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Dambazawa

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Dambazawa
The 7th Leader of the Dambazawa Fulani Clan; Alh.Muhammad Adananu Ba-Dambaje (r.1942-1954)
Regions with significant populations
Northern Nigeria.
Languages
Fulfulde

Foreign Languages: English, Hausa, Arabic.
Religion
Sunni Islam.
Related ethnic groups
Fulani, Jobawa, Sullubawa, Yolawa, Mundubawa, Danejawa Zarawa, Yarimawa.

The Dambazawa are a Fulani (Fulbe) clan residing mainly in Kano state of Nigeria. They were among the key promoters, planners and executors of the Fulani Jihad in Kano, which took place between 1804 and 1807 under the banner of Shehu Usuman dan Fodiyo. They were also the top financiers of the jihad in Kano by virtue of their being an extremely wealthy Fulani clan[1] at the time of the jihad. Fulani Clans that participated in the Jihad in Kano apart from the Dambazawa includes but not limited to; Mundubawa, Jobawa, Yolawa, Sullubawa, Danejawa, and others including a contingent of the local Hausa people lead by Malam Usuman bahaushe. Together this group formed a formidable force that made jihad in Kano and toppled the Kutumbawa dynasty of 158 years; under its last and final ruler Muhammad Alwali dan Yaji dan Dadi bakutumbe (reign: 1781-1806).

History and Origin

The origin of the Dambazawa is as unclear as that of the Fulani race itself, but sources within the clan believe the clan to be of a Dayebe Fulani group. It was at the time of Sundiata Keita (c.1217-1255 A.D.) the Fulbe of that era started adopting surnames that conformed to their socioeconomic groups. During that era, the socioeconomic group of a Pullo can easily be identified by considering his surname. It is not clear how this process came to be, but it is true that all Fulbe belong to one of four tribes; The Ururbe (Ba, Diakite), Dialloube (Diallo), Ferrobe (Sow) and Dayebe (Barry, Sangare). The ‘Ba' are considered to be a warrior group, the Diallo's geniuses, the Sow's guardians of the temple and were known to be religious and the Barry were a nobility group.

The Dambazawa clan believe they migrated from Futa Tooro in what is now Senegal, with their whole clan consisting of their Leaders, Clerics, peasants and vocation castes (leyyi) that included; Jaawanbe (courtesans/advisers), Maabube (weavers), Wayilbe baaleebe/sayakoobe (blacksmiths/goldsmiths), Burnaabe (ceramists), Sakkeebe (Tanners), Lawbe (woodworkers), Awlube (Laudators), Wambaabe (guitarists) and Maccube (slaves).[2] Their sojourn eastward, took them through Republics of Mali, Niger, Chad and Cameroun. Their migratory drift was characterized by settling in an area for months or years before moving on, as they rare their cattle, transact businesses, gain and dissipate Islamic knowledge in the areas they settled or passed through. For over two centuries they kept roaming until they arrived the Kanem Empire (Borno-Nigeria) and settled there for a long time. By early 16th century they left Borno settled for a while in "Damban" (a place in present Bauchi, Nigeria),[3] from there they moved to Gasakoli (a place in present day Jigawa, Nigeria), then to an area in present-day eastern part of Kano State, they lived in this area for a while (the area is today called Dambazau in Takai local government area of Kano state). From there they continued their westward movement avoiding Kano city and reaching an area north of the city wall and settled there. Today that area is also called Dambazau. Their nobility, clerics and most of their Jawando and Maccube later moved into the walled city of Kano. In the city they occupy the House of Sarkin Bai; a compound north of the city, behind the city market "Jakara", today that compound is also called Dambazau within the city wall.[4] After the clan settled permanently in Kano some of the clan members moved out from Kano to other areas, and wherever they settled, they tend to name that area Dambazau.

