Katsina State is set to make history this month as it throws its full weight behind the global celebration of World Hausa Day on August 26, marking the first time the event will receive official state sponsorship.
At a press briefing in Katsina on Tuesday, Dr. Kabir Ali-Masanawa, Executive Secretary of the state’s History and Culture Bureau, announced that preparations were in their final stages and that this year’s commemoration would draw participants from around the world to honour the rich heritage of the Hausa people.
“This year, at least 24 countries will join in the celebration,” Ali-Masanawa said, adding that Governor Dikko Radda is personally committed to making the event a success. “We recently visited the Emir’s Palace in Daura to seek his blessings and reaffirm our pride in Hausa history.”
The festivities will showcase Hausa traditions through music, dance, traditional dress, and culinary experiences highlighting the famed hospitality of the people. Visitors will also witness live cooking sessions that tell the stories behind the region’s iconic dishes.
Organising committee member Malam Abdulbaki Jari noted that World Hausa Day, first marked in 2015, celebrates a language now ranked 11th most spoken globally, with growth projections that could push it even higher by 2050.
“Tourists travel to Paris or Rome for history; we want them to come to Katsina for Hausa heritage,” Jari said.
Hausa communities from the UK, USA, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and, for the first time, the Netherlands will participate, with images and videos from events across continents shared to unite the global Hausa diaspora.
The main celebration will take place at the Emir of Daura’s palace, where Emir Alhaji Faruq Umar-Faruq — a long-time champion of Hausa identity — will address guests. Organisers say the improved security situation makes Katsina not just a cultural hotspot but also a growing Islamic tourism destination.
