AlHaji

Alhaji is an honorific title used in many West African Muslim communities to designate a man who has completed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The term comes from the Arabic al-Ḥājj, meaning the one who has performed the pilgrimage. Variants in spelling include Alhaji, Alhaje, and Hajji, reflecting different transliterations across languages and regions.

In practice, Alhaji functions as a formal title preceding a man's name or as a respectful form of address. It is especially common in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and other parts of West Africa. The corresponding female title is often Hajia or Alhaja, used for women who have completed Hajj; spelling varies by country and community.

The use of Alhaji can signify social status or seniority and may intersect with business, political, or community leadership networks. It is not a religious office, but rather an honorific rooted in a religious achievement. The title is traditionally associated with having completed Hajj, and in many communities it remains an emblem of that achievement; however, the precise social usage can vary.

See also Hajji, Hajj.