Muhammad Rumfa
Encyclopedia
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 establishing the Kurmi Market
. He was also responsible for much of the Islamization
of Kano, as he urged prominent residents to convert.
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...
city-state 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...
, located in modern-day 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...
, 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...
. He reigned from 1463 until 1499. Among Rumfa's accomplishments were extending the city walls, building a large palace, the 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 ....
, promoting slaves to governmental positions and establishing the Kurmi Market
Kurmi Market
The Kurmi Market is a large market in the city of Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. Founded by Muhammad Rumfa, a King of Kano, in the 15th century, it is still in use in the 21st century. As of 2003, Sale Ayagi was chairman of the market's unions....
. He was also responsible for much of the Islamization
Islamization
Islamization or Islamification has been used to describe the process of a society's conversion to the religion of Islam...
of Kano, as he urged prominent residents to convert.