The Dambazawa have a tradition of leaving behind some of their clan members and herds, whenever they decided to leave an area they settled, and most a times that area is usually named Dambazau meaning: The abode of the Dambazawa. The Dambazawa believed that where ever in Nigeria or beyond an area is called Dambazau the inhabitants of that area or its establishers are their kin. Today in Nigeria alone you would find Dambazau villages in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi, Gombe and Muri (Taraba) states.[5]

Dambazawa during the Jihad in Kano (1804-1807)

Kano has always been the most populous and wealthiest of all the Hausa Kingdoms, and its capital was almost certainly the greatest city in the Sudan at the end of the 18th century. Kano's weather is well suited for cattle raring and thus has already been penetrated by a number of Fulani clans who have already established themselves for centuries.[6] According to the Kano Chronicle the first wave of Fulani people arrived Kano during the reign of 19th ruler of Kano; Sarki Yakubu Dan Abdullahi Bar-ja (r. 1452-1463).[7] Kano Fulani settlements were scattered around the Kano Kingdom in such a way that they formed a ring round the walled capital city. The settlement of the Dambazawa was situated some thirteen miles north of the city wall and their leader by the end of the 18th century was Modibbo Muhammadu Yunusa (Dabo) bii Ummaru popularly called Dabon Dambazau.

The Fulani of Kano were already in contact with Shehu (Usman dan fodio) long before Shehu's breach with the Gobir King Yunfa (r. 1802-1808), precisely the leader of the Dambazawa alongside two other prominent Fulani clan members i.e. Modibbo Sulemanu bii Abuhama of the Mundubawa clan and Modibbo Muhammadu Ummaru popularly called Mallam Bakatsine of the Jobawa clan were already studying under Shehu and were with him at the time of his flight to Gudu, after which he sent them back to Kano with the task of rallying the faithful.[8] The first thing Malam Dabo did after his return from Gudu was to rally his Dambazawa clan, after which he then proceeded together with other Fulani clan leaders to rally Kano Fulani and Hausa faithful.

The Dambazawa participated fully in all the major battles of the Jihad in Kano from its beginning in 1804 to its end in 1807, contributing in every way, especially in terms of War logistics and Intelligence, since the entire Jihad forces camped in the northern part of the Kingdom (i.e. Tomas; an area with a water pond presently in Danbatta district) for almost a year before the final assault was made upon the walled capital city of Kano in 1806.[9] This part of the kingdom (Danbatta) happens to be an area the Dambazawa were very conversant with because their settlement Dambazau was located within that axis.

Dambazawa after the Jihad in Kano

The Dambazawa were so devoted to their leader Malam Dabo, they follow, obey and protect him anywhere and anytime. They were also said to be a very united clan. After the jihad was successful and the Fulani consolidated their power after defeating the remnant of the Kano forces under the leadership of the ousted King Alwali in the walled town of Burumburum in 1807, for almost three years (1806-1808/9) Kano was without a central leadership (without an Emir) it was administered collegially by the leaders of the. Kano Jihad; Malam Jibir of the Yolawa Clan, Malam Bakatsine of the Jobawa clan, Malam Jamo of the Sullubawa Clan, Malam Usman Bahaushe of the Hausa faithful and Malam Dabo of the Dambazawa Clan. Later on, the Kano Fulani decided to visit Shehu and raised the issue of leadership in Kano, they met with Shehu's representative Sheik Muhammadu Bello (the erudite scholar and son of Shehu Usman, who later become the Sultan after the death of Shehu in 1817) at Birnin Gada in Zamfara and he appointed Modibbo Sulemanu of the Mundubawa clan as the Amir of Kano.Though Sulemanu belongs to the Mundubawa Clan, he neither made the hijra nor participated in the Jihad struggles, he was all along living within Kano city as an Imam. So his appointment does not go down well with the Kano Jihadist.[10] After their return from Birnin Gada things were calm for a while, but the style of Amir Sulemanu's leadership of Kano did not go down well with most of the prominent Fulani clan leaders, who saw his actions/omissions as undermining the successes achieved by the Jihadists in Kano. They opposed many of his policies and Malam Dabo became the embodiment of that opposition.

