Kano Chronicle
Encyclopedia
The Kano Chronicle is a written account of the history
of the Hausa people
who inhabit northern Nigeria
. Although it relates only to Kano
, it is typically drawn upon to explain the early history of the Hausa as a whole. This chronicle, a list of rulers of Kano stretching back to the tenth century AD, tells of eleven clans of animists (such as salt-extractors, brewers, or smiths) who were warned by their spiritual leader that a stranger would come and cut down their sacred tree and wrest their dominion from them: “If he comes not in your time, assuredly he will come in the time of your children, and will conquer all in this country” (Palmer 1928: III: 98). Indeed, a man named Bagauda allegedly arrived soon after, conquered, and became the first king of Kano (Palmer 1928: III: 97-100). The existing version was probably written in the 1890s but represents the amalgamation of earlier works. The original copy is still with the descendants of Malam Idris al-Khilawiy in Kano.
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of the Hausa people
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
who inhabit northern 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...
. Although it relates only to Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
, it is typically drawn upon to explain the early history of the Hausa as a whole. This chronicle, a list of rulers of Kano stretching back to the tenth century AD, tells of eleven clans of animists (such as salt-extractors, brewers, or smiths) who were warned by their spiritual leader that a stranger would come and cut down their sacred tree and wrest their dominion from them: “If he comes not in your time, assuredly he will come in the time of your children, and will conquer all in this country” (Palmer 1928: III: 98). Indeed, a man named Bagauda allegedly arrived soon after, conquered, and became the first king of Kano (Palmer 1928: III: 97-100). The existing version was probably written in the 1890s but represents the amalgamation of earlier works. The original copy is still with the descendants of Malam Idris al-Khilawiy in Kano.