Hausa in Nigeria

"You are the salt of the earth." Matthew 5:13a

Much has been said about Christians being salt in the world. Christians serve as preservatives against moral decay in a society. Christians "season" a culture, giving it flavor. Finally, Christian "saltiness" creates thirst within a culture. In many ways, the Hausa have been a salty present in Nigeria for many years but not for the sake of Christ. Conquered by the Fulani in the Islamic holy wars of the 1800s, the Hausa culture was in danger of being swallowed up by the culture of their Fulani conquerors. While the Islam of the Fulani became took deep root in Hausa culture, the Hausa managed to preserve their way of life and even influenced the ruling Fulani society.

Today in northern Nigeria, Hausa, not Fulfulbe, is the primary language, and many nomadic Fulbe have adopted the sedentary, agricultural lifestyle of the Hausa. Thus, it is clear that the Hausa are an influential people. Jesus Christ deeply desires cultures to make powerful impacts on society—for the sake of the gospel. Let us pray that the Hausa people might come to know Christ and influence their neighbors. Let us pray that the Hausa language might be a unifying agent, for the sake of telling the good news! 

Hausa Proverbs

Abundance will make cotton pull a stone.

Accomplishment of purpose is better than making a profit.

Even silence speaks.

Even sugar itself may spoil a good dish.

Man only ever scores nine out of ten.

The cry of the hyena and the loss of the goat are one.

When the hyena drinks, the dog can only look on.

Every fault is laid at the door of the hyena, but it does not steal a bale of cloth.

If the owner of the goat is not afraid to travel by night, the owner of a hyena certainly will not be.

If you do not agree with the phases of the moon, get a ladder and repair it.