Malam Dabo later asked the hand in marriage of Shehu's daughter and was given, and this deepened the already complicated relationship between the Dambazawa and Emir Sulemanu, because Emir Sulemanu saw this as an affront to his authority by Dabo, as he was also said to be married to another of Shehu's daughters. At the height of this conflict Emir Sulemanu imprisoned Malam Dabo in the royal prison but the Dambazawa went to the prison by nightfall and freed him.[11] Again Emir Sulemanu acting upon the advice of former Kano rulers' (Alwali) advisers started disseminating a series of propaganda that Malam Dabo would be killed on a said date, that date would come and passed but nothing happen, another day would be announced, this terrified most of the Dambazawa, but Dabo was unperturbed and kept calming them that nothing would happen, but their fear only increased by the day and they kept urging him to leave for Sokoto (to Shehu). They prevailed over him at last and Dabo left Kano for Sokoto, but upon hearing that Dabo left for Sokoto, Emir Sulemanu rode behind him to Sokoto fearing what Dabo might tell Shehu and when they both arrived before Shehu, Shehu reconciled them and made peace between them and they returned to Kano, this happened between 1810-1811 A.D.[12] from that day Dabo and the Dambazawa removed themselves from the activities of the Emirate, but Dabo still retained his seat at the council of Ulama (Clerics) which consisted of all clan leaders.

Shehu Usman retired himself from administering of the caliphate in 1815 handing over the administration of the Caliphate to his Brother Abdullahi Fodiyo and son Muhammadu Bello, he later died in 1817 A.D. and upon his dead Muhammadu Bello succeeded him as the commander of the faithful (Sultan). Emir Sulemanu died in 1819 but not before writing a letter to Sultan Muhammadu Bello requesting the appointment of Modibbo Ibrahim Dabo of from the Sullubawa clan to be appointed Emir in the event of his death. In this letter, he accused Malam Dabon Dambazau of haughtiness and Malam Dikko (of the Jobawa clan) of oppressive tendency and urged the Sultan not to appoint either of them in the event of his death. He, therefore, recommended the appointment of Malam Ibrahim Dabo of the Sullubawa who happens to be his student at one time, and their parents were very close friends [i.e. Modibbo Abuhama and Modibbo Mahmudu (known as Malam mai dan gwado)].[13]

By the time Emir Sulemanu died in 1819 the Dambazawa had already established themselves as a force to be recon with, and were gunning for their leader to be appointed the next Amir of Kano and had the backing of not only the majority of the Fulani clans but also the Hausa peasants. But as fate had it, when the Emir's seat became vacant the name of Dabon Dambazau was forwarded to the Sultan but the Sultan has already made up his mind to grant the wish of late Emir Sulemanu by appointing Malam Ibrahim Dabo of the Sullubawa clan as his successor. So the sultan overlooked Malam Dabo and appointed Ibrahim Dabo as Emir of Kano and the sultan said that Malam Dabo should be ‘Sarkin Baya. To date no one precisely knows what the Sultan meant when he said Malam Dabo should be Sarkin baya,[14] because the phrase Sarkin baya have different meanings in Hausa language. That was why Malam Dabo's supporters and admirers were calling him Sarkin Baya or Sarkin bai (as both baya and bai roughly have the same meaning in Hausa language) which roughly translates as ‘The Emir to come after'[15] (i.e. after Ibrahim Dabo). Although his adversaries and those that loathed him also called him Sarkin bai, but they called him that as a mockery, as Sarkin bai can also mean ‘The Emir that came last' (i.e. that lost selection to be crowned as Emir) or ''The King of slaves' (as 'Bai' can also mean slave in classical Hausa language).

