi and Birnin Zamfara. In the first half of the 18th century,
its then capital Birnin Zamfara, was destroyed by the Gobir Kingdom
and a new capital was established in Anka by the second half of the
19th century. Zamfara had many centers of commerce and scholarship
that attracted many scholars like the Yandoto city. It became part
of the Sakkwato Caliphate after the 1804 Jihad by Usman Danfodiyo.
In fact, Usman Danfodiyo settled in Sabon Gari where Sarkin Zamfara
Abarshi had already established a garrison headquarters during the
early days of his Jihad as a base from where fought Gobir and
Kabi.
At the wake of British colonialism, the emerging town of Gusau
became an important commercial and administrative center with road
and rail networks passing through it. With the creation of States
during the Gowon Administration, Zamfara Kindgom became part of the
then North West State and latter Sokoto State.
Climate
The climate of Zamfara is warm tropical with temperature rising up
to 38
oC between March to May. Rainy season starts in
late May to September while the cold season known as Harmattan
lasts from December to February.
Local Government Areas
Demographics
Zamfara State is mainly populated by
Hausa and
Fulani people, with some members of
Gwari,
Kamuku,
Kambari,
Dukawa,
Bussawa and Zabarma ethnic communities.
[159023]
Others include the Igbo, Yoruba, Kanuri, Nupe and Tiv.
The state capital is an important commercial center with a
heterogeneous population of people from all over Nigeria. As in all
major towns in Nigeria, all the major towns in Zamfara have a large
population of other peoples from different parts of Nigeria.
Economy
Agriculture is the most important occupation of the people of the
state, hence its slogan "farming is our pride".
Religion
Islam is the principal and major religion of the state. Zamfara was
the first state in Nigeria to introduce the
sharia law.
Language
English is the official language of the state. Other main languages
spoken in Zamfara are Hausa, Fulfulde and Arabic.
Populations
The population of Zamfara based on their 1991 census is 2.069
million people.
References
See also
External links
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