Kebbi Emirate
Encyclopedia
The Kebbi Emirate, also known as the Argungu Emirate is a traditional state based on the town of Argungu
in Kebbi State
, Nigeria
. It is the successor to the ancient Hausa
kingdom of Kebbi.
The Emirate is one of four in Kebbi State, the others being the Gwandu Emirate, Yauri Emirate and Zuru Emirate.
, which is now capital of the Gwandu Emirate and of Kebbi State itself. The landscape is mainly Sudanian Savanna
, open woodland with scattered trees. It is intersected by the lowlands of the Rima River
, which are seasonally flooded.
There is a wet season between May and September, with little rain in the remainder of the year. Mean annual rainfall is about 800mm. Average temperatures are about 26 °C, ranging from 21 °C in winter to 40 °C between April and June.
Kebbi is populated by the Kebbawa, a subgroup of the Hausa.
conquered by Babylonia
n and Median
forces in 612 BCE. The legendary founder of Kebbi, the immigrant hero Kanta, can be shown to have been in fact equivalent to the Mesopotamian empire founder, Sargon of Akkad
.
According to the locally unknown Hausa legend, the Kebbi kingdom was one of the Banza Bakwai ("seven bastards") or seven "illegitimate" states. The rulers of these states were supposed to trace their lineage to a concubine of the Hausa founding father, Bayajidda, hence the locally disdainful term banza ("illegitimate").
rule during the reign of Sunni Ali
(1464–1492). Muhammadu Kanta, a Hausa immigrant from Kuyambana in southern Katsina became de-facto military governor of the Songhay sub-province of Kebbi, and declared his independence in 1516. During this period Surame
, of which the massive walls still survive, was the capital of the kingdom.
Kebbi became a major power in the region, resisting Songhay attacks, expanding into the Yauri and Nupe lands to the south and defeating attempts by the Bornu Empire
to invade and occupy the Hausa states.
However, after Kanta's death in 1556 the Hausa states stopped paying tribute, and his son and successor Ahmadu did not attempt to force the issue. By the end of the sixteenth century Kebbi had become a minor kingdom.
(c. 1766–1828), the younger brother of Sheik Usman dan Fodio
, defeated the forces of Kebbi. He became ruler of the Gwandu Emirate, which dominated the northeast of the Sokoto Caliphate.
The Sarkin of Kebbi, Muhammadu Hodi, was driven from his capital and replaced by a puppet ruler, Usuman Masa.
However, the Kebbawa continued to resist, and Abdullahi was unable to complete the conquest.
Muhammadu Hodi fought on in the Zamfara
Valley, and his successor Karari in Argungu and Zazzagawa.
On Karari's death in 1831, his son Yakubu Nabame surrendered, and for 16 years lived in exile in Sokoto
until the Sultan Aliyu Babba allowed him to return to Argungu as a vassal of the Caliphate.
In 1849 Yukubu renounced his allegiance and proclaimed himself Sarkin of Kebbi. After see-saw battles, including at one time a siege of Argungu by Sokoto forces, the Sultan Aliyu of Sokoto effectively recognized the independence of the Kebbi Emirate based in Argungu. Kebbi now formed a hostile wedge between Sokoto and Gwandu, and sporadic warfare continued for the next fifty years.
In 1859 Yakubu's brother and successor Yusufu Mainasara was killed in battle in the dried out floodplain of the Rima River
.
In 1860 the Emir of Gwandu, Haliru, was killed in battle at Karakara. In 1867 the Fulani recognized the independence of Kebbi in a formal treaty. In 1875 war broke out again when the people of Fanna in the lower Rima valley decided to transfer their allegiance to Gwandu. The Kebbi Sarkin Sama'ila achieved a string of successes against Gwandu between 1883 and 1903, with some severe setbacks, until the establishment of the British
protectorate of Northern Nigeria finally ended the fighting.
was given charge of an expedition to discover the northern limits of the Sokoto caliphate. Reaching Argungu in the summer of 1891, he found that the emirate was independent of Sokoto, although it was to be defeated by Sokoto in March 1892 and forced to once again become a subject state.
