Hausa Language, culture pillars of African identity, unity – Kano Governor

Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State has described Hausa Language and culture as important pillars of African identity, unity and development.

He stated this in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Sanusi Bature, on Wednesday in Kano.

The governor congratulated the Hausa people in Nigeria, Africa and globally on the 2026 International Hausa Day.

“The 2026 celebration, tagged: “Our Culture, Our Future,” offers an important opportunity for Hausa people and Africans to reflect on the need to preserve their language, culture, history and traditions for future generations.

“The International Hausa Day initiated in 2015 by a journalist, Abdulbaki Jari, alongside his social media associates has grown into a global platform for promoting Hausa language and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the people,” he said.

The governor commended the organisers for selecting Daura, the cradle of Hausa civilisation, as the centre of this year’s celebration, where a Durbar would showcase the richness, history and traditions of Hausa culture.

He also welcomed the participation of Hausa communities in the diaspora, who would celebrate the day in about 30 countries, including U.S., Türkiye, Indonesia, Egypt, Senegal, Ghana, Togo and South Sudan.

According to him, Hausa has remained an important lingua franca in West Africa, playing significant roles in promoting peace, governance, commerce, education and social interaction among communities and countries.

Yusuf, therefore, urged the people, particularly young people, to take pride in their language, culture and history, while embracing modern technology and education to promote Hausa globally.

He stressed that preserving indigenous languages and cultures was essential to strengthening African identity, unity and cooperation.

The governor commended international media platforms that broadcast in Hausa such as the BBC, RFI International, DW, Radio Iran, and TRT Hausa for their efforts in promoting the language.

He called for greater intra-African cooperation, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence, saying cultural diversity should be used as a bridge for bringing Africans together.

Yusuf prayed for lasting peace and harmony in Northern Nigeria, Nigeria and Africa as a whole, while wishing participants at the celebrations a successful and memorable event.