Babban Zaki

Last updated
Babba Zaki
Sarkin Kano
Reign1768-1776
Predecessor Yaji II
Successor Dauda Abasama II
House Bagauda Dynasty
Father Yaji II
MotherYerduna

Babban Zaki also known as Jan Rano was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1768 to 1776. One of the most significant rulers of the House of Kutumbi, he solved the puzzle of Kano's complex structure and provided the blueprint for its successful administration which would survive even after the fall of the Kutumbawa. Through the utilization of force and espionage, he created order out of chaos by pitting government officials against each other and disrupting communication channels between chiefs in the State to avoid organized revolts. He was also the first King to arm the Kano royal guard with muskets. [1] [2]

Contents

Reign

"He was an able Sarki, of great strength, renowned for his memory and eloquence, He was called Babban Zaki.... Hence he was called Jan Rano, well named the disturber of elephants"

He was the Eldest son of Yaji II's three infamous sons. His mother's name was yerduna. The Kano chronicle omits his birth name, his ephitet Babban Zaki, means "Great Lion". He was also praised as "Jan Rano, Gasa Giwa", which translates to "The three pronged fork who roasts elephants" in attribution to his mastery over the chiefs of Kano.

While the Kutumbawa's reign was characterized by the dispersion of power among State officials, in Babban Zaki's reign, he crippled the influence of his officials to avoid rebellions which became common in the reign of his predecessors. He emphatically crushed two of such rebellions against Birnin Auyau and against Burum Burum.

He was said to pillage his own chiefs and to coerce them into fight wars using his strategies against their will. He further cut off communication channels between them and ensured communication lines directly led to him through his slaves. In his time, no one was allowed to see him, not even his family, except through his slaves and in times of war, he rarely took to the battlefield himself. He also instituted state sponsored espionage. Amongst his most trusted men, he was able to maintain a balance in their treatment such that each one thought himself to be the Sultan's favorite.

Biography in the Kano Chronicle

Below is a biography of Babba Zaki from Palmer's 1908 English translation of the Kano Chronicle . [2]

The 41st Sarki was the son of Yaji, called Babba Zaki. His mother’s name was Yerduna. He was an able Sarki, of great strength, renowned for his memory and eloquence. He was called Babba Zaki.

He made war on Birnin Auyau in the time of Sarki Abubakr. If it had not been for Madawaki Kano Dandawa, Sarkin Gaiya Gajigi and Sarkin Jafun Furtumi, the Kanawa would have entered the city of Auyau and destroyed the town. Yaji built a house at Takai and almost lived there, but the court refused to live there. He made war on Burumburum, and took the town by assault, capturing many of the inhabitants and cutting the throats of some, whilst the others fled. He curbed the power of the Sarkis and head slaves and plundered them every day. He forced them to give presents under compulsion, and to go to war unwillingly. Hence he was called “Jan Rano, well named the disturber of elephants.” In war he forced them to fight against their judgment. He was the first Sarki who had a guard of musketeers at Kano, a practice which has obtained ever since. He imitated the Arabs of Kano in almost everything.

His war captains were 5—Sarkin Sankara Nagerki, Sarkin Bebeji Dembo, Sarkin Majia Kimfirmi Makama Bobawa, Sarkin Jarumai Achukur, Sarkin Dawaki Maina.

The great men in his time were 42: Dawaki Tokara, Bawa, Madawaki Dundurusu, Lifidi Gabjin, Galadiman Shamaki Alwali, Tunku, Yakufu, Berka Wuta, Bagarami, Berka. These were all slaves.

Among the mallams were: Alkali Abbas, Alkali Makam, Limanin Kano Aburauf and his sons, Abubukr Dan Mallam Bohari from Yandoto, and Husaini from Tarkai.

The great men among the Arabs were: Sherif Hassan, Hajariki, Sherif Hamad, Sherif Dahab, and others.

Among the Sarki’s sons were: Dan Iya, Mallam Osnman, Choka, Daka and Nafata.

Among his eunuchs were: Sarkin Dawaki Muradi, Turaki Mainya Munaga Allah, Turaki Kuka Kasan Allah, Turaki Kuka Ka-nem-Kiwo, Gwoninka Jephar, who was of the same people as Sherif Hassan and others. The chief of these were Dan Maji Babba, Hangaza and Dan Zanko Jibril. In all there were 42.

Each of them thought he was greater than the rest in the Sarki’s eyes. Thus the Sarki planned.

Babban Zaki ruled Kano 8 years.

—  Kano Chronicle

Related Research Articles

Ali Dan Tsamiya known as Yaji I or Ali Yaji Dan Tsamiya was a king and later the first Sultan of Kano, a state in what is now Northern Nigeria. Yaji I ruled from 1359 to 1385 CE. A prominent figure in the state's history, Yaji used a religious revolution to finally solidify his family's grasp on Kano and its sub-kingdoms after centuries of strife. He was also responsible for the absorption of Rano into Kano.

Muhammad Zaki was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1582-1618.

