Abdullahi

Abdullahi Maje Karofi ɗan Dabo (; Abdullahi b. Ibrahim; c. 1815 – 1882) was Emir of Kano from 1855 until his death in 1882.

Early life Abdullahi was born around 1815 to the Islamic scholar and Sullubawa leader Ibrahim Dabo and his concubine Shekara, a princess from the ousted Hausa dynasty in Daura. Shekara was regarded as Dabo's most influential spouse, and during his reign as emir of Kano (1819–1846) she acted as a close adviser, particularly in palace affairs. She is considered one of the most celebrated women in 19th century Hausaland. Barka, formerly a slave of the ousted Hausa ruler Muhammad Alwali, was renowned in Kano as Emir Dabo's most trusted adviser.

As part of Dabo's efforts to restore old Hausa titles in order to centralise authority, he reinstated the title of Dan Buram and gave his son Abdullahi.

In 1855, Caliph Ali Babba assembled another large force against Hadejia and appointed Usuman as its commander. The armies met at Ringim, where Buhari once again inflicted a devastating defeat, during which Usuman was killed. Abdullahi, who had accompanied his brother on the campaign, returned to Kano to await the arrival of the waziri of Sokoto, Halilu, who would deliver the caliph's letters confirming the appointment of the new emir. The waziri 's decision to change the successor on the spot was regarded as legitimate because, as the caliph's representative in the emirate, he exercised wide discretionary powers, especially during such emergencies. As a public sign of approval, the caliph gave his daughter Saudatu in marriage to Abd al-Qadir. During Abdullahi's reign, Kano also faced persistent raids from Maradi, led by its formidable ruler Dan Baskore (1854–1875). thumb 1890 depiction of one of the gates to the Kano palaceIn 1855, the Ningi Chiefdom carried out a particularly devastating raid, penetrating well within twenty miles of Birnin Kano. On their return, they were intercepted at Tugugu by Sarkin Rano Aliyu, who inflicted heavy losses and recovered much of the looted booty. Two years later, however, Ningi forces defeated and killed Aliyu during an attack on Rano and went on to ravaged the area. Ningi remained active in 1856, destroying crops and settlements, and enslaving several captives. In 1860, they destroyed the newly founded town of Tudun Wada. ) along the Ningi route into Kano. For two years, he founded and repaired ribats at Sumaila, Tudun Wada, Falali, Matugwai, Birnin Bako, and Takai. These were garrisoned with substantial forces and functioned as fortified military colonies. Many of the ribats became populated largely by slaves captured during the Ningi wars, some of whom developed extensive plantations to support the settlements. The policy of frontier ribats was well established across the Caliphate and had earlier been introduced into Kano by Abdullahi's father Ibrahim Dabo.

Law

Even as early as when he was Usuman's vizier, when he presided over the emir's court, Abdullahi gained a reputation as an incorruptible judge and became locally renowned for his strict devotion to shariʿa. On one occasion, the European explorer Heinrich Barth brought before him a complex dispute involving Arab merchants who were withholding payments owed to him. Although the case presented opportunities for legal corruption, Abdullahi adjudicated it swiftly and impartially. On his appointment as emir, Abdullahi moved decisively to curtail the widespread banditry that had flourished under Usuman's much more lenient rule. He was said to have carried this out with such fervour that, according to the Kano Chronicle, he became known as "Abdu Sarkin Yanka" ("Abdu, the chief of cutting"), which reflected his readiness to execute robbers and enforce the punishment of amputation for convicted thieves.

Abdullahi's long judicial career also features prominently in Hausa folk tales. One well known tale tells how he hastily ordered the hands of a man's hand to be cut off after being convinced by circumstantial evidence of theft. Later that same day, the accuser (an old woman) returned to withdraw her charge, having discovered that the item she believed stolen had actually been borrowed by a relative. Abdullahi was overwhelmed with grief by this miscarriage of justice, particularly because he had failed to allow the accused to clear himself by taking an oath on the Qur'an, as prescribed by shariʿa. He sent for the man, expressed profound remorse, and offered ten of everything - horses, cattle, slaves, concubines and bags of cowries - as tokens of compensation and regret.The man declined these gifts, leaving the matter to the judgment of Allah. Abdullahi then secluded himself in grief for several weeks, and thereafter never again judged criminal cases involving execution or amputation, but left those to the alkali.

