People from Sudan and Sahel Savanna Zone in Nigeria – SS3 Nigerian History Lesson Note (First Term)

The Sudan Savanna and the Sahel Savanna are the two dry grassland zones of northern Nigeria. The Sudan Savanna is a wide belt across the middle-north, while the Sahel Savanna is the driest, northernmost zone, bordering Niger Republic and Chad. Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri are the main peoples. They farm, herd cattle, fish and trade.

Nigeria has many different types of land and climate zones. The Sudan and Sahel zones have shaped the way people live in the north for hundreds of years. In this lesson, we will learn about the people who live in these zones, their way of life, and how they have adapted to their environment.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• State where the Sudan and Sahel Savanna zones are found and describe their climate, vegetation and terrain.
• Name the major ethnic groups of the two zones and describe their ways of life.
• Explain how farming, herding, fishing and trading are adapted to the environment.
• Describe traditional housing and settlement patterns in the zones.
• Describe the religion, family structure, leadership, festivals, and arts and crafts of the people.
• List the modern challenges the people face and their contributions to Nigerian culture.

What are the Sudan and Sahel Savanna zones?

Sudan Savanna zone

The Sudan Savanna is a wide belt of land that stretches across the middle-northern part of Nigeria. This zone includes parts of these states:

• Kebbi
• Sokoto
• Zamfara
• Katsina
• Kano
• Jigawa
• Yobe
• Bauchi
• Gombe
• Borno
• Northern parts of Kaduna

Sahel Savanna zone

The Sahel Savanna is the northernmost zone in Nigeria, bordering Niger Republic and Chad. It is the driest part of Nigeria and is found in:

• Northern parts of Sokoto
• Northern parts of Katsina
• Northern parts of Jigawa
• Northern parts of Yobe
• Northern parts of Borno

What are the physical features of the Sudan and Sahel Savanna?

Climate

• Sudan Savanna: Gets between 600-1000 mm of rainfall each year, mainly from May to October. The dry season lasts 5-7 months.
• Sahel Savanna: Receives only 400-600 mm of rainfall yearly. The dry season is longer, lasting 7-9 months.
• Both zones have high temperatures that can reach 40°C (104°F) during the hot season.
• The harmattan (a dry, dusty wind) blows from the Sahara Desert during the dry season.

Vegetation

• Sudan Savanna: Grass grows up to 2 metres tall during the rainy season. There are scattered trees like the baobab, acacia and shea butter tree.
• Sahel Savanna: Shorter grasses (less than 1 metre) and fewer trees. Trees have special features to survive the dry conditions, like small leaves or thorns.
• During the dry season, most plants turn brown, and many trees lose their leaves.

Terrain

• Mostly flat plains with some hills
• Sandy soils in many areas
• The Lake Chad basin lies in the eastern part of the Sahel zone
• Rivers are seasonal: they flow during the rainy season but dry up in the dry season

Who are the major ethnic groups of the Sudan and Sahel Savanna?

Several ethnic groups have lived in these zones for many generations. Each has its own language, traditions and ways of life.

Hausa

• The largest ethnic group in northern Nigeria
• Speak the Hausa language
• Predominantly Muslim
• Known for trading, farming and crafts
• Live in large walled cities (like Kano, Katsina and Sokoto) and farming villages

Fulani (also called Fulbe)

• Traditionally nomadic cattle herders
• Many have now settled in one place and mix farming with cattle raising
• Speak the Fulfulde language
• Predominantly Muslim
• Known for their cattle-herding skills and dairy products

Kanuri

• Mainly found in Borno and Yobe states around Lake Chad
• Descendants of the powerful Kanem-Bornu Empire
• Speak the Kanuri language
• Predominantly Muslim
• Known for farming, fishing and trading

Other groups

• Nupe: Found in parts of Niger State
• Gwari (Gbagyi): Live in parts of Niger and Kaduna states
• Marghi: Found in southern Borno State
• Babur and Bura: Small groups in Borno and Yobe

How do the people make a living and adapt to the environment?

The people living in the Sudan and Sahel Savanna have developed special ways to survive in their challenging environment.

