Sokoto (Sakkwato) is the capital city of Sokoto State in North West Nigeria. Being the seat of the former Sokoto Caliphate, the city is predominantly Muslim and an important seat of Islamic learning in Nigeria. The Sultan who heads the caliphate is effectively the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims. The slogan of Sokoto is nicknamed "Seat of the Caliphate".
The city had a population of 426,000 in 2006. Sokoto is sparsely settled and is mainly populated by Hausa and Fulani people. Other minority groups include the Zabarmawa and Tuareg who also speak Hausa as a common language. The majority of residents in Sokoto are Sunni Muslims, with a Shia minority. It is the site of the Usmanu Danfodio University which was founded in 1975. The city of Sokoto has a cement factory, tanneries, and a modern abattoir and refrigeration plant, commercial and industrial centre, modern textile industry, a seed-oil mill, and a soybean-processing plant.
Sokoto lacks a public transport system. Transport within the city (when not by foot) is mainly by mopeds which operate as one-person taxis and sometimes tricycles transport persons from one place to the other; this allows for carriage of more than one person at a time (still at a cheap price as mopeds). Buses and taxis are infrequent and are generally used only for transport between cities.
1 Waziri Jumaidu History and Culture Bureau. Established in 1973. The museum has an assortment of over 500,000 historical treasures that tell the story of the Sokoto people. There are various display of the cultural relics and artifacts of the local people. (updated Jan 2022) 2 Palace of Sultan of Sokoto. Architecture’s masterpiece with great cultural and artistic excellence. It is also the spiritual head of all Muslims in Nigeria and the sultan’s palace symbolizes the unity of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah. (updated Jan 2022) Tomb of the Islamic scholar Shehu Kangiwa Square located at Princess Alexandra Road, Mabera, Sokoto.
Sharo-/Shadi festival is also known as flogging competition. It is a traditional rite of passage for Jafun Fulani. This festival is carried out annually. During the festival, young bachelors are being whipped so as to determine whether they are eligible for marriage. It is also an avenue to test their endurance when they are faced hard times. The youths, escorted by girls, are led into the ring of spectators bare chested and armed with whips. As the noise of singing, drumming and cheering rises to its peak, each young man must stoically endure a flogging to demonstrate his manhood. The young man only qualifies to marry if he passes the test.
Sokoto has a number of spots where visitors and tourists can sample a taste of the city’s amazing cuisines plus other foreign dishes.The city’s popular foods are Dawo and mostly sold by Fulani hawkers and roadside food vendors. Howbeit, these plus other meals can also be gotten from the conventional restaurants within the town of Sokoto. Some of the prominent eating spots are: Beebee Fast Food Restaurant & Catering Services Breakfast, Launch & Dinner; including cakes for all occasion; Snacks, Shawama,Ice-cream. Ilorin Rd, Off Kano Rd, Behind Zenith Bank, Sokoto South, Sokoto.
There are a number of places where visitors can go and drink in Sokoto Shhukura Carol Hotel Pinnacle guest Inn Nd Resort Sokoto. Hotel bar and Restaurant.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Oct, Sokoto typically sees ~35°C daytime highs and 2 rainy days.
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