Zazzau

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Zazzau
Zaria Emir's palace gate.jpg
Gate to the palace of the emir of Zazzau
Flag of the Zaria Emirate.svg
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Red pog.svg
Zazzau
Coordinates: 11°04′N7°42′E / 11.067°N 7.700°E / 11.067; 7.700
CountryFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
State Kaduna State
Government
  TypeMonarch
  EmirAhmed Nuhu Bamalli

The Zazzau, also known as the Zaria Emirate, is a traditional state with headquarters in the city of Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The current emir of Zazzau is Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli CFR, who succeeded the former emir, late Alhaji Shehu Idris. [1]

Contents

Early Hausa kingdom

The most important source for the early history of Zazzau is a chronicle composed in the early 20th century from an oral tradition. It tells the traditional story of the foundation of the Hausa kingdoms by Bayajidda, an Arab adventurer from Baghdad, and gives a list of rulers along with the length of their reigns. According to this chronology, the original Hausa or Habe kingdom is said to date from the 11th century, founded by King Gunguma. [2] This source also makes it one of the seven Hausa Bakwai states. Zazzau's most famous early ruler was Queen (or princess) Amina, who ruled either in the mid-15th or mid-16th centuries, and was held by Muhammed Bello, an early 19th-century Hausa historian and the second Sultan of Sokoto, to have been the first to establish a kingdom among the Hausa. [3]

Zazzau was a collection point for slaves to be delivered to the northern markets of Kano and Katsina, where they were exchanged for salt with traders who carried them north of the Sahara. [4] According to the history in the chronicle, Islam was introduced to the kingdom around 1456, but appears to have spread slowly, and pagan rituals continued until the Fulani conquest of 1808. At several times in its history, Zazzau was subject to neighboring states such as Songhai, Bornu and Kwararafa. [5]

Mosque of the palace Zazzau palace Mosque 01.jpg
Mosque of the palace

Later Fulani emirate

In December 1808 the kingdom was captured in the Fulani jihad. [6] The Hausa (Habe) ruler had escaped to Abuja, where he established a state now known as the Suleja Emirate, retaining his independence and the title of "Sarkin Zazzau". The ruler of the modern Zazzau Emirate also uses the title "Sarkin Zazzau" or "Sarkin Zaria". After the jihad, the culturally similar but pastoral or nomadic Fulani intermarried with the more settled Habe farmers, and the people of the Emirate today are generally known as Hausa–Fulani. The government of the Zaria Emirate differed from other emirates created at this time in that offices were rarely hereditary, but were appointed based on merit or obligation. [5]

Rulers

Hausa kingdom

Names and Dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989). [7]

Capitals (c. 1010 c. 1578): Turunku, Wuciciri, Rikoci, Kawar [8]

StartEndRuler
c. 1010 ?Gunguma
 ? ?Matani (or Matazo)
 ? ?Tumso (or Tumsah)
 ? ?Tamusa
 ? ?Sulimano
 ? ?Nasabo (or Maswaza)
 ? ?Danzaki (or Dinzaki)
 ? ?Saiwago (or Nayoga)
 ? ?Kwasari (or Kauchi)
 ? ?Nwaiku (or Nawainchi)
 ? ?Besekal (or Machikai)
 ? ?Kuna (or Kewo)
 ? ?Bashikarr
 ? ?Maji Dadi (or Majidada)
 ? ?Kirari (or Dihirahi)
 ? ?Jenhako (or Jinjiku)
 ?1505Sukana
15051530Rabon Bawa (or Monan Abu)
15301532Gudumua Muska (or Gidan Dan Masukanan)
15321535Tukuariki (or Nohir)
15351536Uwan (or Kawanissa)
15361539Bakwa Turunku (female ruler)
15391566Ibrihimu
15661576Karama
15761578Kafow

The kingdom's name changed to Zaria at the end of the 16th century. [8]

Capital (c. 1578 1835): Zaria (originally founded in 1536 and named after Chief Bakwa's daughter Zaria) [9]

