Certainly they were neither Hausa nor Fulani, there being no signs of hamitic features, but neither were they Ibo or Yoruba from farther south.
"Black Man's Burden"
Dallas McCord Reynolds
It was usual formerly to speak of Japhetic, hamitic and Semitic languages.
"Lectures on The Science of Language"
Max Müller
Note that all of these early kingdoms were established by the hamitic race.
"Studies in Old Testament History"
Jesse L. Hurlbut