Abstract:
This dissertation studies the kolanut trade in Sokoto city from 1900-2014. The virtues of
kolanut as masticatory to the people of Sokoto as well as the roles it plays in the
promulgation of socio-cultural activities cannot be over emphasized. Just like coffe,
Kolanut is among the stimulants which Islam does not prohibit and this makes its trading
the only ancient existing trade that is still lucrative despite the present day technology at
man’s disposal. The kolanut trade between Sokoto and other parts of West Africa had
been in existence even before the Jihad of 1804. During this period, many products were
traded between Sokoto and Asante and Kurmi in the southwestern part of Nigeria. But
kola has usually been singled out as the commodity of most interest by Sokoto people.
This study examine the Socio-economic and cultural contact between the Hausa
(Sokotawa) kolanut traders and the Yoruba of Southwest of Nigeria. Relations between
different societies could derive from a common origin, trading connections and similar
religious beliefs. This trade also brings about the emergence of certain settlements for
both indigenes and Yoruba settlements as well as emergence of certain kolanut markets
within Sokoto like shagon goro and famous kara market. The trade has also led to the
emergence of prominent kolanut merchants who had contributed immensely towards the
development of the kolanut business in Sokoto city. In the present era, due to the
advancement in the technology, uses of mobile phones, modern means of transport, ebanking
system etc. have came to affect the changing nature of kola transactions
