Kano Emirate
Encyclopedia
The Kano Emirate is a traditional state in Northern Nigeria
with headquarters in the city of Kano
, capital of the modern Kano State
.
The Emirate was formed in 1805 during the Fulani jihad, when the old Hausa
Kingdom of Kano
became subject to the Sokoto Caliphate.
During and after the colonial period the powers of emirate were steadily reduced.
Ado Bayero became the emir in 1963, and still has great influence, although subject to the government laws and political leaders.
.
While small chiefdoms were previously present in the area, according to the Kano Chronicle, Bagauda, a grandson of the mythical hero Bayajidda
, became the first king of Kano in 999, reigning until 1063.
Muhammad Rumfa
ascended to the throne in 1463 and reigned until 1499.
During his reign he reformed the city, expanded the Sahelian Gidan Rumfa
(Emir's Palace), and played a role in the further Islamization of the city as he urged prominent residents to convert.
The Hausa state remained independent until the Fulani conquest of 1805.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Fulani
Islamic leader Usman dan Fodio
led a jihad affecting much of northern Nigeria, leading to the emergence of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Kano became the largest and most prosperous province of the empire.
This was one of the last major slave societies, with high percentages of enslaved population long after the Atlantic slave trade
had been cut off. Heinrich Barth
, a classical scholar who spent several years in northern Nigeria in the 1850s, estimated the percentage of slaves in Kano to be at least 50%, most of whom lived in slave villages.
From 1893 until 1895, two rival claimants for the throne fought a civil war. With the help of royal slaves, Yusufu was victorious over Tukur, and claimed the title of emir.
The 7th emir of Kano, who was in Sokoto
when Kano was occupied, was captured and exiled to Lokoja
where he died in 1926.
The British made Kano the administrative centre of Northern Nigeria
. It was replaced as the centre of government by Kaduna
, and only regained administrative significance with the creation of Kano State following Nigerian independence.
Although the Emir has limited formal powers, he continues to exert considerable authority and provides leadership on issues such as the tension between Christians and Muslims in the city.
vassalage were:
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...
with headquarters in the city of 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...
, capital of the modern Kano State
Kano State
Kano State is a state located in North-Western Nigeria. Created on May 27, 1967 from part of the Northern Region, Kano state borders Katsina State to the north-west, Jigawa State to the north-east, Bauchi State to the south-east and Kaduna State to the south-west...
.
The Emirate was formed in 1805 during the Fulani jihad, when the old Hausa
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...
Kingdom of Kano
Kingdom of Kano
The Kingdom of Kano was a Hausa kingdom in the north of what is now Nigeria that dates back before 1000 AD, and lasted until the Fulani jihad in 1805. The kingdom was then replaced by the Kano Emirate, subject to the Sokoto Caliphate...
became subject to the Sokoto Caliphate.
During and after the colonial period the powers of emirate were steadily reduced.
Ado Bayero became the emir in 1963, and still has great influence, although subject to the government laws and political leaders.
Hausa kingdom
The Hausa Kingdom of Kano was based on an ancient settlement of Dalla HillDalla Hill
Dalla Hill is a hill in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. It is 534 meters high.there are steps on the hill which has nine hundred and ninety nine foot steps...
.
While small chiefdoms were previously present in the area, according to the Kano Chronicle, Bagauda, a grandson of the mythical hero Bayajidda
Bayajidda
Bayajidda is a character from the tradional history of the Hausa people of Nigeria and the central figure of the Bayajidda Legend. The various versions of the legend differ on major points, but generally agree that early immigrants came to the western region of Lake Chad from the Near East.Most...
, became the first king of Kano in 999, reigning until 1063.
Muhammad Rumfa
Muhammad Rumfa
Muhammad Rumfa was Emir of the Hausa city-state Kano, located in modern-day Kano State, northern Nigeria. He reigned from 1463 until 1499. Among Rumfa's accomplishments were extending the city walls, building a large palace, the Gidan Rumfa, promoting slaves to governmental positions and...
ascended to the throne in 1463 and reigned until 1499.
