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Migration · 17th century, after the Kwararafa invasions of Kano

The Kano Igala come home: Angwa at Idah

Igala who had marched north with the Kwararafa armies did not all go home.

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Overview

Igala who had marched north with the Kwararafa armies did not all go home. Some stayed on around Bebeji, south-west of Kano, and lived among the Hausa for a generation or more. Later a party of them, led by a man named Aliyu, came back to Idah to rejoin their homeland and founded the Angwa quarter (Hausa unguwa, “quarter”). They came home Muslim and Hausa in name, which may be why Idah remembers them as Hausa from Bebeji. They brought Islam to Igala land, became fully Igala again in speech, and their descendants keep the Oganyi festival.[1],[3],[2]Disputed

The written tradition (Oduntan 2022) says Aliyu’s people were Hausa, not returning Igala, and dates them 400–600 years before 2022 (c. 1420–1620). That window overlaps only the first Kwararafa invasion, under Muhammad Zaki (1582–1618). The homecoming account is the owner’s.

Who took part

What happened

  1. During the Kwararafa invasions · Bebeji

    Left behind in Kano

    Igala in the Kwararafa host stay behind and settle around Bebeji. Over the years they take up Islam and live as Hausa.[3]Disputed

  2. Setting out · Bebeji (departure, offset so both marks show)

    Aliyu leads them home

    Aliyu leads a party south from Bebeji towards Idah.[1],[2]Medium confidence

  3. Arrival · Angwa, Idah

    Angwa founded at Idah

    The returnees settle at Angwa, the first Hausa-named quarter in Igala land and the first home of Islam there. Today it is Angwa Ategune in Ukwaja ward, Idah.[2]Medium confidence

Kingdoms involved

Sources

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

  1. HistoNaija owner. (2026). Local knowledge from the HistoNaija owner: the founders of Angwa at Idah were Igala left behind in Kano after the Kwararafa invasion, who came back to rejoin their homeland
  2. Oduntan, Olalekan. (2022). Igala the Mini Nigeria: True Nigerians
  3. HistoNaija owner. (2026). Local knowledge from the HistoNaija owner: Kwararafa forces invaded Kano, and some of their peoples, such as the Igala and Jukun, settled in Kano quarters like Bebeji