When Malam Ibrahim Dabo ascended the Emir ship of Kano, he decided not to have any conflict with the Dambazawa, he then adopted a different approach from that of Emir Sulemanu, by officially appointing Dabo to the office of Sarkin bai, and placed him in charge of all the territories ranging from between Ungogo 2–4 miles north of Kano city to Kunchi near the northwestern boundaries of Kano Emirate with Katsina and Daura Emirates and Babura near the northeastern boundary of Kano with Damagaran (now Zinder; in Niger republic) as their fiefdom, restoring Danbatta and Kunya to him which Emir Sulemanu seized from him during their face off. To formalised the new situation between him and the Dambazawa he appointed his daughter Fatsumatu Zara (daughter of his senior wife Shekara) to the title of Magajiya; the first Fulani Magajiya in Kano; he then gave Fatsumatu to Dabo as a bride, together with Kunchi as marriage gift, thus publicly demonstrating his reconciliation with the Dambazawa.[16] The fiefdom of the Dambazawa happens to includes Danbatta town, which at that time was the headquarters of a rebelling Fulani clan leader called Ibrahim Dan Tunku of the Yarimawa Fulani clan of Shiddar. Dan Tunku started rebelling against the Emirate of Kano during the reign of Emir Sulemanu, conquering and harassing villages in northern Kano, he carved out for himself a sizable Kingdom at the expanse of the Kano Emirate. The Dambazawa were the vanguard that fought Dan Tunku and kept him at bay until the forces of Kano who were then busy fighting revolts that broke out in other areas of the Emirate after the appointment of Ibrahim Dabo as Emir were subdued, after which the Kano forces lead by Emir Ibrahim Dabo himself joined the Dambazawa forces and then proceeded to plan and executed a final assault on Dan Tunku at Danbatta town where they defeated him· But Dan Tunku was able to escape through the Northern gate of Danbatta Town. Kano forces pursued him until they reached a water pond that separated [[Dambatta|Danbatta and the plains of Kazaure, the Emir dismounted from his horse and ordered a camp to be set up there. A local legend has it that, while the Emir was napping in his tent he dreamed of Shehu Usman, and in that dream, Shehu told him that "this pond is the border between you and Dan Tunku". When the Emir awoke he asked his forces to withdrew to Danbatta were upon Dantunku's house was raised to the ground. The Emir then left for Kano and the Dambazawa left some of their clan members to bring the town to order, they built a house beside the destroyed house of Dan Tunku and appoint Dantunku's brother (who had earlier surrendered) as "Sarkin Fulanin Danbatta". Dambazawa thereafter made Danbatta the Capital of their larger fiefdom and their Military base against Dan Tunku and a northern fortress of Kano where they govern and defend Kano from all northern aggression. To this date, the Dambazawa are those controlling Danbatta and its environs though they no longer control the whole of northern Kano emirate and they no longer operate as fief owners. But they still rule the Districts of Danbatta and Makoda to date. Modibbo Muhammadu Yunusa Ummaru Ba-dambaje died in 1845 and was buried under a date palm tree in his house at Dambazau, inside the walled city of Kano,[17] so he died one or three months earlier than Emir Ibrahim Dabo (Ibrahim Dabo died in 1846) and hence did not live to become the Emir of Kano. After his death, his son Muhammadu Kwairanga was appointed Sarkin Bai of Kano and continued operating as fief owner of northern Kano.

Muhammadu Kwairanga after becoming the Sarkin bai of Kano and leader of the Dambazawa clan decided to choose ten people amongst the Dambazawa to help him administer the fiefdom. He gave titles and office to them and called them "Yan goma" (the ten councilors).[18] The titles include; Waziri, Galadima, Madaki, Makama, Wanbai, Ciroma, Tafida, Maqaddas, Dawaki and Santali.

Dambazawa in Modern Kano Emirate

Today the Dambazawa are those controlling the districts of Danbatta and Makoda, their leader who always holds the title of Sarkin Bai, is a permanent member of the Kano state Emirate Council and the secretary of the Kano King Makers Council (i.e. Kano Emirate Electoral College) which consist of Madakin Kano from the Ba'awa (Yolawa) clan as Chairman of the Council, Sarkin Ban Kano from the Dambazawa clan as Secretary, Makaman Kano from the Jobawa clan as member and Sarkin Dawaki mai Tutar Kano from the main body of the Sullubawa clan who were the descendants of Malam Jamo (the leader of the Sullubawa during the Jihad and the custodian of the Kano Jihad flag) also as member. This council is responsible for choosing a new Emir whenever the Emir's seat becomes vacant and forward his name to the Kano State Executive Council for subsequent approval.

The Title of Sarkin Ban Kano

Sarkin Bai is a title in Kano Emirate that is exclusively reserved for the leader of the Dambazawa Fulani Clan, who ever is chosen as Sarkin Ban Kano automatically becomes the leader of the Danbazawa clan, the Secretary of the Kano King makers Council and District head of Danbatta local Government.

