88-524: This is a list of rulers of Kano since the establishment of the Bagauda Dynasty in 998. The early rulers are known almost exclusively from a single source, the Kano Chronicle , which was composed in the late 19th century. Names and dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989): Kano (city) Kano ( Ajami : كَنُواْ) is a city in northern Nigeria and
176-414: A camel cavalry . They trained herds of long-horned bulls in the imperial stables to charge at the enemy in battle. Vultures were also used to harass opposing camps. The emperor was the strategist and commander-in-chief of the military, and the balama acted as minister of defence and army general. The janky was the army corps general, and the wonky were lieutenants in charge of a garrison. The head of
264-590: A defensive wall with the construction of the foundation laid by Sarki Gijimasu (r. 1095–1134), the third king of the Kingdom of Kano in the Kano Chronicle . In the mid 14th century during the reign of Zamnagawa, the wall was completed before it was further expanded during the 16th century. According to historians, the then General-Governor of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria , Fredrick Lugard , wrote in
352-716: A 1903 report about the Kano Walls that he had "never seen anything like it in Africa" after capturing the ancient city of Kano along with British forces. Many old royal residences have also survived to this day, mainly within the old city and its surroundings. Such private houses include the Gidan Chiroma , Filin Chiranchi , and others. Larger palaces, include the Gidan Rumfa , Gidan Makama , and winter retreat for
440-612: A 500-mile corridor upstream to Djenné or downstream to Gao. The Julla (merchants) would form partnerships, and the state would protect the merchants and port cities along Niger. Askia Muhammad I implemented a universal system of weights and measures throughout the empire. The Songhai economy was based on a clan system. The clan a person belonged to ultimately decided one's occupation. The most common occupations were metalworkers, fishermen, and carpenters. The lower castes mainly consisted of immigrants, who, at times, were provided special privileges and held high positions in society. At
528-601: A Portuguese invasion at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir , but were left on the verge of economic depletion and bankruptcy, as they needed to pay for the defences used to hold off the siege. This led Sultan Ahmad I al-Mansur of the Saadi dynasty in 1591 to dispatch an invasion force south under the eunuch Judar Pasha . The Moroccan invasion of Songhai was mainly to seize and revive the trans-Saharan trade in salt, gold and slaves for their developing sugar industry. During Askia's reign,
616-541: A pardon or offer refuge. The Assara-munitions , or "enforcers", worked like a police commissioner whose sole duty was to execute sentencing. Jurists were mainly composed of representatives of the academic community; professors were often noted as taking administrative positions within the Empire, and many aspired to be qadis . The upper classes in society converted to Islam, while the lower classes often continued to follow traditional religions. Sermons emphasized obedience to
704-651: A policy against the scholars of Timbuktu, especially those of the Sankore region who were associated with the Tuareg. With his control of critical trade routes and cities such as Timbuktu, Sonni Ali increased the wealth of the Songhai Empire, which at its height would surpass the wealth of Mali. Sonni Ali was succeeded by Askia the Great . He organized the territories his predecessor conquered and extended his power to
792-523: A riot . He was killed by security forces, but his followers later started uprisings in other northern cities. After the introduction of sharia law in Kano State in the early 2000s, many Christians left the city. 100 people were killed in riots over the sharia issue during October 2001. In November 2007, political violence broke out in the city after the People's Democratic Party (PDP) accused
880-462: A solid foundation for the progress of a modern society. He started a lot of development projects—network of roads, a reliable urban water supply. He was a keen farmer himself and funded construction of number of dams to provide irrigation. Thanks to his policies, Kano produced all types of produce and export it to the neighbouring states. The first civilian governor was Abubakar Rimi . In December 1980, radical preacher Mohammed Marwa Maitatsine led
968-535: A succession crisis loomed amongst the royal family. On 8 June 2014, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi a grandson of former Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I emerged as the new Emir of Kano. His accession led to widespread protests from supporters of Sanusi Ado Bayero the Chiroman Kano (Crown Prince) and son of the late Emir Ado Bayero, with allegations that Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso interfered with the king-making process. In 2019, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje balkanized
