Kano Emirate

For Kano Emirate Council, see Kano Emirate Council. For Kano Emirate - Native Authority, see Kano Emirate Council.

Massarautar Kano Al Amir Al Kano
Fula Emirate
1807–1903
Flag
Anthem Busar Bagauda Drum of Bagauda
Capital		Kano (1807- 1880) Takai (1880-1889)
Languages		Arabic (official), Fula, Hausa
Religion		Sunni Islam (Official), Hausa Animism, Fula 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		Countries today Nigeria (de facto) Template:Country data Niger Republic

The Kano Emirate was a religious state in Northern Nigeria, the Emirate was formed in 1805 during the Fulani jihad, when the old Hausa Sultanate of Kano became subject to the Sokoto Caliphate. During and after the colonial period the powers of the emirate were steadily reduced.

History

Hausa kingdom and Sultanate

Main article: Kingdom of Kano

Main article: Sultanate of Kano

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, 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.

Fulani conquest and rule

1850 steel engraving of Kano

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.

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.

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 Cavarlry 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. 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:

• 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