Muhammad dan Yakubu, known as Muhammad Rumfa was the Sultan of Kano from 1463 until 1499. His reign was characterized by wealth and opulence and signaled the rise of the Sultanate's commercial dominance in the region. According to the Kano Chronicle, a scholar Abdu Rahaman Muhammad al-Maghili came to the city of Kano during the reign of Rumfa to spread Islam. He brought with him many books. He ordered Rumfa to build a mosque for Friday prayers and to cut down the sacred tree and build a minaret on the site. And when he had established the faith of Islam, and learned men have grown in Kano, Abdul Karimi returned to Massar (Egypt), leaving Sidi Fari as his deputy to carry on his work

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibrahim Dabo</span> Emir of Kano

Ibrahim Dabo was the leader of the Fulani Sullubawa in Kano and founder of the eponymous Dabo dynasty. His progeny has lasted over two centuries reigning as Muslim rulers of the ancient city-state of Kano. The dynasty has become synonymous with the ancient city-state in affectionate sayings as "Kano ta Dabo Cigari". They have independently ruled the Kano Emirate from 1819 until the Battle of Kano in 1903 which as a result of British colonisation transformed into the Kano Emirate Council.

Muhammad Dan Yaji, known as Muhammad Alwali II was the last sultan of the Sultanate of Kano. His reign coincided with a period of upheavals in Sudanic History that saw a series of religious Jihads waged by the Fula People. In 1807, after a protracted struggle with Fula clans, Muhammad Alwali was ambushed and assassinated at Burum-Burum in modern Kano. His death marked the end of the Kutumbawa line of Hausa aristocrats in Kano and the fall of the 800 year old Bagauda Dynasty.

Muhammad Dan Abdullahi, known as Muhammad Kisoki, was the Sultan of Kano from 1509 until his death in 1565. His 56-year reign is the longest of the state's Rumfawa era.

Barandamasu Tsamiya Dan Shekarau, known as Tsamiya, was the King of Kano from 1307 until his death at the hand of his half brother Usman Zamnagawa in 1343.

Kanajeji Dan Yaji, known as Kanajeji, was the 13th ruler of Kano and, for a period, the ruler of Zazzau. He reigned from 1390 - 1410. Like his father, Yaji I, Kanajeji was an intrepid king whose reign was characterized by war, conquest, and religious reformation. Kanajeji engaged in two long and pivotal wars with Umbatu and Zazzau, and eventually prevailed in both, after lengthy feuds. He took Umbatu in four attempts, and Zazzau after two battles. He also renewed the suzerainty his father had imposed over the Kwararafa. However, in a bid to conquer Zazzau, his reign also saw the return of the pagan practices his father sought to expunge. He is credited with revolutionizing Kano's army through the introduction of quilted leather armors (lifidi), steel armors, coats of mail, and iron helmets.

Muhammad Dan Nazaki (1623–1648), known as El Kutumbi or Muhammad Alwali I was the twenty-ninth ruler of Kano and the patriarch of the eponymous Kutumbawa, the last faction of Hausa aristocrats in Kano. Like the Gaudawa and Rumfawa line of rulers, his house is not primarily differentiated based on lineage but rather significant political and social reforms ushered during their era. While the Rumfawa preferred a more centralized system of government, the reign of Kutumbi and his descendants saw the devolution of power through various new government offices. They also imposed new forms of taxation, most notably on the cattle of the Fula. El Kutumbi's reign was also characterized by successful conquests against Gombe, Bauchi and Kano's principal rival, Katsina. He died of battle wounds after a second expedition against the latter. The Kano Chronicle described him as one of Kano's greatest kings.

Kabe Dan Kumbari, known as Alhaji Kabe, was the thirty-ninth ruler of the Sultanate of Kano, reigning for the ten-year period between 1743 and 1753. He was primarily remembered by the Kano Chronicle as a malevolent and ruthless King. It is said that no record can be kept of the number of battles and wars he fought or those fought by the subkingdoms of Kano by his orders, most notably against Gobir. The baleful nature of his reign led to the ousting of the already unpopular bloodline of Muhammad Sharefa.

Dauda was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1421 to 1438.

Muhammad Shashere was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1573 to 1582.

Muhammad Kukuna was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1651 to 1652, and again from 1652 to 1660. His reign was interrupted in 1652 by Soyaki.

Soyaki was a Sultan of Kano who reigned in 1652.

Dadi was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1670 to 1703.

Muhammad Sharefa was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1703 to 1731.

Kumbari was a Sultan of Kano who reigned from 1731 to 1743.

Sulaimanu was an Emir of Kano who reigned from 1807 to 1819.

Abdullahi was an Emir of Kano who reigned from 1855 to 1883.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babban Gwani</span> 19th-century Hausa architect

Babban Gwani, also known as Mallam Mikhaila, was an influential 19th-century Hausa architect and builder who flourished during the reign of the 61st ruler of Zazzau, Nigeria, Abd al-Karim ɗan Abbas. He was the Sarkin Maigini of his time, appointed by Shehu Usman dan Fodio. This position was passed down to his direct male descendants.

References

  1. ↑ Last, Murray (1980). "Historical Metaphors in the Kano Chronicle". History in Africa. 7: 161–178. doi:10.2307/3171660.
  2. 1 2 Palmer, Herbert Richmond, ed. (1908), "The Kano Chronicle", Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland , vol. 38, pp. 58–98 – via Internet Archive; in Google Books. PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
Preceded by Sarkin Kano
1768-1776		Succeeded by


Flag of Nigeria.svg Crystal Clear app Login Manager 2.png

This Nigerian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.