Yakubu Nabame

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Yakubu Nabame
Sarkin Kebbi of Argungu
King of Argungu
Reign1849–1854
Predecessor Karari
SuccessorYusufu Mainasara
BornYakubu dan Samaila
circa 1819
Died1854
Issue
  • Muhammadu Ba'are
  • Samaila II
  • Suleimana
among others
FatherSamaila 'Karari' dan Suleimana

Yakubu Nabame (c. 1819–1854) was the King of Argungu and leader of the Kebbawa resistance from 1849 until his death in 1854. He is best known for reigniting and leading the struggle for independence against the Sokoto Caliphate, which had conquered Kebbi during its early 19th-century jihad. After years of exile at the Caliph's palace in Sokoto, Nabame returned to Kebbi, declared himself Sarkin Kebbi ('Lord of Kebbi') in 1849, and initiated a revolt that marked the first major territorial loss for the Caliphate outside Bornu. His resistance ended an 18-year truce and continued until the fall of the Caliphate in 1903, cementing Kebbi's independence as an irreversible reality. Nabame is remembered as a heroic figure in Kebbi's history. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

In the 1810s, Yakubu Nabame was born to Samaila (better known as Karari), a prince of the Hausa kingdom of Kebbi. He was raised during a period of great instability in the region. Kebbi had fallen to the Sokoto Caliphate during its jihad from 1804 to 1809. Under Nabame's uncle, Muhammadu Hodi, the Kebbawa waged fierce resistance against Gwandu, the vassal state of the Caliphate overseeing the area. [1]

After Hodi's death in 1826, his brother Karari, Nabame's father, adopted the title of Sarkin Kebbi ("Lord of Kebbi") and established himself in Argungu, continuing the struggle for independence. Argungu soon became the capital town for the Kebbawa and their center of resistance. In 1831, a combined force from Gwandu and Sokoto besieged Argungu. The Kebbawa held out for some time, but after the Gwandu forces set fire to their houses, they were forced to capitulate. [1] [3]

Karari managed to escape to Zazzagawa, where he assembled a fresh army from among the Zabarma and Arewa subjects. After suffering two successive defeats against Gwandu, Karari fled once more. However, his old age and an injury sustained in battle slowed him down. Realising he could not avoid capture, he dismounted his horse and commanded his son Nabame to continue without him. Initially reluctant to leave his father behind, Nabame eventually rode away. The Gwandu forces found Karari seated on his shield, holding his rosary in a posture of prayer, and killed him. [1] [3] [2] : 124 

Exile in Sokoto

Following his father's death, Nabame spent a year or two hiding among the Arewa, who protected him from Sokoto. Eventually, he decided to surrender to Gwandu. After some deliberation, it was agreed to spare his life, and he was exiled to Sokoto in 1831. [1] [3] Nabame was said to be about 12 years old at the time of his exile. [4]

During Nabame's exile in Sokoto, the Kebbawa abandoned their revolt and submitted to Sokoto. While at the Caliph's palace, Nabame was groomed to eventually assume leadership of the Kebbawa and become a firm ally of the Caliphate. He quickly gained favour and trust in Sokoto, particularly with Caliph Ali Babba (r. 1842–1859), who reportedly regarded him as a son. [3] [2]

Caliph Ali appointed Nabame to a senior command in the Sokoto army, where he led several expeditions. During one such campaign against a Gobir revolt in Zamfara in 1847, a Gobir horseman recognised Nabame and shouted, "You should be on our side, not helping those who slew your father!" Although Nabame ignored the taunt at the time, it weighed heavily on his mind. During the battle, the Gobirawa nearly killed Umaru, a son of Ali, but Nabame narrowly saved him. Upon returning to Sokoto, Nabame was rewarded with his freedom and allowed to return to his people. [1] [2] [5]

Revolt and death

Back in Kebbi, Nabame continued to be troubled by the taunts of the Gobirawa. In 1849, he renounced his allegiance to Sokoto and declared himself Sarkin Kebbi, ending the 18-year truce between Kebbi and the Sokoto Caliphate. His revolt quickly gained momentum, with support coming in from his Kebbawa kinsmen and his father's former allies in Arewa and Zabarma. [6]

The Caliphate forces, caught unprepared, suffered significant losses, including the powerful stronghold of Silame. A combined army from Gwandu and Sokoto attempted to capture Nabame's Argungu but was ultimately forced to retreat. [2] [5]

