Hilasko: A Century-Old Herbal Tradition Thriving in Katsina’s Historical Heart
Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar: From Katsina Times Historical Desk
City of Katsina, one of the most historically significant cities in Northern Nigeria, is renowned for its deep-rooted heritage in culture, traditional crafts, and indigenous medicine. Among its many traditional remedies, Hilasko stands out as a herbal treatment revered for its cleansing properties and vitality-boosting effects—a legacy that traces its roots back centuries.
Hilasko, a naturally occurring medicinal herb, has earned wide acceptance across Hausa-Fulani communities and is particularly noted for its effectiveness in detoxifying the body, clearing mucus, and restoring physical energy. References to its benefits can be found in Islamic texts, further elevating its status among both local users and Muslim populations globally.
In an investigative report by Katsina Times, it was discovered that the trade and preparation of Hilasko in Katsina began in the historic Masanawa quarters. The origins of this legacy are tied to Hajiya Mai Sa’ida, a renowned herbalist who began preparing and selling the remedy over 115 years ago.
During an interview with her descendant, Yusuf Ibrahim—popularly known as Yusuf Soja—he traced the family’s generational involvement in the trade. “Our grandmother, Hajiya Mai Sa’ida, began the Hilasko practice around 1916. She inherited it from her maternal ancestors of the Bugaje (Buzaye) lineage. The trade was passed from her to her son, Alhaji Ibrahim Mai Hilasko, and then to his son, Alhaji Salisu, who returned from Niger Republic after the civil unrest in 1970. Eventually, I inherited it, and I’ve been running the business for 39 years now,” he explained.