Monteil also found little evidence of the presence claimed in the region by the British Royal Niger Company
, apart from a few commercial depots in Gwandu.
When the British heard of Monteil's report, and then heard that the French had raised their flag in Argungu, they dispatched troops to Argungu in 1898, where they found no French presence.
The British established a permanent force in Argungu in 1902 to provide protection to French caravans crossing the British zone by agreement, and then to protect the boundary commission that was delimiting the boundary between the French and British spheres. On hearing word that the Sultan of Sokoto was gathering his forces, this force and others were dispatched to Sokoto where after some fighting they achieved a decisive victory.
Sarkin Sama had welcomed the British for political reasons, since under the British system of indirect rule he was able to regain and consolidate his power.
By 1908, British power was unquestioned. At a durbar
held in 1808 for the colonial governor Frederick Lugard, the emirs of Kebbi and Gwandu and the Sultan of Sokoto turned out in force, with a show of fifteen thousand horsemen and camels. The Emirs gave Lugard sixteen ponies as tribute, and prostrated themselves before him.
The British established a system where the emirs were given large administrative authority subject to the direction of District Officers. The Argungu posting was not sought after. The mosquitoes were so bad that the D.O. had to sleep in a specially constructed mosquito cage.
is one of the largest cultural events in northern Nigeria.
The Festival has a long history.
It was first staged when the Sultan of Sokoto, Hassan Dan Mu’azu, visited the Argungu Emirate in 1934, and was held to display the fishing ability of the Kabawas by the Emir Muhammed Sama.
Until the 1960s the festival was a local affair, but in 1972 it was attended by the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon
and his counterpart from Niger
, Hamani Diori
. For political reasons, the festival lost support and no festival was staged from 1999 until 2004. The festival has now been revived and is becoming a major tourist attraction.
By 2009, the renamed Argungu International and Cultural Festival included a grand durbar with 500 well-decorated horses and their riders, and 120 well decorated camels and their riders, led by the flag bearer of the Argungu Emirate and including participants from many other ethnic groups.
The largest fish weighed 55 kg, and the prizes for this catch were presented at a ceremony attended by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
, his wife, six governors and many traditional rulers.
The 2009 festival also included water sports, archery and catapulting competitions, a motor rally, performances by dance troupes from Niger
, Mali
, Chad
and Benin
, wrestling and boxing matches, and an agricultural fair.
The importance of the festival to the economy has led the government to conserve fish stock by prohibiting use of gill nets and cast nets.
was conceived in 1969 and long delayed, but seemed likely to be started in 2009.
The project would irrigate 10,572 hectares of farmland in the floodplain of the Rima River between Argungu
and Birnin Kebbi
.
Crops would include rice, maize, wheat, barley and vegetables such as cow peas, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes.
The dam would also benefit the fishing industry, important in the state.
The project promises significant benefits but is controversial, since it would change land use patterns, displace some communities and flood the site of the annual fishing festival. The Emir of Argungu has been stoned in protests over the project.
Surame was the first capital of the Kebbi Kingdom, founded by Mohammadu Kanta Kotal.
Senator Umaru Abubakar Argungu also asked for help make the Kanta Museum
not only a national monument but a historical cultural resource for the World Heritage List.
The museum building, adjacent to the main market was built in 1831 by Yakubu Nabame and served as the Emir’s palace until 1942, when the British built a new administrative palace during the reign of Muhammed Sani. On 1 July 1958, it opened as a museum, offering an insight into the turbulent history of Kebbi State
. The museum has a notable collection of weapons, consisting of charms, spears, swords, wood, stones, bows and arrows, local guns and even drums on display. The museum is also known to be a place where dead emirs of the local government are buried.
