North West
Katsina State
Capital: Katsina · Created 1987 · ≈9.0 million · Area 24,192 km²
Population
≈9.0 million
Size
24,192 km²
Capital
Katsina
Year created
1987
Geopolitical zone
North West
Languages
Hausa · Fulfulde · English
Ethnic groups
- Hausa-Fulani (majority)
- Maguzawa
Natural resources
- Kaolin
- Asbestos
- Uranium
- Nickel
- Manganese
- Groundnut
- Cotton
Signature foods
- Tuwo shinkafa
- Kilishi
- Suya
- Masa
- Fura da nono
Notable people
- Muhammadu Buhari (former President)
- Umaru Yar'Adua (former President)
- Aminu Bello Masari (former governor)
- Yakubu Dogara (former Speaker)
Culture, values & festivals
- Katsina Emirate (1400s) — one of the seven original Hausa Bakwai states
- Durbar horse parade
- Ancient Islamic scholarship (Katsina College still teaches Arabic)
Top places to visit in Katsina
- 1
Gobarau Minaret
500-year-old mud-brick minaret in Katsina city.
- 2
Emir's Palace, Katsina
Historic palace with elaborate carvings.
- 3
Kusugu Well, Daura
Site of the Bayajidda legend of Hausa origin.
- 4
Jibia Border Market
Cross-border market with Niger — cattle, camels, textiles.
About the North West
Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa. Hausa-Fulani heartland; Africa's largest inland cities.