Chronology of Sarkin Bais of Kano

1. Sarkin Bai Modibbo Muhammad Yunusa Dabo bii Ummaru (1819-1845).

2. Sarkin Bai Modibbo Muhammad Kwairanga bii Modibbo Dabo (1845-1886).

3. Sarkin Bai Muhammad Bashari (Alhaji) dan Kwairanga dan Dabo (1845-1894).

4. Sarkin Bai Abdussalam dan Zailani dan Dabo (1894-1907).

5. Sarkin Bai Abdulqadir dan Abuba dan Dabo (1908-1938).

6. Sarkin Bai Umar Dikko dan Abdurrahman (Goshi) dan Dabo (1938-1942).

7. Sarkin Bai Muhammad Adnan dan Aliyu dan Kwairanga (1942-1954).

8. Sarkin Bai Muktar dan Adnan dan Aliyu (1954- to date).

Notable members of the Dambazawa Clan

  • Alh. (Dr.) Mukhtar Adnan; present Leader of the Dambazawa, Sarkin bai of Kano, Secretary Kano Kingmakers Council and district head of Danbatta from 1954 to date, one-time member and Chief whip of the Nigerian House of assembly in the first republic, and also the First commissioner of Education of old Kano State.
  • Late Alh. Maje Adnan, former Wanbai of Dambazawa, former secretary to Kano Emirate Council and later Majidadin Kano District head of Madobi before his dead in 1995.
  • Late Alh. Umar Dikko Sarkin Fulanin Ja'idanawa, District head of Garki.
  • Alh. (Dr.) Wada Waziri Ibrahim, former Waziri of the Dambazawa and present Sa'i of Kano District head of Makoda.
  • Alh. Muhammad Maje Adnan, present Wanbai of the Dambazawa clan and former Administrative Manager Electric Meter Company of Nigeria (EMCON) Zaria.
  • Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau; Former Chief of Army staff Federal Republic of Nigeria (2008-2010), and present Minister of Interior Federal Republic of Nigeria.
  • Air Marshall Muhammad Dikko Umar, Former Chief of Air staff Nigerian Air-force (2010-2012).
  • Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, renowned Nigerian Economist, former Nigerian Federal Minister of Finance (2008 -2010), former Director World Bank, presently Vice Chairman Islamic Development Bank.
  • Arc. Aminu Dabo former Commissioner Kano state Ministry of Land and Physical planning and also former Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority.

References

  1. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 7. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ Wane, Yaya. "Les Toucouleur du Fouta Tooro: Stratification Sociale et structure Familiale". Webpulaaku. Universite de Dakar. Institut Fondemental d'Afrique Noire. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ^ Editors, Leadership. "I owe my 60 years on the throne to Allah". Leadership. Leadership News Paper. Retrieved 8 January 2017. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 8. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  5. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 8. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  6. ^ H.A.S., Johnston. "The Fulani Empire of Sokoto". Webpulaaku. Oxford University press. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  7. ^ Publishing Company, Northern Nigerian (1971). Hausawa da Makwabtansu (2nd ed.). Zaria, Nigeria: Gaskiya Cooporation. p. 36.
  8. ^ H.A.S., Johnston. "The Fulani Empire of Sokoto". Webpulaaku. Oxford University press. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  9. ^ Emirate, Kano. "The jihad in Kano". Kano Emirate. Kano Emirate. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  10. ^ Smith, M.G. (1997). Government In Kano 1350-1950. 5500 central avenue colorado 80301-2877: West View Press. p. 212. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  11. ^ Publishing Company, Northern Nigerian (1971). Hausawa da Makwabtansu (2nd ed.). Zaria, Nigeria: Gaskiya Cooporation. p. 60.
  12. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 25. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  13. ^ Gwangwazo, Maje Ahmad (2003). Tarihin Sarakunan Kano 1805-2003. Kano: Gwangwazo Publishers. p. 6. ISBN 978-188-078-3.
  14. ^ Editors, Leadership. "I owe my 60 years on the throne to Allah". Leadership. Leadership News Paper. Retrieved 8 January 2017. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 53. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  16. ^ Smith, M.G. (1997). Government In Kano 1350-1950. 5500 central avenue colorado 80301-2877: West View Press. p. 231. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  17. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 19. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  18. ^ Ahmad Gidan Dabino, Ado (2003). Jagora Abun Koyi: Sarkin Ban Kano Alh. Muktar Adnan (first Edition ed.). Jakara, Kano: Gidan Dabino Pulishers. p. 20. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
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