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#17327730632791056-465: A trial were announced by the "town crier", and punishment for most trivial crimes usually consisted of confiscation of merchandise or even imprisonment since various prisons existed throughout the Empire. Qadis worked locally in important trading towns like Timbuktu and Djenné. The king appointed the Qadi and dealt with common-law misdemeanours according to Sharia law. The Qadi also had the power to grant
1144-455: A warrior priest of Dala Hill and a female spirit deity known as Tsumburbura, Barbushe is from the lineage of the hunter family ( maparauta ) who were the Maguzawa and city's first settlers they worship the deity Tsumburbura ( Elizabeth Isichei notes that the description of Barbushe is similar to those of Sao people ). While small chiefdoms were previously present in the area, according to
1232-667: Is a major centre for the production and export of agricultural products like hides , skins , peanuts , and cotton . The city maintains its economy and business even in the 21st century, with it producing the richest man in Africa— Aliko Dangote —whose great-grandfather Alhassan Dantata was the richest West African in the mid 20th century. Over the years, inconsistent government policies and sporadic electricity supply hampered manufacturing and industry, so that Kano's economy relies primarily on trade, retail and services. There are plans to establish an information technology park in
1320-511: Is under construction from Lagos. In 2017, a 74-km, four-line light rail network was announced by the Kano State Ministry of Works, Housing & Transport; with a US$ 1.8 billion contract signed with China Railway Construction Corporation . Two trans-African automobile routes pass through Kano: From 2006 to 2015, backed by high oil prices, major highways, overhead bridges and other transportation infrastructure were built by
1408-517: Is very hot for most of the year, peaking in April. From December through February, the city is less hot, with morning temperatures during the months of December, January and February averaging between 14 and 16 °C (57.2 and 60.8 °F). Metropolitan Kano has eight local governments: The economic history of Kano dates back to the Middle Ages when the city served as the southernmost point of
1496-539: The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) of rigging the November 17 local government elections. (The ANPP won in 36 of the state's 44 local Government Areas.) Hundreds of youths took to the streets, over 300 of whom were arrested; at least 25 people were killed. Buildings set on fire include a sharia police station, an Islamic centre, and a council secretariat. 280 federal soldiers were deployed around
1584-577: The British Empire after the Battle of Kano , the Fort of Kano was captured by the British, It quickly replaced Lokoja as the administrative centre of Northern Nigeria . It was replaced as the centre of government by Zungeru and later Kaduna , and only regained administrative significance with the creation of Kano State following Nigerian independence. From 1913 to 1914, as the peanut business
1672-452: The Hausa language spoken as a lingua-franca by over 70 million speakers in the region. Islam arrived in the city in the 11th century or earlier primarily through the trans-Saharan trade . As a result, Kano became wealthy and the commercial nerve centre of the region and Northern Nigeria , and is still associated as the " centre of commerce ". Kano was originally known as Dala, after
1760-606: The Mali Empire 's attention. Mali conquered the city, profited from Gao's trade, and collected taxes from its kings until about the 1430s. Conflict in the Malian homeland made it impossible to maintain control of Gao. Ibn Battuta visited Gao in 1353 when the town was still a part of the Mali Empire. He arrived by boat from Timbuktu on his return journey from visiting the capital of the empire, writing: Then I travelled to
1848-683: The Neolithic coming from East Africa to mix with the Sorko fishing population and local Niger-Congo agriculturalists of the Niger River. At its peak, Timbuktu became a thriving cultural and commercial centre. Arab, Italian, and Jewish merchants all gathered for trade. A revival of Islamic scholarship took place at the university in Timbuktu. Overland trade in the Sahel and river trade along
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#17327730632791936-499: The Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu. He was interested in astronomy, which led to increased astronomers and observatories in the capital. Askia initiated multiple military campaigns, including declaring Jihad against the neighbouring Mossi. He did not force them to convert to Islam after subduing them. His army consisted of war canoes, a cavalry, protective armour, iron-tipped weapons, and an organized militia. He centralized
