Kano Emirate

The Kano Emirate was a Muslim state in Northern Nigeria formed in 1805 during the Fulani jihad when the Muslim Hausa-led Sultanate of Kano was deposed and replaced by a new emirate which became a vassal state of the Sokoto Caliphate. During and after the British colonial period, the powers of the emirate were steadily reduced.[1]

Kano Emirate Massarautar Kano Al Amir Al Kano الدولة الإمارات آل كانو‎
1807–1903
Flag
Anthem: Busar Bagauda Drum of Bagauda
Gate to the Gidan Rumfa, the Emir's palace
Status	Vassal of the Sokoto Caliphate
Capital	Kano (1807-1880) Takai (1880-1889)
Common languages	Arabic (official), Fula, Hausa
Religion	Sunni Islam (Official), Hausa animism
Government	Fula Oligarchy (1807-1832) Absolute monarchy (1832-1903)
List of Emirs of Kano
• 1807	Suleman Abu Hama (first)
• 1889-1903	Aliyu Babba (last)
Grand Vizier
• 1807–????	Muhammadu Bakatsine (First)
• 1889-1903	Ahmadu Mai Shahada (last)
Legislature	Shura/ Taran Kano
• Upper house	House of Nine
History
• Founded	???? 1807
• Battle of Kwatarkwashi	15 Feb 1903
Currency	Dirham, Salt, Gold
Preceded by Sultanate of Kano Sultanate of Maradi Sultanate of Ningi
Today part of	Nigeria  Niger

History

Hausa kingdom and Sultanate

The Hausa Kingdom of Kano was based on an ancient settlement of Dala Hill. While small chiefdoms were previously present in the area, according to the Kano Chronicle, Bagauda, a grandson of the mythical hero Bayajidda,[2] became the first king of Kano in 999, reigning until 1063.[3][4] 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.[5][6] The Hausa state remained independent until the Fulani conquest of 1805.

Fulani conquest and rule

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.[7] It was one of the last major slave societies. 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.[7]

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.[8]

Fall

The British pacification campaign termed Kano-Sokoto Expedition set off from Zaria at the end of January 1903 under the command of Colonel Morland. British officers and N.C.O.s and 800 African rank and file. Apart from a company of mounted infantry and a few gunners, the whole force consisted of infantry. They were supported, however, by four 75-mm. mountain guns, which could if necessary be dismantled and transported by porters, and by six machine guns.

1850 steel engraving of Kano

After sporadic fighting outside the walls of the fort, the British managed to penetrate the defensive parameters of the capital. Kano was mostly left defenseless at the time, the Emir, Aliyu Babba was away with its large contingent Cavalry for the Autumn Campaign at Sokoto. News of the British capture of Kano in February 1903 sent the Cavalry in a long march to retake the city.

After successfully defeating the British in three encounters, on the 27 of February 1903, the Grand Vizier of Kano; Ahmadu Mai Shahada and much of the Kano Cavalry was ambushed at Katarkwashi. The death of the Vizier and subsequent capture and exile to Lokoja of the 7th emir of Kano; Aliyu Babba spelled the formative end of the Kano Emirate.[1] The British made Kano an important administrative centre and kept most of the Emirates institutions in the form of the Kano Emirate Council subject to the British crown in a newly formed state called Northern Nigeria.

Emirs

Emirs of Kano under Sokoto vassalage

Emirs under Sokoto vassalage were:[9]

• Suleiman (ruled 1805–1819)
• Ibrahim (ruled 1819–1846)
• Usman I (ruled 1846–1855)
• Abdullah (ruled 1855–1883)
• Mohammed Bello (ruled 1883–1893)
• Mohammed Tukur (ruled 1893–1894)
• Aliyu Babba (ruled 1894–1903)

See also

• List of rulers of Kano

References

1. "Kano". Kano Online. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
2. Okehie-Offoha, Marcellina; Matthew N. O. Sadiku (December 1995). Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Nigeria. Africa World Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-86543-283-3.
3. "Kano". Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
4. Ki-Zerbo, Joseph (1998). UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. IV, Abridged Edition: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century. University of California Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-520-06699-5.
5. "Caravans Across the Desert: Marketplace". AFRICA: One Continent. Many Worlds. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 January 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
6. "50 Greatest Africans – Sarki Muhammad Rumfa & Emperor Semamun". When We Ruled. Every Generation Media. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
7. Lovejoy, Paul (1983). Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 195. ISBN 0-521-24369-6.
8. Stilwell, Sean (2000). "Power, Honour and Shame: The Ideology of Royal Slavery in the Sokoto Caliphate". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. Edinburgh University Press. 70 (3): 394–421. doi:10.2307/1161067. ISSN 0001-9720. JSTOR 1161067.
9. "Traditional States of Nigeria". WorldStatesmen.org. Retrieved 1 September 2010.