The Kingdom of Zazzau () was a Hausa kingdom centred on the city of Zazzau (now Zaria) in modern-day northern Nigeria established sometime in the early second millennium, and endured until its conquest during the jihad of Usman dan Fodio in 1804. Following this, its dynasty was replaced by a Fulani (one subordinate to the Sokoto Caliphate), and the polity continues to exist today as the Zaria Emirate, a non-sovereign monarchy in Nigeria. The current emir of Zaria is Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, who succeeded the former emir in 2020, the late Shehu Idris.

History

Origins The early history of Zazzau is unclear. The most important source for the origins of Zazzau is the Chronicle of Zaria, composed in the early 20th century and based on oral tradition. According to tradition, the kingdom was founded by Gunguma, a descendant of the legendary Bayajidda. Zazzau's regnal list dates this to 1010 CE.

Scholars have had differing views on the early history of Zazzau. Abdullahi Smith considered the Hausa to have inhabited the area for over a millennium before a state emerged. There were various city-state-type polities, with the most powerful being Turunku and Kufena, who had authority over the others. In the late 15th century, Turunku ruler Bakwa took power in Kufena, and built a capital just east of Kufena, which was named "Zaria" after her/his daughter.

Murray Last theorised the area to have been inhabited by a Kamuku federation named Kangoma from 1200 CE, who were the descendants of the Nok culture. Accordingly, the Kangoma kingdom, renamed Zegzeg, emerged at Turunku after the federation's collapse, with the Hausa assuming control as late as 1641, however this is not supported by linguistic evidence.

Apogee Bakwa was succeeded by her son, Ibrahim (r. 1539-1566) and her younger brother Karama (r.1566-1576). Karama pursued aggressive and expansionist campaigns, with one of Bakwa's daughters, Amina, rising to be the state's most prolific general and warrior. Some traditions have Amina succeeding Karama in 1576, although whether she was queen (sauraniya) is disputed. While she doesn't appear on any regnal lists, local traditions say she ruled the lands she conquered. Amina waged a 34-year campaign against her neighbors, to expand Zazzau territory. According to tradition, she rejected many suitors when younger, and in each town she conquered would behead a man after spending the night with them. Expansion north was blocked by Kano and Katsina, and east by the Jos Plateau; therefore Amina campaigned to the southeast and southwest. She conquered large tracts of land as far as Kwararafa and Nupe, including Bauchi and Yauri. Sokoto caliph Muhammad Bello claimed she reached what presumably was the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, and extracted tribute from Katsina and Kano, however contemporary historians dispute the latter claim. The Chronicle of Abuja says Amina received 40 eunuchs and 10,000 kola nuts from Nupe's ruler, introducing these to Hausaland. She is also said to have built earthen walls around many camps and towns, now known as Ganuwar Amina ("Amina's walls"). According to tradition Amina dominated Hausaland for 34 years (until 1610) and died at Attaagar (likely Idah) in battle, with her body not being recovered.

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. 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.

Fulani conquest In December 1808 the kingdom was captured in the Fulani jihad. 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.

Rulers

Hausa kingdom

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

Capitals (c. 1010 – c. 1578): Turunku, Wuciciri, Rikoci, Kawar Start End Ruler 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) ? 1505 Sukana 1505 1530 Rabon Bawa (or Monan Abu) 1530 1532 Gudumua Muska (or Gidan Dan Masukanan) 1532 1535 Tukuariki (or Nohir) 1535 1536 Uwan (or Kawanissa) 1536 1539 Bakwa Turunku 1539 1566 Ibrihimu 1566 1576 Karama 1576 1578 Kafow

List of rulers of Zazzau according to the tradition of Queen Amina: Start End Ruler ? c. 1535 Nohir c. 1535 c. 1536 Kawanissa c. 1536 c. 1566 Bakwa Turunku c. 1566 c. 1576 Karama c. 1576 c. 1610 Amina c. 1610 ? Zaria

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

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

Start End Ruler 1578 1584 Ali 1584 1597 Bako Majirua 1597 1608 Bako Su Aliyu 1608 1611 Bako Mahama Gabi (or Gadi) 1611 1611 Bako Hamza (ruled for one day) 1611 1618 Bako Abdu Ashkuku (or Abdaku) 1618 1621 Bako Brima (or Burema) 1621 1646 Bako Ali 1646 1647 Bako Majam Rubu 1647 1660 Bako Brima 1660 1670 Bako Shukunu 1670 1678 Bako Aliyu 1678 1682 Bako Brima Hasko 1682 1710 Bako Mahama Rubo 1710 1718 Bako 1718 1727 Bako Aliyu 1727 1736 Bako Dan Musa 1736 1738 Bako Ishihako (or Ishaq) 1738 1750 Bako Makam Danguma 1750 1757 Bako Ruhawa 1757 1758 Bako Makam Gaba 1758 1760 Bako Mair ari Ashaka Okao 1760 1762 Kao 1762 1764 Bako Bawa 1764 1770 Yonusa 1770 1788 Baba (or Yakuba) 1788 1793 Aliyu 1793 1795 Chikkoku 1795 1796 Mai haman Maigano 1796 1802 Ishihako Jatao (or Ishaq Jatao) 1802 1804 Makkam (or Muhamman Makau)

Independent Fulani rulers

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

Rulers of the independent Fulani emirate: Start End Ruler 1804 17 May 1821 Malam Musa ibn Suleiman Ibn Muhammad 1804 1825 Muhamman Makau (Hausa ruler in exile) June 1821 1834 Yamusa ibn Mallam Kilba 1825 1828 Abu Ja (Hausa ruler in exile) 1834 18 December 1846 Abd al-Karim ibn Abbas 6 January 1846 28 February 1846 Hammada ibn Yamusa 15 Apr 1846 Apr 1853 Muhammad Sani ibn Yamusa Apr 1853 Dec 1853 Sidi `Abd al-Qadir ibn Musa Jan 1854 5 Aug 1857 Abd as-Salam ibn Muhammad Ka'i 21 Sep 1857 Oct/Nov 1871 Abd Allah ibn Hammada (1st time) 22 Nov 1871 Jun/Jul 1874 Abu Bakr ibn Musa (d. 1873) Aug/Sep 1874 Nov/Dec 1879 Abd Allah ibn Hammada (2nd time) 26 Dec 1879 Jan 1888 Muhammad Sambo ibn Abd al-Karim Jan 1888 13 Feb 1897 Uthman Yero ibn Abd Allah (d. 1897) 17 Apr 1897 Mar 1902 Muhammad Lawal Kwassau ibn Uthman Yero

Colonial period and later rulers

Rulers of the independent Fulani emirate: Start end; Rulers March 1903 8 April 1903 Sulayman (regent from 11 Sep 1902) 8 April 1903 9 November 1920 Ali ibn Abd al-Qadir (d. 1924) 1920 1924 Dallatu ibn Uthman Yero 1924 1936 Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Lawal Kwassau (b. c.1886 - d. 1936) 1937 August 1959 Malam Jafar ibn Ishaq (b. 1891 - d. 1959) September 1959 4 February 1975 Muhammad al-Amin ibn Uthman (b. 1908 - d. 1975) 8 February 1975 20 September 2020 Shehu Idris (b. 1936 - d. 2020) 7 October 2020 Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli (b. 1966)

Ruling houses in Zazzau Emirate Council Mallawa. Barebari. Katsinawa Sullubawa

Local governments under Zazzau Emirate Council Sabon Gari Giwa Soba Igabi Ikara Makarfi Kubau Kaduna North Kaduna South Kauru Kudan Zaria

Notes

External links

References