2024-564: The 11th century. Other important cities in the kingdom were Timbuktu and Djenné , where urban-centred trade flourished; they were conquered in 1468 and 1475, respectively. Initially, the Songhai Empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty ( c. 1464 –1493), but it was later replaced by the Askia dynasty (1493–1591). During the second half of the 13th century, Gao and the surrounding region had grown into an important trading centre and attracted
2112-514: The 1460s, Sonni Sulayman Dama attacked Méma , the Mali province west of Timbuktu. After the death of Sulayman Dama, Sonni Ali reigned from 1464 to 1492. Unlike the previous Songhai kings, Ali sought to honour the traditional religion of his people, taught to him by his mother of the Dendi people . This earned him the reputation of a tyrant by Islamic Scholars. In the late 1460s, he conquered many of
2200-535: The 1591 Battle of Tondibi , Songhai forces, despite vastly superior numbers, were routed by a cattle stampede triggered by the Saadi's gunpowder weapons. Judar proceeded to sack Gao, Timbuktu and Djenné, destroying the Songhai as a regional power. Governing so vast an empire proved too much for the Saadi dynasty . They soon relinquished control of the region, letting it splinter into dozens of smaller kingdoms. After
2288-481: The 1850s) mentioned that Kano had a 10-mile long 30 ft high clay walls with a population of 30,000 with commerce and manufacturing abundant. He mentioned "its huge market was a labyrinth of narrow alleys with everything sold from vegetables to slaves". He also called Kano the greatest emporium of central Africa and estimated the percentage of slaves in Kano to be at least 50%, most of whom lived in slave villages. This
2376-509: The 9th and 3rd centuries BCE, several different groups of people collectively formed the Songhai identity, centered around the developing hub of ancient Kukiya . Among the first people to settle in the region of Gao were the Sorko people, who established small settlements on the banks of Niger. The Sorko fashioned boats and canoes from the wood of the cailcedrat tree , fished and hunted from their ships, and provided water-borne transport for goods and people. Another group of people that moved into
2464-424: The Empire saw increased centralization. He encouraged learning in Timbuktu by rewarding its professors with larger pensions as an incentive. He also established an order of precedence and protocol and was noted as a nobleman who gave back generously to people experiencing poverty. Under his policies, Muhammad brought much stability to Songhai, and great attestations of this registered organization are still preserved in
2552-528: The Islamic historian Al-Sa'di expresses this sentiment in describing his incursion on Timbuktu: Sunni Ali entered Timbuktu, committed gross iniquity, burned and destroyed the town, and brutally tortured many people there. When Akilu heard of the coming of Sonni Ali, he brought a thousand camels to carry the fuqaha of Sankore and went with them to Walata ..... The Godless tyrant slaughtered those who remained in Timbuktu and humiliated them. Sonni Ali created
2640-903: The Jobe Clan of the Fulani , and Kano became an Emirate of the Caliphate. Kano was already the largest and most prosperous province of the empire. The city suffered famines from 1807 to 1810, in the 1830s, 1847, 1855, 1863, 1873, 1884, and from 1889 until 1890. During the 19th century when Kano came under the suzerainty of the Sokoto Caliphate, Kano prospered as the center of commercial activity. Weaving, dyeing and leatherwork were traded as far north as Morocco and thereafter to Europe. Its cotton cloth traded as far as Tripoli , Lake Chad , and Timbuktu . In 1851, Heinrich Barth (a German scholar who spent several years in northern Nigeria in
2728-518: The Kano Chronicle, Bagauda son of Bawo and grandson of the mythical hero Bayajidda , became the first king of Kano in 999, reigning until 1063. His grandson Gijimasu (1095–1134), the third king, began building city walls (badala/ganuwa) at the foot of Dala Hill. His own son, Tsaraki (1136–1194), the fifth king, completed them during his reign. In the 12th century, Ali Yaji from Kudawa lineage as King of Kano renounced his allegiance to
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2816-442: The Mali Empire. His son and successor, Sonni Bāru , was overthrown by Muhammad Ture , one of his father's generals. Ture, more commonly known as Askia the Great, instituted political and economic reforms throughout the empire. A series of plots and coups by Askia's successors forced the empire into a period of decline and instability. Askia's relatives attempted to govern the kingdom, but political chaos and several civil wars within