Caliph Ali's retreat marked the first surrender of territory by the Sokoto Caliphate outside of Bornu since its original conquests. Following Nabame's revival of the Kebbawa struggle for independence, the Kebbawa continued to harass the Caliphate for over fifty years until its collapse in 1903, solidifying Kebbi's independence as an irreversible reality. The Kebbawa frequently organised raiding parties and engaged in guerrilla warfare, preventing the Caliphate from ever fully subduing them. Nabame was eventually killed during one of these raids in 1854. [2] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Legacy

Yakubu Nabame came to be revered among the Kebbawa who regard him as "a heroic figure, like Wallace or Bruce, who snapped the fetters of servitude and led his people back to dignity and freedom". [2]

The palace Nabame built in Argungu, known as Gidan Nabame ("Nabame's House"), served as the primary residence for his successors for almost a century. Today, it stands as a museum dedicated to the history of Kebbi. [11]

Related Research Articles

Shehu Usman dan Fodio. was a Fulani scholar, Islamic religious teacher, poet, revolutionary and a philosopher who founded the Sokoto Caliphate and ruled as its first caliph.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sokoto (city)</span> Capital city of Sokoto State, Nigeria

Sokoto is a major city located in extreme north-western Nigeria, near the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006, it has a population of over 427,760. Sokoto is the modern-day capital of Sokoto State and was previously the capital of the north-western l states. Modern Sokoto is known for trading sheepskins, cattle hides, leather crafts, kola nuts and goatskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jihad of Usman dan Fodio</span> Military conflict in Nigeria and Cameroon (1804–1808)

The Jihad of Usman dan Fodio was a religio-military conflict in present-day Nigeria and Cameroon. The war began when Usman dan Fodio, a prominent Islamic scholar and teacher, was exiled from Gobir by King Yunfa, one of his former students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sokoto Caliphate</span> Islamic state in West Africa (1804–1903)

The Sokoto Caliphate, also known as the Sultanate of Sokoto, was a Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa. It was founded by Usman dan Fodio in 1804 during the Fulani jihads after defeating the Hausa Kingdoms in the Fulani War. The boundaries of the caliphate are part of present-day Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. By 1837, the Sokoto state had a population of around 10-20 million people, becoming the most populous empire in West Africa. It was dissolved when the British, French, and Germans conquered the area in 1903 and annexed it into the newly established Northern Nigeria Protectorate, Senegambia and Niger and Kamerun respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sokoto</span> State of Nigeria

Sokoto is one of the 36 states of Nigeria, located in the extreme northwest of the country. It is bounded by Republic of the Niger to the north and west for 363 km, and the states of Zamfara to the east, and Kebbi to the south and west, partly across the Ka River. Its capital and largest city is the city of Sokoto. Sokoto is located near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2022 it has an estimated population of more than 6.3 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamfara</span> State of Nigeria

Zamfara is a state in northwestern Nigeria. The capital of Zamfara state is Gusau and its current governor is Dauda Lawal. Until 1996, the area was part of Sokoto State.

Gobir was a city-state in what is now Nigeria. Founded by the Hausa in the 11th century, Gobir was one of the seven original kingdoms of Hausaland, and continued under Hausa rule for nearly 700 years. Its capital was the city of Alkalawa. In the early 19th century elements of the ruling dynasty fled north to what is today Niger from which a rival dynasty developed ruling as Sarkin Gobir at Tibiri. In 1975 a reunited traditional sultanate took up residence in Sabon Birni, Nigeria.

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. The city is a major agricultural center for the area, with key crops including tobacco, peanuts, rice, millet, wheat, and sorghum. The city also hosts an annual international fishing festival which was suspended for 11 years. The Argungu fishing festival was held again in the year 2020 from March 11–14

Abdullahi ɗan Fodio, was a prominent Islamic scholar, jurist, poet and theologian, and the first Amir of Gwandu and first Grand Vizier of Sokoto. His brother, Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817) was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate. Usman, being more of a scholar than politician, delegated the practical regency of the western part of his empire to Abdullahi and the eastern part to his son Muhammed Bello, who later became the Sultan of Sokoto after his father.

Jega is a Local Government Area in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Jega.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Northern Nigeria</span>

The history of Northern Nigeria covers the history of the region form pre-historic times to the modern period of Northern Nigerian state.

