Exploring ethnic identity and heritage language proficiency among second-generation Hausa Saudis

Abstract

This article reports a part of a larger study which examines the sociolinguistic dynamics within the Hausa community in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on how second-generation members of the Hausa Saudi community perceive their ethnic identity and investigates the relationship between their proficiency in the Hausa heritage language and their sense of ethnic identity. Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 103 participants. The findings reveal that participants reported moderately high levels of ethnic identity (M = 3.14, SD = 0.63). Responses regarding ethnic self-identification indicated a strong preference among participants for identity labels that emphasize their Hausa family roots and their “Arabness” (e.g., Hausa Arab, Arab Hausa). These labels illustrate how individuals negotiate the relationship between their Hausa origin and the predominantly Arabic-speaking environment in which they were born and currently reside and identify. Correlation analysis showed a weak yet significant positive relationship between Hausa language proficiency and ethnic identity (r = .24, p < .05). The conclusion suggests that while heritage language contributes to shaping ethnic identity, other factors, including ancestry, race, and religion, may also play pivotal roles.