2904-602: The Niger were the primary sources of Songhai wealth. Trade along the West African coast was only possible in the late 1400s. Several dikes were constructed during the reign of Sonni Ali, which enhanced the irrigation and agricultural yield of the empire. Overland trade was influenced by four factors: camels, Berber tribe members, Islam, and the structure of the empire. Gold was readily available in West Africa, but salt
2992-595: The Songhai Empire's neighbouring states, including what remained of the Mali Empire. During his campaigns for expansion, Ali conquered several territories, repelling attacks from the Mossi to the south and conquering the Dogon people to the north. He annexed Timbuktu in 1468 after the leaders of the town asked him to help overthrow the Tuaregs, who had taken the city following the decline of Mali. When he attempted to conquer
3080-553: The Songhai military consisted of full-time soldiers, but the king never modernized his army. On the other hand, the invading Moroccan army included thousands of arquebusiers and eight English cannons. Judar Pasha was a Spaniard by birth but had been captured as an infant and educated at the Saadi court. After a march across the Sahara desert, Judar's forces captured, plundered, and razed the salt mines at Taghaza and moved on to Gao. When Emperor Askia Ishaq II (r. 1588–1591) met Judar at
3168-426: The administration of the empire and established a bureaucracy responsible for tax collection and the administration of justice. He demanded the building of canals to enhance agriculture, eventually increasing trade. He introduced a system of weights and measures and appointed an inspector for each of Songhai's major trading centres. During his reign, Islam became more entrenched, trans-Saharan trade flourished, and
3256-537: The area to live off of Niger's resources were the Gao people. The Gao were hunters and specialized in hunting river animals such as crocodiles and hippopotamus. The other group known to have inhabited the area were the Do people, farmers who raised crops in the fertile lands bordering the river. Before the 10th century, these early settlers were subjugated by more powerful, horse-riding Songhai speakers, who established control over
3344-451: The area. All these groups gradually began to speak the same language, and they and their country eventually became known as the Songhai. The earliest dynasty of kings is obscure, and most information about it comes from an ancient cemetery near a village called Saney , close to Gao. Inscriptions on a few of the tombstones in the cemetery indicate that this dynasty ruled in the late 11th and early 12th centuries and that its rulers were given
3432-405: The camel cavalry, called gu , was led by the guy , or cavalry chief. The cavalry mainly consisted of Berbers recruited from the northern provinces. The Songhai included three military provinces, and an army was stationed in each. It was divided into several garrisons, the kurmina , led by the balama , the central province by the emperor himself and the dendi by the dendi fari . The army of
3520-512: The capital of Kano State . It is the second largest city in Nigeria after Lagos , with over four million citizens living within 449 km (173 sq mi). Located in the savanna , south of the Sahel , Kano is a major route of the trans-Saharan trade , having been a trade and human settlement for millennia. It is the traditional state of the Dabo dynasty who have ruled as emirs over
3608-428: The central government. The hi koy was the fleet commander who performed roles likened to a home affairs minister . Fari Mondzo was the minister of agriculture who administered the state's agricultural estates. The Kalisa farm has been described by historians such as Ki-Zerbo to be the finance minister who supervised the empire's treasury. Korey Farma was also the "minister in charge of White foreigners." The tax
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3696-555: 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 and invited many prominent scholars to the city. He also built the walls of the city and the Kurmi market. The Kano Chronicle attributes a total of twelve "innovations" to Rumfa. According to the Kano Chronicle, the thirty-seventh Sarkin Kano ( King of Kano )
3784-586: The city-state since the 19th century. Kano Emirate Council is the current traditional institution inside the city boundaries of Kano, and under the authority of the Government of Kano State . The city is one of the seven medieval Hausa kingdoms . The principal inhabitants of the city are the Hausa and Fulani people. Centuries before British colonization, Kano was strongly cosmopolitan with settled populations of Arab , Tuareg , Kanuri and remains so with
