Arabic (Semitic) · Nigeria’s peoples

Shuwa Arab

The Shuwa Arabs of Borno speak Chadian Arabic and belong to the Baggara cattle-herding Arabs of the Sahel.

At a glance

Where do the Shuwa Arab people live?: Their homeland is in Jere and Kala Balge in Borno State, across 2 local government areas.
What language do the Shuwa Arab speak?: Chadian (Shuwa) Arabic, a language of the Arabic (Semitic) family (Afro-Asiatic › Semitic › Arabic).

Overview

The Shuwa Arabs of Borno speak Chadian Arabic and belong to the Baggara cattle-herding Arabs of the Sahel. Records place Arab settlement in the Lake Chad region at least as early as 1391. They live mainly in central and northern Borno.^[2],[3]High confidence

Where the Shuwa Arab live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Borno
- Jere(Shared area)
- Kala Balge(Shared area)
- Bama(Smaller presence)
- Damboa(Smaller presence)
- Dikwa(Smaller presence)
- Gwoza(Smaller presence)
- Konduga(Smaller presence)
- Kukawa(Smaller presence)
- Mafa(Smaller presence)
- Magumeri(Smaller presence)
- Maiduguri(Smaller presence)
- Marte(Smaller presence)
- Monguno(Smaller presence)
- Ngala(Smaller presence)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Shuwa of Maiduguri

Jere, Borno State.^[4],[5]Medium confidence

The Shuwa are among the Muslim peoples of Maiduguri; Shuwa Arab soldiers fought for al-Kanemi in his defence of Bornu in 1808.^[4],[5]

Language

Chadian (Shuwa) Arabic, a language of the Arabic (Semitic) family (Afro-Asiatic › Semitic › Arabic). ISO 639-3: shu.^[1],[2]High confidence

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).