Hausa Language Maintenance Among the Diaspora Community in Lagos: A Case Study of Sabon Gari

Language maintenance among diaspora communities is a complex sociolinguistic process shaped by the pressures of dominant surrounding languages, inter-generational transmission patterns, and the strength of ethnic community institutions. This study examines Hausa language maintenance practices among the Hausa diaspora community resident in Sabon Gari, Lagos State. A sociolinguistic survey design was employed, collecting data from 175 Hausa residents through structured questionnaires assessing daily language use, domain-specific language choice, attitudes toward Hausa maintenance, and intergenerational transmission to children. In-depth interviews with 20 community leaders, mosque officials, and school operators in Sabon Gari supplemented the survey data. The study also examines the role of community institutions including mosques, Hausa associations, and Quranic schools in supporting language use. Findings indicate that Hausa remains the dominant home language for first-generation residents, but significant attrition is observed among second-generation children who show stronger Yoruba and English language orientation. Religious instruction in Quranic schools is identified as the most significant institutional support for Hausa maintenance. Occupational integration into Lagos's Yoruba-dominant commercial environment accelerates language shift among working-age adults. The study recommends strengthening of Hausa cultural and language programming in community institutions at Sabon Gari and documentation of intergenerational transmission patterns for comparative sociolinguistic analysis. Keywords: Hausa diaspora, Language maintenance, Sabon Gari, Lagos, Intergenerational transmission.