3872-604: The city. Kano is traditionally an equestrian society and this is manifested during the annual Durbar festival to mark and celebrate the two annual Muslim festivals Eid al-Fitr (to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan ) and Eid al-Adha (to mark the Hajj Holy Pilgrimage). Kano Durbar Festival is the Nigeria's Most Spectacular Horseparade that marks a celebration of northern Nigeria's cultural treasure. The festival begins with skilled horsemen from
3960-646: The city. In January 2012, a series of bomb attacks killed up to 162 people. Four police stations, the State Security Service headquarters, passport offices and immigration centres were attacked. Jihadist insurgents Boko Haram claimed responsibility. After the bombings, Kano was placed under curfew. The Boko Haram insurgency continued with mass murders in March 2013 , November 2014 and February 2015 . On 6 June 2014, Emir Ado Bayero who reigned as Emir of Kano for over five decades died, and
4048-408: The city. Kano was also headquarters of Azman Airlines and is the headquarters city of Max Air and various independent travel agencies. After a hiatus of many years, the railway line from Kano to Lagos was rehabilitated by 2013. The train trip to Lagos takes 30 hours and costs the equivalent of US$ 12 , only a quarter of the equivalent bus fare. In 2014, a new double track, standard gauge line
4136-496: The closest military province was mobilized with that of the emperor. Those remaining on the spot ensured order in the three provinces; the emperor was obliged to be in front of the armed during a war of conquest. The Jinakoy ruled secondary provinces and their lieutenants in the regions of the provinces. According to Potholm, the Songhai army was dominated by heavy cavalry of "mounted knights outfitted in chain mail and helmets", similar to medieval European armies. The infantry included
4224-455: The cult of Tsumburbura, converted to Islam and proclaimed the Sultanate that was to last until its fall in the 19th century. The reign of Yaji ensued an era of expansionism that saw Kano becoming the capital of a pseudo Habe Empire. In 1463, Muhammad Rumfa (reigned 1463–1499) ascended the throne. During his reign, political pressure from the rising Songhai Empire forced him to take Auwa,
4312-406: The daughter of Askiyah the Great as his wife. She was to later become the first female Madaki of Kano. Rumfa was a rich and flamboyant king. Luxurious clothing and expensive ostrich feather shoes were common among government officials. The kakaki (a kind of trumpet) was also first used during his reign. His wealth is owed to Kano's commercial prosperity during this period. Kano arguably achieved
4400-493: The emir, pulling up just feet in front of the seated dignitaries to offer their respect and allegiance. During the festival, the emir makes a beautiful appearance in different colors dressed and adorned with the attire of a king. For the first time in 200 years, the durban horse festival was cancelled in 2012 due to the bad health condition of the Emir of Kano. Some analysts suggested that the cancellation could also be attributed to
4488-442: The emir. Kano houses a railway station with trains to Lagos routed through Kaduna , while Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport lies nearby. The city is supplied with water by the nearby Challawa Gorge Dam , which is being considered as a source of hydro power. Because Kano is north of the rail junction at Kaduna, it has equal access to the seaports at Lagos and Port Harcourt . The airline Kabo Air had its head office in
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#17327730632794576-556: The empire and sent an army under the command of Judar Pasha to conquer the Songhai and gain control of the trans-Saharan trade routes. The Songhai Empire collapsed after the defeat at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591. The Songhai Empire has been variously translated in texts as Zagha, Zaghai, Zaghaya, Sughai, Zaghay, Zaggan, Izghan, Zaghawa, Zuwagha, Zawagha, Zauge, Azuagha, Azwagha, Sungee, Sanghee, Songhai, Songhay, Sughai, Zanghi, Zingani, Zanj, Zahn, Zaan, Zarai, Dyagha, and possibly Znaga. In ancient times somewhere surmised between
4664-416: The empire ensured the empire's continued decline, particularly during the rule of Askia Ishaq I . The empire experienced a period of stability and a string of military successes during the reign of Askia Daoud . Askia Ishaq II , the last ruler of the Songhai Empire, ascended to power in a long dynastic struggle following the death of Daoud. In 1590, Al-Mansur took advantage of the recent civil conflict in
4752-540: The empire in poor financial condition, but the kingdom itself passed intact to Musa II . Mari Djata, Musa's kankoro-sigui , put down a Tuareg rebellion in Takedda and attempted to quell the Songhai rebellion in Gao. While he succeeded in Takedda, he did not re-subjugate Gao. Another round of dynastic instability in the 1380s and 90s likely allowed the Songhai to formalize their independence under Sunni Muhammad Dao. In
