Sokoto is made up of principally of two major groups namely; Hausa and Fulani. There are of course the Zabarmawa and Tuareg minority in the border Local Government Areas.

All these groups speak Hausa as a common language. Fulfulde is spoken by the Fulani. Hausa people in the State are made up of Gobirawa, Zamfarawa, Kabawa, Adarawa and Arawa. The Fulani on the other hand is of two main groups: the town Fulani and the nomads. The former includes the Toronkawa, the clan of Shehu Usman Danfodiyo, Sullubawa, and Zoramawa. The Toronkawa are the Aristocratic class since 1804.

Other Nigerian tribes also live peacefully with the citizens of the State, devoid of any form of harassment or molestation.

Culturally, the State is homogenous. The people of the State are predominantly Muslims and Islamic religion provides them with a code of conduct and behaviour. Two major festivals namely Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir are celebrated in the State every year. The former marks the end of Ramadan fasting while the latter features slaughter of rams in commemoration of the act started by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) peace be unto him thousand years ago.

Traditional wrestling (Kokawa) and boxing (Dambe) are the two sports enjoyed by the Hausa people while the Fulani and the Sullubawa entertain themselves with shoro and Doro respectively. Important visitors to the State are usually treated to a Grand or mini-Durbar, an event involving the parade of heavily decorated horses and camels mounted by men in full Traditional Military and Cultural attires.