During his reign he reformed the city, expanded the Sahelian Gidan Rumfa
Gidan Rumfa
The Gidan Rumfa is the palace of the Emir of Kano. Located in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria, the complex underwent a major expansion by Muhammad Rumfa in the late fifteenth century. It currently has an area of ....
(Emir's Palace), and played a role in the further Islamization of the city as he urged prominent residents to convert.
The Hausa state remained independent until the Fulani conquest of 1805.
Fulani conquest and rule
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
Islamic leader Usman dan Fodio
Usman dan Fodio
Shaihu Usman dan Fodio , born Usuman ɓii Foduye, was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809, a religious teacher, writer and Islamic promoter. Dan Fodio was one of a class of urbanized ethnic Fulani living in the Hausa States in what is today northern Nigeria...
led a jihad affecting much of northern Nigeria, leading to the emergence of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Kano became the largest and most prosperous province of the empire.
This was one of the last major slave societies, with high percentages of enslaved population long after the Atlantic slave trade
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
had been cut off. Heinrich Barth
Heinrich Barth
Heinrich Barth was a German explorer of Africa and scholar.Barth is one of the greatest of the European explorers of Africa, not necessarily because of the length of his travels or the time he spent alone without European company in Africa, but because of his singular character.-Biography:Barth...
, a classical scholar who spent several years in northern Nigeria in the 1850s, estimated the percentage of slaves in Kano to be at least 50%, most of whom lived in slave villages.
From 1893 until 1895, two rival claimants for the throne fought a civil war. With the help of royal slaves, Yusufu was victorious over Tukur, and claimed the title of emir.
British colonization and later history
British forces captured Kano in 1903.The 7th emir of Kano, who was in Sokoto
Sokoto
Sokoto is a city located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of 427,760...
when Kano was occupied, was captured and exiled to Lokoja
Lokoja
Lokoja is the capital city of Kogi State, in central Nigeria, and is a port on Niger River.-History:Founded by William Balfour Baikie according to European historical records, although there have been indigenous people living in the area for thousands of years...
where he died in 1926.
The British made Kano the administrative centre of Northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria is a geographical region of Nigeria. It is more arid and less densely populated than the south. The people are largely Muslim, and many are Hausa...
. It was replaced as the centre of government by Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
, and only regained administrative significance with the creation of Kano State following Nigerian independence.
Although the Emir has limited formal powers, he continues to exert considerable authority and provides leadership on issues such as the tension between Christians and Muslims in the city.
Emirs of Kano under Sokoto vassalage
Emirs under SokotoFulani Empire
The Sokoto Caliphate is an Islamic spiritual community in Nigeria, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar. Founded during the Fulani Jihad in 1809 by Usuman dan Fodio, it was one of the most powerful empires in sub-Saharan Africa prior to European conquest and colonization...
vassalage were:
- Suleiman (ruled 1805–1819)
- IbrahimIbrahim DaboIbrahim Dabo was Emir of Kano from 1819 to 1846. Of the Sullubawa clan, he embarked upon policies to centralize the administration and raise revenue.During his tenure as emir he was responsible for establishing several ribats, including Fanisau and Waceni...
(ruled 1819–1846) - Usman I (ruled 1846–1855)
- Abdullah (ruled 1855–1883)
- Mohammed BelloMohammed BelloMohammed Bello may refer to:*Haliru Mohammed Bello, former Nigerian Minister of Communications*Muhammed Bello, Sultan of the Fulani Empire, 1814–1836*Mohammed Bello , former judge of the Nigerian supreme court...
(ruled 1883–1893) - Mohammed Tukur (ruled 1893–1894)
- Aliyu (ruled 1894–1903)
Later Emirs
Emirs during and after the colonial period:- Muhammad Abbas (ruled 1903–1919)
- Usman II (ruled 1919–1926)
- Abdullahi Bayero (ruled 1926–1953)
- Muhammad Sanusi (ruled 1954–1963)
- Muhammad Inuwa (ruled 1963)
- Ado Bayero (ruled 1963–current)