4840-462: The empire's defeat, the nobles moved south to an area known today as Songhai in current Niger , where the Sonni dynasty had already settled. They formed smaller kingdoms such as Wanzarbe , Ayerou , Gothèye , Dargol , Téra , Sikié , Kokorou , Gorouol , Karma , Namaro and further south, the Dendi which rose to prominence shortly after. The original Songhai Empire only included the area from
4928-469: The famous trans-Sahara trade routes. Kano was well connected with many cities in North Africa and some cities in southern Europe. By 1851, the city of Kano produced 10 million pairs of sandals and 5 million tanned hides annually for export, with other products including textile materials, leather and grains. Kano was connected with trans-Atlantic trade in 1911 when a railway line reached Kano. Kano
5016-458: The height of its reputation as an important trading center of the trans-Saharan trade in the Middle Ages during his reign. Leo Africanus 's description of Kano is believed to be that of Rumfas era. He described the locals as "wealthy merchants and skilled craftsmen" and commended the cavalry of the Sultan's army. He also noted the abundance of rice, corn, cotton and citrus fruits. Rumfa reformed
5104-410: The hill , and was referred to as such until the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th by Bornoan sources. In the 7th century, Dala Hill , a residual hill in Kano, was the site of a hunting and gathering community that engaged in iron work ( Nok culture ); it is unknown whether these were Hausa people or speakers of Niger–Congo languages . The Kano Chronicle identifies Barbushe ,
5192-525: The interest of the expanding Mali Empire . Mali conquered Gao near the end of the 13th century. Gao remained under Malian command until the late 14th century. As the Mali Empire started disintegrating, the Songhai reasserted control of Gao. Songhai rulers subsequently took advantage of the weakened Mali Empire to expand Songhai rule. Under the rule of Sonni Ali, the Songhai surpassed the Malian Empire in area, wealth, and power, absorbing vast regions of
5280-472: The king. Timbuktu was the educational capital. Sonni Ali established a system of government under the royal court, later to be expanded by Askia Muhammad, which appointed governors and mayors to preside over local tributary states around the Niger Valley. These local chiefs were still granted authority over their respective domains if they did not undermine Songhai policy. Departmental positions existed in
5368-407: The mounted archers was called the tongue farma . The hike was second in the chain of command of the empire and served as its interior minister . He was assisted by two vice-admirals at the ports of Kabara and Ayourou and commanded over a thousand captains, ensuring the rapid movement of troops along the Niger River. The infantry was led by a general called the nyay hurry (war elephant), and
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#17327730632795456-520: The nature of a disagreement between northern and southern politicians in the House of Representatives . Thousands of Nigerians of southern origin died as a result a politically sparked riot. Ado Bayero became emir of Kano in 1963. Kano state was created in 1967 from the then Northern Nigeria by the Federal military government. The first military police commissioner, Audu Bako , is credited with building
5544-679: The region of Timbuktu to the east of Gao. Provinces were created after a military expansion under Sonni Ali and Askiya, whose territory was divided into three military zones: The Songhai Empire at its zenith extended over the current territories of Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, most other Guinean Coast countries and Algeria. Its influence stretched as far as Cameroon over a vast contiguous ethnolinguistic , cultural, and political space of Mandé peoples , Gur , Dogon, Berbers, Arab , Fula , Wolof , Hausa , Soninke people , Akan people , and Yoruba people . An elite of Songhai horsemen led this population from nomadic Nilo-Saharan riders of
5632-402: The rest on gifts for the people of Mecca to display his empire's wealth. Historians from Cairo said his pilgrimage consisted of "an escort of 500 cavalry and 1000 infantry, and with him he carried 300,000 pieces of gold". Islam was so important to him that, upon his return, he established more learning centres throughout his empire and recruited Muslim scholars from Egypt and Morocco to teach at
5720-428: The rising deadly Boko haram attacks in the northern part of Nigeria at that time. Kano's architecture over the years has seen wide variations, especially from the traditional architecture to modern architecture. The city is a leading axis of Sudano-Sahelian architecture , developing the local Tubali style which manifested in mosques, walls, common compounds, and gates. The design exteriorization of building façades