Argungu
Argungu is a city in Nigeria's Kebbi State, situated on the Sokoto River. As of 2007 Argungu had an estimated population of 47,064.The city is the seat of the Argungu Emirate, a traditional state....
in Kebbi State
Kebbi State
Kebbi State is a state in north-western Nigeria with its capital at Birnin Kebbi. The state was formed from part of Sokoto State in 1991. Kebbi State is bordered by Sokoto State, Niger State, Dosso Region in the Republic of Niger and the nation of Benin. It has a total area of...
, 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...
. It is the successor to the ancient 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 Kebbi.
The Emirate is one of four in Kebbi State, the others being the Gwandu Emirate, Yauri Emirate and Zuru Emirate.
Location
The Kebbi emirate is in the northwest of the modern Kebbi State. In earlier times it extended to the south of its original capital of Birnin KebbiBirnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi is a city located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital city of Kebbi State and headquarters of the Gwandu Emirate. As of 2007 the city has an estimated population of 115,547....
, which is now capital of the Gwandu Emirate and of Kebbi State itself. The landscape is mainly Sudanian Savanna
Sudanian Savanna
The Sudanian Savanna is a broad belt of tropical savanna that runs east and west across the African continent, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Ethiopian Highlands in the east. The Sahel, a belt of drier grasslands and acacia savannas, lies to the north, between the Sudanian Savanna and...
, open woodland with scattered trees. It is intersected by the lowlands of the Rima River
Rima River
The Rima River is a river in the northern part of Nigeria. At its northern most point it is joined by the Goulbi de Maradi river. It runs southwest and joins the Sokoto River near Sokoto, then continues south to the Niger River. The upper Rima is a seasonal river and flows only during the rainy...
, which are seasonally flooded.
There is a wet season between May and September, with little rain in the remainder of the year. Mean annual rainfall is about 800mm. Average temperatures are about 26 °C, ranging from 21 °C in winter to 40 °C between April and June.
Kebbi is populated by the Kebbawa, a subgroup of the Hausa.
Origins
Kebbi is traditionally considered to belong to the Banza bakwai states of Hausaland. According to recent research based on local oral traditions, king lists and on the Kebbi chronicle, the state of Kebbi was founded towards 600 BCE by refugees of the Assyrian empireAssyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
conquered by Babylonia
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
n and Median
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
forces in 612 BCE. The legendary founder of Kebbi, the immigrant hero Kanta, can be shown to have been in fact equivalent to the Mesopotamian empire founder, Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great "the Great King" , was an Akkadian emperor famous for his conquest of the Sumerian city-states in the 23rd and 22nd centuries BC. The founder of the Dynasty of Akkad, Sargon reigned in the last quarter of the third millennium BC...
.
According to the locally unknown Hausa legend, the Kebbi kingdom was one of the Banza Bakwai ("seven bastards") or seven "illegitimate" states. The rulers of these states were supposed to trace their lineage to a concubine of the Hausa founding father, Bayajidda, hence the locally disdainful term banza ("illegitimate").
Medieval history
The first historical references date to the time when the area came under SonghaySonghai Empire
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city...
rule during the reign of Sunni Ali
Sonni Ali
Sonni Ali, also known as Sunni Ali Ber or "Sunni Ali", was born Ali Kolon. He reigned from about 1464 to 1492. Sunni Ali was the first king of the Songhai Empire, located in west Africa and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty...
(1464–1492). Muhammadu Kanta, a Hausa immigrant from Kuyambana in southern Katsina became de-facto military governor of the Songhay sub-province of Kebbi, and declared his independence in 1516. During this period Surame
Surame
The cultural landscape of Surame is located in the Sokoto State of northwestern Nigeria.-Site description:Covering an area of 9 km, the site includes the foundation remains of human settlements, walls, wells and potsherds...
, of which the massive walls still survive, was the capital of the kingdom.
