Biu Emirate
Encyclopedia
The Biu Emirate is a traditional state based in Biu
in Borno State
, Nigeria
. Prior to 1920 it was referred to as the Biu Kingdom. The current ruler is Maidalla Mustafa dan Aliyu(b. 1915) who became Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, in 1959.
The rulers of Biu are numbered from Abdullahi, later known as Yamta-ra-Wala or Yamta the Great, who established his rule about 1535. Around 1670, in the reign of Mari Watila Tampta, it became known as a kingdom.
The main ethnic group is the Babur/Bura people
, related to the Kanuri people.
The founder was said to have come from elsewhere, captured the main town in the area, then founded a new capital in Dlimbur, which is now an archaeological site. His descendants formed two rival dynasties, one at Kogu
and the other in nearby Mandaragirau.
King Mari Watirwa (r. 1793–1838) of Kogu defeated Fulani invaders from the Gombe Emirate
to the west. In 1878 Mari Biya, became the first Bura
king to rule from Biu. The emir's palace is now situated in the town.
With British rule, Biu division was created in 1918. Mai Ari Dogo was acknowledged as the first emir of Biu in 1920. The area became known as the Biu federation after 1957, when the districts of Shani and Askira were added to the emirate.
The Biu Emirate includes the Biu, Hawul
, Kwaya Kusar
and Bayo
local government areas.
The Biu Emirate has by convention always produced the Deputy Governor of Borno State, representing the south of the state.
Until recently, the Biu Emirate was one of three in Borno State
, the others being the Borno Emirate and the Dikwa Emirate
.
In March 2010 the Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff
split the old Dikwa Emirate into the new Bama and Dikwa Emirates.
This triggered petitions from the people of Hawul, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo to also have separate chiefdoms, which the governor had stated he would do "if the need arises".
Emirs were:
Biu, Nigeria
Biu is a town and a Local Government Area in southern Borno State of Nigeria. The town is the administrative center of the LGA. The town was once the capital of the Biu kingdom, and is now capital of the Biu Emirate...
in Borno State
Borno State
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Prior to 1920 it was referred to as the Biu Kingdom. The current ruler is Maidalla Mustafa dan Aliyu(b. 1915) who became Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, in 1959.
The rulers of Biu are numbered from Abdullahi, later known as Yamta-ra-Wala or Yamta the Great, who established his rule about 1535. Around 1670, in the reign of Mari Watila Tampta, it became known as a kingdom.
The main ethnic group is the Babur/Bura people
Bura-Pabir language
Bura-Pabir is a Chadic language spoken in Nigeria. Dialects are Pela, Bura Pela, Hill Bura, Hyil Hawul, Bura Hyilhawul, and Plain Bura....
, related to the Kanuri people.
The founder was said to have come from elsewhere, captured the main town in the area, then founded a new capital in Dlimbur, which is now an archaeological site. His descendants formed two rival dynasties, one at Kogu
Kogu, Biu
Kogu is a large village in Biu LGA, of southwestern Borno State, in northeastern Nigeria. Kogu is located on a tributary of the Yangari River about southwest of the town of Biu....
and the other in nearby Mandaragirau.
King Mari Watirwa (r. 1793–1838) of Kogu defeated Fulani invaders from the Gombe Emirate
Gombe Emirate
The Gombe Emirate is a traditional state in Nigeria that roughly corresponds in area to the modern Gombe State. It includes the five chiefdoms of Cham, Dadiya, Kaltungo, Tangale and Waja....
to the west. In 1878 Mari Biya, became the first Bura
Bura-Pabir language
Bura-Pabir is a Chadic language spoken in Nigeria. Dialects are Pela, Bura Pela, Hill Bura, Hyil Hawul, Bura Hyilhawul, and Plain Bura....
king to rule from Biu. The emir's palace is now situated in the town.
With British rule, Biu division was created in 1918. Mai Ari Dogo was acknowledged as the first emir of Biu in 1920. The area became known as the Biu federation after 1957, when the districts of Shani and Askira were added to the emirate.
The Biu Emirate includes the Biu, Hawul
Hawul
Hawul is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Azare.It has an area of 2,098 km² and a population of 120,314 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603....
, Kwaya Kusar
Kwaya Kusar
Kwaya Kusar is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kwaya Kusar.It has an area of 732 km² and a population of 56,500 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603.-References:...
and Bayo
Bayo, Nigeria
Bayo is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Biriyel.It has an area of 956 km² and a population of 78,978 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 603....
local government areas.
The Biu Emirate has by convention always produced the Deputy Governor of Borno State, representing the south of the state.
Until recently, the Biu Emirate was one of three in Borno State
Borno State
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State...
, the others being the Borno Emirate and the Dikwa Emirate
Dikwa Emirate
The Dikwa Emirate is one of the successor states to the old Bornu Empire, a traditional state within Borno State, Nigeria. It was established in 1901 at the start of the colonial period after the Bornu empire had been partitioned between the British, French and Germans.-History:The old Bornu...
.
In March 2010 the Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff
Ali Modu Sheriff
Ali Modu Sheriff was elected governor of Borno State in Nigeria in April 2003. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party .Ali Sheriff was the first governor in Borno state to win the seat two consecutive times.-Background:...
split the old Dikwa Emirate into the new Bama and Dikwa Emirates.
This triggered petitions from the people of Hawul, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo to also have separate chiefdoms, which the governor had stated he would do "if the need arises".
Rulers
Mai Biu, also styled Kuthli, were:| Start | End | Ruler | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1740 | Mari Kopchi | aka Mari Kwabchi | |
| c. 1750 | Di Forma dan Mari Kopchi | son of Mari Kopchi | |
| c. 1760 | Garga Moda dan Mari Kopchi | brother of Di Forma | |
| c. 1770 | Dawi Moda (Di Moda dan Di Forma) | son of Di Forma | |
| c. 1780 | Di Biya dan Di Moda | son of Dawi Moda | |
| 1783 | Di Rawa dan Di Biya | son of Di Biya | |
| 1783 | 1793 | Garga Kopchi dan Di Biya (d. 1793) | brother of Di Rawa |
| 1793 | 1838 | Mari Watirwa dan Di Rawa (d. 1838) | son of Di Rawa |
| 1838 | 1873 | Ari Paskur dan Mari Watirwa (d. 1873) | son of Mari Watirwa |
| 1873 | 1891 | Mari Biya dan Ari Paskur (d. 1891) | son of Ari Paskur |
| 1891 | 1908 | Garga Kwomting dan Mari Biya (d. 1908) | son of Mari Biya |
| 1908 | 1920 | Ari I Dogo dan Garga Kwomting (b. 1876 - d. 1935) | son of Garga Kwomting |
Emirs were:
| Start | End | Ruler | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 1935 | Ari I Dogo dan Garga Kwomting (see above) | |
| 1935 | 1951 | Ari II Gurgur dan Garga Kwomting (d. 1951) | brother of Ari I |
| 1951 | 1959 | Muhammad `Aliyu dan Ari Dogo (b. 1907) | son of Ari I |
| 1959 | Maidalla Mustafa dan Muhammad Aliyu (b. 1915) | son of Muhammad `Aliyu District Head of Kwaya territory before his accession |