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War · 1804–1809

The jihad of Usman dan Fodio

Usman dan Fodio, a Fulani scholar who had taught Gobir’s king Yunfa, preached against unjust taxes and the rulers’ laxity in Islam.

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Overview

Usman dan Fodio, a Fulani scholar who had taught Gobir’s king Yunfa, preached against unjust taxes and the rulers’ laxity in Islam. When Yunfa moved against his community at Degel, Usman led his followers out on a hijra to Gudu in February 1804. They hailed him Commander of the Faithful, and war followed. Yunfa won at Tsuntsua, where about 2,000 of the Shehu’s men died, but the jihad spread from town to town across Hausaland. Kebbi fell in 1805, Katsina and Kano in 1807, and Gobir’s capital Alkalawa in October 1808, where Yunfa was killed. In 1809 Muhammad Bello built Sokoto, the capital of a caliphate that ruled most of northern Nigeria until 1903. The Hausa dynasties survived in exile, Gobir at Tsibiri and Katsina at Maradi, and Borno held out under al-Kanemi.[2],[1],[3],[4]High confidence

Degel, Gudu, Tsuntsua, Tabkin Kwotto and Alkalawa are placed approximately; the old sites are not in the settlement registers.

Who took part

What happened

  1. 21 February 1804 · Gudu (approximate)

    Yunfa declares war

    So many follow the Shehu to Gudu that Yunfa declares war on him. His followers proclaim him Amir al-Mu’minin, Commander of the Faithful.[2]High confidence

  2. 1804 · Tabkin Kwotto (approximate)

    Tabkin Kwotto

    After taking Matankari, the Shehu’s outnumbered army of Fulani, Hausa and some Tuareg turns back Yunfa’s advance on Gudu. The victory brings many more to his side.[2],[4]High confidence

  3. Late 1804 · Tsuntsua (approximate)

    Tsuntsua

    Yunfa’s Gobir army, with Tuareg allies, defeats the Shehu. Muhammad Bello says 2,000 died, 200 of them men who knew the Qur’an by heart.[1],[4]High confidence

  4. 1807 · Kano

    Katsina and Kano fall

    Katsina’s ruler Magajin Halidu takes his own life after defeat. Kano’s Muhammad Alwali flees and is later killed at Burum-Burum.[2]High confidence

  5. October 1808 · Alkalawa (approximate)

    Alkalawa

    The jihadists storm Gobir’s capital and kill Yunfa. Much of the city is destroyed, and the last great resistance in Hausaland ends.[3],[2]High confidence

  6. 1809 · Sokoto

    Sokoto built

    Muhammad Bello turns the camp at Sokoto into a city, the caliphate’s capital. The Shehu’s brother Abdullahi rules the western emirates from Gwandu.[2]High confidence

Kingdoms involved

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

  1. Wikipedia contributors. Usman dan Fodio
  2. Wikipedia contributors. Jihad of Usman dan Fodio (Fulani War)
  3. Wikipedia contributors. Alkalawa
  4. Last, Murray. (1967). The Sokoto Caliphate. Longmans, London (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)