5808-422: The river. As trade in the region increased, the Songhai chiefs took control of the profitable trade around what would later become Gao. Trade goods included gold, salt, slaves, kola nuts , leather, dates , and ivory . By the 10th century, the Songhai chiefs had established Gao as a small kingdom, taking control of the people living along the trade routes. Around 1300, Gao had become prosperous enough to attract
5896-423: The royal court and aristocrats being accompanied by musicians, artillerymen, and traditional circus in a procession of highly rich and colorful style through the city on the way to the emir's palace. Once assembled near the palace, the horsemen separate into their respective groups, each under the banner of district head (hakimai) or a titled nobleman from the emir's court (masarauta), take it in turns to charge toward
5984-429: The salt mines of Taghaza were brought within the empire's boundaries. In 1528, Askia's children revolted against him, declaring his son Askia Musa king. Following Musa's overthrow in 1531, the Songhai Empire went into decline. Following the death of Emperor Askia Daoud in 1583, a war of succession weakened the Songhai Empire and split it into two feuding factions. During this period, Moroccan armies annihilated
6072-453: The south and the east. Under his rule, the Songhai military possessed a full-time corps of warriors. Askia is said to have cynical attitudes towards kingdoms lacking professional fighting forces. Al-Sa'di, the chronicler who wrote the Tarikh al-Sudan , compared Askiya's army to that of his predecessor: "he distinguished between the civilian and the army unlike Sunni Ali [1464–92] when everyone
6160-465: The southwest converge to form the Hadejia River , which eventually flows into Lake Chad to the east. Kano is 481 metres (1,578 feet ) above sea level . Kano has a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen Aw ). The city has on average about 980 mm (38.6 in) of precipitation per year, the large majority of which falls from June through September. Like the vast majority of Nigeria , Kano
6248-651: The state government. The most notable of these are the Silver Jubilee flyover bridge at Kofar Nassarawa , the Kofar Kabuga underpass and various 6-lane highways in the city. In 2020, the Vice president of Nigeria Yemi Osibanjo was in Kano to commission the Alhassan Dantata flyover along Murtala Muhammad Way and Tijjani Hashim underpass way, Kofar Ruwa . Songhai Empire The Songhai Empire
6336-579: The title of Malik (Arabic for "King"). Other tombstones mention a second dynasty whose rulers bore the title zuwa . Only myth and legend describe the origins of the zuwa . The Tarikh al-Sudan ( History of Sudan ), written in Arabic around 1655, provides an early history of the Songhai as handed down through oral tradition. It reports that the founder of the Za dynasty was called Za Alayaman (also spelt Dialliaman), who originally came from Yemen and settled in
6424-543: The top were noblemen and descendants of the original Songhai people, followed by freemen and traders. At the bottom were prisoners of war and enslaved people who mainly worked in agriculture. The Songhai used slaves more consistently than their predecessors, the Ghana and Mali empires. James Olson described the Songhai labour system as resembling trade unions , with the kingdom possessing craft guilds that consisted of various mechanics and artisans. Criminal justice in Songhai
6512-592: The town of Kukiya . What happened to the Zuwa rulers is yet to be recorded. The Sanhaja tribes were among the early people of the Niger Bend region. These tribes rode out of the Sahara Desert and established trading settlements near the Niger. As time passed, North African traders crossed the Sahara and joined the Tuaregs in their settlements. Both groups conducted business with the people living near
6600-537: The town of Kawkaw, which is a great town on the Nīl [Niger], one of the finest, biggest, and most fertile cities of the Sūdān. There is much rice there, milk, chickens, fish, and the cucumber, which has no like. Its people conduct their buying and selling with cowries, like the people of Mālī. Following the death of Mansa Sulayman in 1360, disputes over who should succeed him weakened the Mali Empire. The reign of Mari Djata II left
6688-415: The trading town of Djenné , the townspeople resisted his efforts. After a seven-year siege, he was able to starve them into surrender, incorporating the town into his empire in 1473. The invasion of Sonni Ali and his forces negatively impacted Timbuktu. Many Muslim accounts described him as a tyrant, including the Tarikh al-fattash , which Mahmud Kati wrote. According to The Cambridge History of Africa ,
6776-431: The traditional Kano Emirate into four new emirates; Bichi , Rano , Gaya and Karaye . This unprecedented move was criticized by elders. According to the law, out of the 44 local government areas in the state, Sanusi as Emir of Kano will preside over just 10 local government areas; with the remainder carved up amongst the new emirates. On 9 March 2020, Sanusi was dethroned by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje . The emir
