Independent Hausa kingdoms in present-day Nigeria and Niger developed as commercial centers with walled cities, leatherwork, and Islamic scholarship. They engaged in trans-Saharan trade. Later unified under Fulani jihad. The states exemplified decentralized West African prosperity.

The Hausa City-States Confederation around 1400 preserved oral and written literature in Ajami script, contributing to the Sahelian literary diversity. This cultural heritage included poetry that reflected the histories and identities of the Hausa people, influencing contemporary African literature.