Kebbi became a major power in the region, resisting Songhay attacks, expanding into the Yauri and Nupe lands to the south and defeating attempts by the Bornu Empire
Bornu Empire
The Bornu Empire was an African state of Nigeria from 1396 to 1893. It was a continuation of the great Kanem Empire founded centuries earlier by the Sayfawa Dynasty...
to invade and occupy the Hausa states.
However, after Kanta's death in 1556 the Hausa states stopped paying tribute, and his son and successor Ahmadu did not attempt to force the issue. By the end of the sixteenth century Kebbi had become a minor kingdom.
Struggle against the Fulani Jihadists
During the Fulani jihad, in 1808 Abdullahi dan FodioAbdullahi dan Fodio
Abdullahi dan Fodio , Sultan of Gwandu , was a scholar and brother of Usman dan Fodio . Usman, being more of a scholar than politician, delegated the practical regency of the western part of his empire to Abdullahi, who later became the Emir of Gwandu, and the eastern part to his son Muhammad...
(c. 1766–1828), the younger brother of Sheik 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...
, defeated the forces of Kebbi. He became ruler of the Gwandu Emirate, which dominated the northeast of the Sokoto Caliphate.
The Sarkin of Kebbi, Muhammadu Hodi, was driven from his capital and replaced by a puppet ruler, Usuman Masa.
However, the Kebbawa continued to resist, and Abdullahi was unable to complete the conquest.
Muhammadu Hodi fought on in the Zamfara
Zamfara River
The Zamfara River is a river in the northern part of Nigeria. Originating in Zamfara State, it runs some 250 kilometers west into Kebbi State where it joins with the Sokoto River some 50 km southwest of Birnin Kebbi....
Valley, and his successor Karari in Argungu and Zazzagawa.
On Karari's death in 1831, his son Yakubu Nabame surrendered, and for 16 years lived in exile 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...
until the Sultan Aliyu Babba allowed him to return to Argungu as a vassal of the Caliphate.
In 1849 Yukubu renounced his allegiance and proclaimed himself Sarkin of Kebbi. After see-saw battles, including at one time a siege of Argungu by Sokoto forces, the Sultan Aliyu of Sokoto effectively recognized the independence of the Kebbi Emirate based in Argungu. Kebbi now formed a hostile wedge between Sokoto and Gwandu, and sporadic warfare continued for the next fifty years.
In 1859 Yakubu's brother and successor Yusufu Mainasara was killed in battle in the dried out floodplain of the Rima River
Rima River
The Rima River is a river in the northern part of Nigeria. At its northern most point it is joined by the Goulbi de Maradi river. It runs southwest and joins the Sokoto River near Sokoto, then continues south to the Niger River. The upper Rima is a seasonal river and flows only during the rainy...
.
In 1860 the Emir of Gwandu, Haliru, was killed in battle at Karakara. In 1867 the Fulani recognized the independence of Kebbi in a formal treaty. In 1875 war broke out again when the people of Fanna in the lower Rima valley decided to transfer their allegiance to Gwandu. The Kebbi Sarkin Sama'ila achieved a string of successes against Gwandu between 1883 and 1903, with some severe setbacks, until the establishment of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
protectorate of Northern Nigeria finally ended the fighting.
Colonial occupation
On 5 August 1890 the British and French concluded an agreement to divide West Africa between the two colonial powers. Under this agreement, Britain would acquire all territories up to and including the Sokoto Caliphate, while the French would take the lands further to the north. The people of the region were not consulted. The Frenchman Parfait-Louis MonteilParfait-Louis Monteil
Parfait-Louis Monteil was a French colonial military officer and explorer who made an epic journey in West Africa between 1890 and 1892, travelling east from Senegal to Lake Chad, and then north across the Sahara to Tripoli....
was given charge of an expedition to discover the northern limits of the Sokoto caliphate. Reaching Argungu in the summer of 1891, he found that the emirate was independent of Sokoto, although it was to be defeated by Sokoto in March 1892 and forced to once again become a subject state.
