Hausa city-states (Of Lions and Falcons)

The Seven Hausa city-states (Hausa Bakwai) were first mentioned by the Arab historian Ya'qubi in the 9th century and they were by the 15th century vibrant trading centers competing with Kanem-Bornu and the Mali Empire.

Unlike its more powerful neighbors (Songhai, Maliand Kanem) the Hausa never have formed a coherent single political unit.

At various moments in their history, the Hausa managed to establish central control over their states, but such unity has always proven short. In the 11th century the conquests initiated by Gijimasu of Kano culminated in the birth of the first united Hausa Nation under Queen Amina, the Sultana of Zazzau but severe rivalries between the states led to periods of domination by major powers like the Songhai and Kanem.

The primary exports were slaves, leather, gold, cloth, salt, kola nuts, animal hides, and henna.

The seven states are;
 * Daura
 * Kano
 * Katsina
 * Zaria (Zazzau)
 * Gobir
 * Rano
 * Biram:(Hadejia)