StartEndRuler
15781584Ali
15841597Bako Majirua
15971608Bako Su Aliyu
16081611Bako Mahama Gabi (or Gadi)
16111611Bako Hamza (ruled for one day)
16111618Bako Abdu Ashkuku (or Abdaku)
16181621Bako Brima (or Burema)
16211646Bako Ali
16461647Bako Majam Rubu
16471660Bako Brima
16601670Bako Shukunu
16701678Bako Aliyu
16781682Bako Brima Hasko
16821710Bako Mahama Rubo
17101718Bako
17181727Bako Aliyu
17271736Bako Dan Musa
17361738Bako Ishihako (or Ishaq)
17381750Bako Makam Danguma
17501757Bako Ruhawa
17571758Bako Makam Gaba
17581760Bako Mair ari Ashaka Okao
17601762Kao
17621764Bako Bawa
17641770Yonusa
17701788Baba (or Yakuba)
17881793Aliyu
17931795Chikkoku
17951796Mai haman Maigano
17961802Ishihako Jatao (or Ishaq Jatao)
18021804Makkam (or Muhamman Makau)

Independent Fulani rulers

The gate before renovation in 1970 Nigerian Public Domain 725.jpg
The gate before renovation in 1970

The kingdom was taken over by the Fulani Empire in 1804 and became an emirate in 1835. [9] The Hausa rulers went into exile and founded Abuja. [9] The emirate was taken by the British in 1902. [9]

Rulers of the independent Fulani emirate: [6]

StartEndRuler
1804 [9] 17 May 1821Malam Musa ibn Suleiman Ibn Muhammad
18041825Muhamman Makau (Hausa ruler in exile) [9]
June 18211834Yamusa ibn Mallam Kilba
18251828 Abu Ja (Hausa ruler in exile) [9]
183418 December 1846Abd al-Karim ibn Abbas
6 January 184628 February 1846Hammada ibn Yamusa
15 Apr 1846Apr 1853Muhammad Sani ibn Yamusa
Apr 1853Dec 1853Sidi `Abd al-Qadir ibn Musa
Jan 18545 Aug 1857Abd as-Salam ibn Muhammad Ka'i
21 Sep 1857Oct/Nov 1871Abd Allah ibn Hammada (1st time)
22 Nov 1871Jun/Jul 1874Abu Bakr ibn Musa (d. 1873)
Aug/Sep 1874Nov/Dec 1879Abd Allah ibn Hammada (2nd time)
26 Dec 1879Jan 1888Muhammad Sambo ibn Abd al-Karim
Jan 188813 Feb 1897Uthman Yero ibn Abd Allah (d. 1897)
17 Apr 1897Mar 1902 Muhammad Lawal Kwassau ibn Uthman Yero

Colonial period and later rulers

Rulers of the independent Fulani emirate: [6]

Startend;Rulers
March 19038 April 1903Sulayman (regent from 11 Sep 1902)
8 April 19039 November 1920Ali ibn Abd al-Qadir (d. 1924)
19201924Dallatu ibn Uthman Yero
19241936Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Lawal Kwassau (b. c.1886 - d. 1936)
1937August 1959Malam Jafar ibn Ishaq (b. 1891 - d. 1959)
September 19594 February 1975 Muhammad al-Amin ibn Uthman (b. 1908 - d. 1975)
8 February 197520 September 2020 Shehu Idris (b. 1936 - d. 2020) [10]
7 October 2020 Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli (b. 1966)

Ruling houses in Zazzau Emirate Council

  1. Mallawa.
  2. Barebari.
  3. Katsinawa
  4. Sullubawa

Local governments under Zazzau Emirate Council

  1. Sabon Gari
  2. Giwa
  3. Soba
  4. Igabi
  5. Ikara
  6. Makarfi
  7. Kubau
  8. Kaduna North
  9. Kaduna South
  10. Kauru
  11. Kudan
  12. Zaria

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References

  1. Alabelewe, AbdulGafar. "Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli is new Emir of Zazzau". The Nation. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  2. E. J. Arnett, "A Hausa Chronicle" Journal of the Royal African Society 9 (1910)
  3. Muhammad Bello, Infaq 'l-Maysuur, chapter 7, translated Muhammad Shareef, (Sennar, Sudan,2008) http://www.siiasi.org/Chapter%207%20_Infaaq_.pdf
  4. "Zaria". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  5. 1 2 M. G. Smith, International African Institute. (1960). "Government in Zazzau, 1800-1950". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  6. 1 2 3 "Traditional States of Nigeria". WorldStatesmen.org. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  7. Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers. London: McFarland. pp. 297–298. ISBN   0-89950-390-X.
  8. 1 2 Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers. London: McFarland. p. 298. ISBN   0-89950-390-X.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers. London: McFarland. p. 297. ISBN   0-89950-390-X.
  10. "Just in Emir of Zaria Shehu Idris dies at 84". 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.