Arewa (Niger)

Arewa's traditional leadership continues a largely ceremonial reign in the 21st century, centered just north of the town of Dogondoutchi.^[1][2][3] Arewa, still home to a shrinking animist Hausa community, hosts a yearly religious festival which draws both believers and foreign tourists.^[4]

Arewa is simply a Hausa language term meaning "northern" or "northerners". Derived from the Hausa word for "North", "Areoun", the "-wa" the typical "People of" suffix, Arewa has several alternate meanings specific to the geography and politics of modern Nigeria, south of Niger.^[2]