Mani

Mani is a town in northern Katsina State, the headquarters of Mani Local Government Area, which covers about 784 square kilometers and sits in the Sudan savanna belt. The settlement is over 600 years old, and its inhabitants are predominantly Hausa-Fulani farmers. The modern LGA was carved out in 1976, and three neighboring LGAs — Mashi, Bindawa, and Dutsi — were later split off from the original larger Mani.

Mani holds real historical weight in Katsina's traditional politics: it is regarded as the root of the Sullubawa ruling dynasty of the Katsina Emirate, since the dynasty's founder, Muhammadu Dikko, served as district head of Mani. The traditional ruler of the district carries the title Durbin Katsina and remains one of the emirate's kingmakers.