KATSINA (or KATSENA), an ancient state of the western Sudan, now included in the Zaria province of the British protec torate of Northern Nigeria. Katsina was amongst the oldest of the Hausa states. There exist manuscripts which carry back its history for about 1,000 years and tradition ascribes the origin of the Hausa population, which is known also by the name of Habe or Habeche, to the union of Bajibda of Baghdad with a prehistoric queen of Daura. More trustworthy records show that it was a well organized state in the 14th century. The conquest of the Habe of Katsina by the Fula about the beginning of the 19th century made little difference to the country. The more cultivated Habe were already Mohammedan and the new rulers adopted the existing customs and system of government. These were in many respects highly developed and included elaborate systems of tax ation and justice.
The town of Katsina is situated in 13° N., 45' E., being 84 m. N.W. of Kano. The walls of Katsina have a circuit of between 13 and 14 miles, but only part of the enclosed space is inhabited. In the 17th and 18th centuries it appears to have been the largest town in the Hausa countries, and its inhabitants at that time numbered some 100,000. The present town must be comparatively modern, for at the time of Leo Africanus (c. 1513) there was no
place of any considerable size in the province of Katsina. The ancient town, probably on another site, was known as the chief seat of learning throughout the Hausa states and this reputation was maintained by the new town. In the beginning of the 19th century the town fell into the hands of the Fula, but only after a protracted and heroic defence. In March 1903 Sir F. Lugard visited Katsina on his way from Sokoto and the emir and chiefs accepted British suzerainty without fighting. The emir was un faithful to his oath of allegiance to the British crown, and was deposed in 1904. His successor worked cordially with the British authorities, and the native administration reached a considerable degree of efficiency. A training college for Mohammedan teachers was established as well as a well-equipped native hospital. A num ber of Europeans, traders and others, have settled in Katsina, which is a cotton-growing and cattle raising region.
See the Travels of Heinrich Barth (new ed., London, 189o, chs. xxiii. and xxiv.). Consult also the Annual Report on Northern Nigeria (Colonial Office, London) for 1902 and other years, and Nigeria, Annual Report, Northern Provinces (Kaduna, 1928).