Monteil also found little evidence of the presence claimed in the region by the British Royal Niger Company
Royal Niger Company
The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It formed the basis of the modern state of Nigeria....
, apart from a few commercial depots in Gwandu.
When the British heard of Monteil's report, and then heard that the French had raised their flag in Argungu, they dispatched troops to Argungu in 1898, where they found no French presence.
The British established a permanent force in Argungu in 1902 to provide protection to French caravans crossing the British zone by agreement, and then to protect the boundary commission that was delimiting the boundary between the French and British spheres. On hearing word that the Sultan of Sokoto was gathering his forces, this force and others were dispatched to Sokoto where after some fighting they achieved a decisive victory.
Sarkin Sama had welcomed the British for political reasons, since under the British system of indirect rule he was able to regain and consolidate his power.
By 1908, British power was unquestioned. At a durbar
Durbar
Durbar is a Persian term meaning the Shah's noble court. It was later used in India and Nepal for a ruler's court or feudal levy as the latter came to be ruled and later administered by Persians and Perso-Turcomen rulers...
held in 1808 for the colonial governor Frederick Lugard, the emirs of Kebbi and Gwandu and the Sultan of Sokoto turned out in force, with a show of fifteen thousand horsemen and camels. The Emirs gave Lugard sixteen ponies as tribute, and prostrated themselves before him.
The British established a system where the emirs were given large administrative authority subject to the direction of District Officers. The Argungu posting was not sought after. The mosquitoes were so bad that the D.O. had to sleep in a specially constructed mosquito cage.
Fishing festival
The annual Argungu Fishing FestivalArgungu Fishing Festival
The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four day festival in north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi. The 2008 Argungu Fishing Festival was planned for March 12-15.The festival usually took place in Argungu, the capital city of Argungu Emirate Council...
is one of the largest cultural events in northern Nigeria.
The Festival has a long history.
It was first staged when the Sultan of Sokoto, Hassan Dan Mu’azu, visited the Argungu Emirate in 1934, and was held to display the fishing ability of the Kabawas by the Emir Muhammed Sama.
Until the 1960s the festival was a local affair, but in 1972 it was attended by the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon
General Yakubu "Jack" Dan-Yumma Gowon was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d'etat and was overthrown in another...
and his counterpart from Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence.- Youth :...
. For political reasons, the festival lost support and no festival was staged from 1999 until 2004. The festival has now been revived and is becoming a major tourist attraction.
By 2009, the renamed Argungu International and Cultural Festival included a grand durbar with 500 well-decorated horses and their riders, and 120 well decorated camels and their riders, led by the flag bearer of the Argungu Emirate and including participants from many other ethnic groups.
The largest fish weighed 55 kg, and the prizes for this catch were presented at a ceremony attended by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the President of Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May...
, his wife, six governors and many traditional rulers.
The 2009 festival also included water sports, archery and catapulting competitions, a motor rally, performances by dance troupes from Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
, wrestling and boxing matches, and an agricultural fair.
The importance of the festival to the economy has led the government to conserve fish stock by prohibiting use of gill nets and cast nets.
Irrigation plan
The Zauro polder projectZauro polder project
The Zauro polder project is an irrigation scheme that has long been planned for the Rima River floodplain in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The project is controversial, and would demand careful management to achieve the planned benefits.-Location:...
was conceived in 1969 and long delayed, but seemed likely to be started in 2009.
The project would irrigate 10,572 hectares of farmland in the floodplain of the Rima River between Argungu
Argungu
Argungu is a city in Nigeria's Kebbi State, situated on the Sokoto River. As of 2007 Argungu had an estimated population of 47,064.The city is the seat of the Argungu Emirate, a traditional state....
and Birnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi is a city located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital city of Kebbi State and headquarters of the Gwandu Emirate. As of 2007 the city has an estimated population of 115,547....