To ensure more rigorous enforcement of shari'a, Abdullahi established rural courts throughout the emirate. He is also credited with creating the office of Alkalin Kasuwa (Judge of the Market), responsible for clearing commercial cases quickly in Kano's central market. On Abdullahi's encouragement, the Alkali of Kano, Muhammad Zangi, wrote an account of the history of Kano titled Taqyid al-akhbar, copies of which are preserved across Nigeria. Zangi died in 1869, and was succeeded by his younger brother, Ahmadu Rufaʿi, as chief judge. Not long afterward, however, Abdullahi ordered Rufa'i's execution without a public trial. Although the caliph and the waziri were informed, no action was taken against the emir. While the incident is only briefly mentioned in the Kano Chronicle, it is well remembered in Sokoto. Rufa'i was believed to have committed a serious offence warranting execution under shariʿa, Later that year, following the death of the new emir, the caliph restored Abdullahi to the throne of Zaria without consulting the local electors. News of his return alarmed senior officials who, under established conventions, had received portions of Abdullahi's estate at the time of his deposition. A revolt broke out, led by two of Zaria's most powerful officials, the Madaki Ali and the Galadima Hamman. Abdullahi of Zaria immediately reported the situation to Sokoto and sent forces against the rebels, who had moved southwest of the capital. Other traditions, however, attribute the practice to Abdullahi's father, Emir Ibrahim Dabo.

Nigerian statesman Maitama Sule, a descendant of Kano palace slaves, famously bore the uku-uku marks.Fulani disaffection and frustration with these affairs increased. Galadima Yusufu, increasingly impatient for succession, set out to exploit what he perceived as his father's declining authority. The sallama actively encouraged Yusufu's ambitions. Although classified as a eunuch, the sallama appears not to have been physically castrated; in Kano, men deemed sexually inactive were sometimes referred to as eunuchs. As Abdullahi's chief eunuch and confidential agent, he had unrestricted access to the palace and harem. During Abdullahi's decline, the sallama reportedly recovered his potency and secretly seduced a number of the emir's concubines, whose fears of death if discovered ensured their silence. He was buried there, and in accordance with established custom, his riderless, caparisoned horse was sent to Sokoto as a signal to the caliph and the waziri of his death. By the end of Abdullahi's 27 year-long rule, Kano was arguably the strongest and most populous state in the Sokoto Caliphate, as well as the wealthiest, most central and advanced. For much of his rule, Kano experienced relative peace and prosperity, despite rising taxation and the persistent pressure of Ningi raids along the southern frontier. Through sustained military vigilance and effective use of frontier fortifications, the emirate retained its relatively dense population.

Among the 19th century Fulani rulers of Kano, Abdullahi has generally been ranked second only to his father in public view. He was widely regarded as energetic, intelligent, and forceful in character, and was especially remembered for his devotion to shari'a and his concern for judicial fairness. His long service as a judge, both before and during his reign, became the subject of several Hausa folk tales. He commissioned the renowned Hausa builder Babban Gwani to construct a monumental two-storey Babban Soro (Big Hall), and also built Soron Giwa (Hall of the Elephant) in honour of his father. The movement invoked Abdullahi as a symbol of resistance to Sokoto interference in Kano affairs, and as a ruler who "did not tolerate nonsense" from Sokoto. Similarly, the successful revolt led by his sons against Emir Muhammed Tukur in the 1890s was framed as a battle against those who felt their primary allegiance was to Sokoto over Kano.

Biography in the Kano Chronicle Below is a biography of Abdullahi from Palmer's 1908 English translation of the Kano Chronicle.