6864-480: The works of Maghreb writers such as Leo Africanus , among others. The Sonni dynasty practised Islam while maintaining many aspects of the original Songhai traditions, unlike their successors, the Askiya dynasty . Askia Mohammed I oversaw a complete Islamic revival and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Songhai armed forces included a navy led by a hikoy (admiral), a cavalry of mounted archers , an infantry , and
6952-524: Was Mohammed Sharef (1703–1731). His successor, Kumbari dan Sharefa (1731–1743), engaged in major battles with Sokoto as a longterm rivalry. At the beginning of the 19th century, Fulani Islamic leader Usman dan Fodio led a jihad affecting much of central Sudan which demolished the Habe kingdom, leading to the emergence of the Sokoto Caliphate . In 1805 the last sultan of Kano was defeated by
7040-531: Was a soldier." He opened religious schools, constructed mosques , and opened his court to scholars and poets from throughout the Muslim world. His children went to an Islamic school, and he enforced Islamic practices but did not force religion on his people. Askia completed one of the Five Pillars of Islam by taking a hajj to Mecca, bringing a large amount of gold. He donated some of it to charity and spent
7128-459: Was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its largest ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai people . Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since
7216-757: Was and is still widely used in Kano architecture, with the city harboring several skilled artisans. Formerly walled , most of the gates to the Old City survive. The Old City houses the vast Kurmi Market , known for its crafts , while old dye pits—still in use—lie nearby. In the Old City are the Emir's Palace, the Great Mosque , and the Gidan Makama Museum. Among the places of worship , they are predominantly Muslims mosques. There are also Christian churches for several denominations including : The Ancient Kano City Walls were built as
7304-595: Was based mainly, if not entirely, on Islamic principles, especially during the rule of Askia Muhammad. The local qadis were, in addition to this, responsible for maintaining order by following Sharia law under Islamic domination, according to the Qur'an . An additional qadi was noted as a necessity to settle minor disputes between immigrant merchants. Kings usually did not judge a defendant; however, under exceptional circumstances, such as acts of treason, they felt obligated to do so and thus exerted their authority. Results of
7392-488: Was expanding, Kano suffered a major drought , which caused a famine. Other famines during British rule occurred in 1908, 1920, 1927, 1943, 1951, 1956, and 1958. By 1922, groundnut trader Alhassan Dantata had become the richest businessman in the Kano Emirate , surpassing fellow merchants Umaru Sharubutu Koki and Maikano Agogo . In May 1953, an inter-ethnic riot arose due to southern newspapers misreporting on
7480-584: Was immediately moved to detention under heavy security escort to an apartment in awe, Nasarawa state . It took the intervention of the federal high court in Abuja to order his release from detention in Nasarawa. The city lies south of the Sahara Desert in the Sudanian Savanna region that stretches across the south of the Sahel . The city lies near where the Kano and Challawa rivers flowing from
7568-438: Was imposed on peripheral chiefdoms and provinces to ensure Songhai's dominance; in return, these provinces were given almost complete autonomy. Songhai rulers only intervened in the affairs of these neighbouring states when a situation became volatile, usually an isolated incident. Each town was represented by government officials, holding positions and responsibilities similar to today's central bureaucrats. Under Askia Muhammad,
7656-587: Was not, so the gold-salt trade was the backbone of overland trade routes in the Sahel. Ivory, ostrich feathers, and slaves were sent north in exchange for salt, horses, camels, cloth, and art. While many trade routes were used, the Songhai heavily used the way through the Fezzan via Bilma , Agades , and Gao. The Niger River was essential to trade for the empire. Goods were offloaded from camels onto either donkeys or boats at Timbuktu. From there, they were moved along
7744-456: Was one of the last major slave societies, with high percentages of enslaved population long after the Atlantic slave trade had been cut off. From 1893 until 1895, two rival claimants for the throne fought a civil war, or Basasa . With the help of royal slaves, Yusufu was victorious over his brother Tukur and claimed the title of emir. In March 1903, the city-state was absorbed into
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