Ahmadu Atiku also known as Ahmadu Zarruku was Sultan of Sokoto from 1859 to 1866. Prior to becoming Sultan, he was head of the Abu Bakr Atiku branch of Uthman Dan Fodio's family and held the title of Sarkin Zamfara with responsibilities for Sokoto town and south-east Sokoto. Atiku established the military settlement (ribat) at Chimmola which was across the valley from the town of Wurno and which he used as the seat of government.

Umaru bin Ali (c.1824–1891) was Sultan of Sokoto from 3 October 1881 to 25 March 1891. He succeeded Sultan Mu'azu after the latter's death in September 1881. Ali was a great-grandson of Uthman dan Fodio, grandson of Muhammed Bello and son of Aliyu Babba.

Umaru Nagwamatse was the founder and the first ruler of the Kontagora Emirate. He was the grandson of Usman dan Fodio and the son of the second sultan of the Sokoto Caliphate, Sultan Abu Bakr Atiku.

Ali Jedo, was the first Amir al-jaish al-Islam of the Sokoto Caliphate. Prior to the jihad, he was the leader of the Fulbe of Konni in modern-day Sokoto State.

The Revolt of Abd al-Salam was a rebellion against the Sokoto Caliphate, driven by perceived bias against the Hausawa. The revolt was led by Mallam Abd al-Salam, a Hausa scholar who had been among the leaders of the Sokoto Revolution that led to the establishment of the caliphate. As time went on, he grew disillusioned with the rewards he received compared to other leaders, many of whom were of Fulbe ethnicity.

Muhammad Bukhari bin Uthman was an Islamic scholar and a noted poet who was the first Emir of Tambawel. Bukhari was an important military commander who participated and led several military campaigns during the jihad of Usman dan Fodio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Zamfara</span>

Zamfara, a region in present-day northwestern Nigeria, has a history deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of the Hausa people. It is generally considered as one of the Hausa city-states. Known for its fertile land, Zamfara became an important player in the regional conflicts and alliances that marked the 17th and 18th centuries. However, constant regional instability and warring, particularly with Gobir, gradually weakened the state, leading to its eventual absorption by the Sokoto Caliphate in the 19th-century.

Bawa Jan Gwarzo was the ruler of the Hausa kingdom of Gobir from 1777 to 1795. He is remembered for his successful military exploits, particularly the continuation of the expansionist policies of his father, Sarkin Gobir Babari, making Gobir a formidable power in the region. His reign also saw the rise of Usman dan Fodio and his reformist movement.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 S. J. Hogben, A. H. M. Kirk-Greene (1966). The Emirates Of Northern Nigeria A Preliminary Survey Of Their Historical Traditions. Internet Archive. pp. 249–251.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Johnston, Hugh A.S. (1967-01-01). The Fulani Empire of Sokoto. Internet Archive. Oxford University Press. pp. 188–190.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Johnston, Hugh A.S. (1966). A Selection of Hausa Stories. Internet Archive. pp. 127–133.
  4. ↑ Boyd, Jean (2013). The Caliph's Sister : Nana Asma'u, 1793-1865, teacher, poet and Islamic leader. Internet Archive. Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge. p. 110. ISBN   978-1-315-03523-9.
  5. 1 2 Last, Murray (1967). The Sokoto Caliphate. Internet Archive. [New York] Humanities Press. p. 85.
  6. ↑ Anene, Joseph C. (1970). The international boundaries of Nigeria, 1885-1960; the framework of an emergent African nation. Internet Archive. New York, Humanities Press. p. 255. ISBN   978-0-391-00080-3.
  7. ↑ Ikime, Obaro (1980). Groundwork of Nigerian History. pp. 316–317.
  8. ↑ Ajayi, J.F.A, ed. (1971). History of West Africa. Internet Archive. [London] : Longman. p. 64. ISBN   978-0-582-64518-9.
  9. ↑ Adeleye, R. A. (1971). Power and diplomacy in Northern Nigeria, 1804-1906; the Sokoto Caliphate and its enemies. Internet Archive. [New York] Humanities Press. p. 69. ISBN   978-0-391-00169-5.
  10. ↑ Balogun, S. A. (1974). "The Place of Argungu in Gwandu History". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 7 (3): 403–415. ISSN   0018-2540. JSTOR   41857029.
  11. ↑ Adebayo, Ismail (26 June 2016). "Gidan Nabame: Where Argungu emirs must be buried". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
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.