Agriculture

• Farming techniques:
  1. Growing drought-resistant crops like millet, sorghum, cowpeas and groundnuts
  2. Early-maturing varieties that can grow in a short rainy season
  3. Deep planting to reach moisture in the soil
  4. Wide spacing between plants to reduce competition for water
• Crop rotation and mixed farming:
  1. Growing different crops together (like millet and beans)
  2. Rotating crops each year to keep the soil fertile
  3. Using animal manure as fertiliser
• Irrigation:
  1. Traditional wells and shadoof (a simple machine for lifting water)
  2. Growing vegetables near rivers and lakes during the dry season
  3. Modern irrigation projects in some areas

Pastoralism

• Nomadic and semi-nomadic herding:
  1. Moving with cattle, sheep and goats to find grass and water
  2. Following seasonal patterns of movement (transhumance)
  3. Using cattle breeds like the White Fulani that can withstand drought
• Adaptations for livestock:
  1. Feeding animals with harvested crop residues during the dry season
  2. Digging wells for animals to drink
  3. Keeping smaller animals like goats that need less water

Fishing

• Done in Lake Chad, River Niger and smaller seasonal rivers
• Fish are often dried or smoked to preserve them
• Some fishing communities move as water levels change

Trading

• Long history of trans-Saharan trade routes connecting with North Africa
• Trading centres like Kano have existed for centuries
• Important items include cattle, leather goods, grains and salt
• Modern trading includes agricultural products and manufactured goods

What are the traditional housing and settlement patterns?

Traditional housing

• Materials:
  1. Mud (adobe) is the main building material
  2. Flat roofs in drier areas, thatched roofs where there is more rain
  3. Thick walls to keep out heat
• Design:
  1. Compound housing with several rooms around a courtyard
  2. Small windows to keep out heat and dust
  3. Houses built close together in villages for protection

Settlement patterns

• Urban settlements:
  1. Ancient walled cities like Kano, Katsina and Sokoto
  2. Central markets and mosques as focal points
  3. Traditional rulers’ palaces as administrative centres
• Rural settlements:
  1. Villages often located near water sources
  2. Clustered houses surrounded by farmland
  3. Some nomadic groups use temporary shelters

What are the cultural and social practices of the people?

Religion

• Islam is the predominant religion, introduced around the 11th century
• Islamic practices influence daily life, art, architecture and education
• The Sokoto Caliphate, founded in the early 19th century, spread Islamic education and governance

Family structure

• Extended family system is common
• Patriarchal structure where the oldest male is the head of the family
• Polygamy is practised by some families
• Gender roles are clearly defined in traditional settings

Traditional leadership

• Emirs rule in many areas, continuing a system from pre-colonial times
• Village heads and district heads serve under the emirs
• Religious leaders (Islamic scholars) play important roles
• Age-grade systems exist in some communities, where men of similar age form social groups

Festivals and celebrations

• Eid celebrations: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are major religious festivals
• Durbar festivals: Colourful horse parades held during Eid and other occasions
• Harvest festivals: Celebrating successful crop harvests
• Sharo/Shadi: Fulani festival testing bravery and endurance

Arts and crafts

People from the Sudan and Sahel Savanna are known for their skilled craftsmanship:

• Leatherwork: Shoes, bags, pouches and decorative items
• Weaving: Cotton cloth, mats and baskets
• Pottery: Water jars, cooking pots and decorative items
• Calabash decoration: Carved and decorated gourds used as containers
• Embroidery: Especially on caps, gowns and robes
• Blacksmithing: Making tools, weapons and decorative metal items

What modern challenges and changes affect the people?

Environmental challenges

• Desertification: The desert is spreading southward
• Drought: Increasing frequency of dry periods
• Climate change: Less predictable rainfall patterns
• Deforestation: Loss of trees due to cutting for firewood and clearing for farms

Economic changes

• Shift from traditional livelihoods to wage employment
• Migration to cities for work
• Introduction of cash crops like cotton
• Development of industries in cities like Kano

Social changes

• Modern education alongside traditional Islamic education
• Changing family structures and gender roles
• Migration and movement between different regions
• New technologies affecting traditional practices

What contributions have the people made to Nigerian culture?

People from the Sudan and Sahel Savanna zones have made important contributions to Nigeria as a whole:

• Language: Hausa is widely spoken across Nigeria as a trade language
• Food: Northern dishes like tuwo, suya and kilishi are popular nationwide
• Music: Instruments like the talking drum and kakaki (trumpet)
• Dress: Traditional attire like babban riga (grand boubou) and embroidered caps
• Architecture: Distinctive building styles seen in mosques and palaces
• Governance: Traditional leadership systems and Islamic legal concepts

Evaluation

1. Describe the differences between the Sudan Savanna and Sahel Savanna zones.
2. Name three major ethnic groups from the Sudan and Sahel Savanna zones and describe their traditional livelihoods.
3. Explain how farmers in these zones have adapted to the dry climate.
4. What are some of the traditional crafts people practise in these zones?
5. What modern challenges are people in these zones facing today?

Assignment

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the climate and vegetation of the Sudan and Sahel Savanna zones.
2. List four crops that are commonly grown in these zones and explain why they grow well there.
3. Explain the traditional housing style in the Sudan and Sahel Savanna zones.
4. How has the environment influenced the way of life of the Fulani people?
5. What contributions have people from these zones made to Nigerian culture?