.
Crops would include rice, maize, wheat, barley and vegetables such as cow peas, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes.
The dam would also benefit the fishing industry, important in the state.
The project promises significant benefits but is controversial, since it would change land use patterns, displace some communities and flood the site of the annual fishing festival. The Emir of Argungu has been stoned in protests over the project.
Museum
In June 2009 Argungu Emirate presented a proposal to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to give the historic Surame site a World Heritage listing.Surame was the first capital of the Kebbi Kingdom, founded by Mohammadu Kanta Kotal.
Senator Umaru Abubakar Argungu also asked for help make the Kanta Museum
Kanta Museum
Kanta Museum is a museum in Argungu, Nigeria, adjacent to the main market.Built in 1831, the building was named after Muhammed Kanta, who founded the Kebbi Kingdom in 1515. It was erected by Yakubu Nabame, a former Emir of Kebbi, and served as the Emir’s palace until 1942 when the British built a...
not only a national monument but a historical cultural resource for the World Heritage List.
The museum building, adjacent to the main market was built in 1831 by Yakubu Nabame and served as the Emir’s palace until 1942, when the British built a new administrative palace during the reign of Muhammed Sani. On 1 July 1958, it opened as a museum, offering an insight into the turbulent history of Kebbi State
Kebbi State
Kebbi State is a state in north-western Nigeria with its capital at Birnin Kebbi. The state was formed from part of Sokoto State in 1991. Kebbi State is bordered by Sokoto State, Niger State, Dosso Region in the Republic of Niger and the nation of Benin. It has a total area of...
. The museum has a notable collection of weapons, consisting of charms, spears, swords, wood, stones, bows and arrows, local guns and even drums on display. The museum is also known to be a place where dead emirs of the local government are buried.
Great Hausa kingdom based on Surame and Birnin Kebbi
Rulers of the Hausa kingdom before incorporation into the Sokoto Caliphate:| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1696 | 1700 | Tomo dan Muhammadu (or dan Ibrahim?) |
| 1700 | 1717 | Muhammadu dan Giwa |
| 1717 | 1750 | Muhammadu Isma`ila Ta-Gandu dan Muhammadu Na Sifawa |
| 1750 | 1754 | Muhammadu dan Ta-Gandu |
| 1754 | 1775 | Abd Allahi Toga dan Ta-Gandu |
| 1775 | 1803 | Sulemana dan `Abd Allahi Toga |
| 1803 | 1803 | Abu Bakar Ukar dan Sulemana |
| 1803 | 1826 | Muhammadu Hodi dan Sulemana (d. 1826) |
| 1826 | 1831 | Karari Ismaila dan Sulemana (d. 1831) |
Hausa successor state based on Argungu
Rulers of the Hausa Emirate established at Argungu:| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1849 | 1854 | Yaqubu Nabame dan Ismaila (d. 1854) |
| 1854 | 1859 | Yusufu Maynassara dan Ismaila (d. 1859) |
| 1859 | 1860 | Muhammadu Baare dan Yaqubu Nabame (d. 1860) |
| 1860 | 1883 | Abd Allahi Toga dan Ismaila (d. 1883) |
| 1883 | September 1915 | Sama'ila dan Yaqubu Nabame (b. 1839 - d. 1915) |
| 1915 | 1920 | Sulemana dan Yaqubu Nabame (d. 1920) |
| 1920 | 1934 | Muhammadu Sama dan Ismaila (d. 1934) |
| 1934 | 1942 | Muhammadu Sani Muza dan Muhammadu Sama (d. 1942) |
| 1942 | 1953 | Muhammadu Ismaila dan Mudi (d. 1953) |
| 1953 | October 1959 | Muhammadu Shefe dan Muhammadu Sama |
| January 1960 | Muhammadu Mera Muza dan Muhammadu Sani (b. 1931) | |
| Sama'ila Mohammed Mera |