The Fulani Empire was one of the most powerful states in sub-Saharan Africa in the years prior to European colonization. A state is an organized political community occupying a definite territory, having an organized government, and possessing internal and external sovereignty. ... A satellite composite image of Africa showing the ecological break between North and Sub-Saharan regions Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa south of the Sahara, is the term used to describe those countries of Africa that are not part of North Africa or some areas of West Africa. ... Europe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ...

Background

The Fulani were traditionally a nomadic, pastoral community, herding cattle, goats and sheep. They populated the grasslands between the towns throughout West Africa. With increasing trade, a good number of Fulani also began to settle in towns, forming a distinct minority. Categories: Africa-related stubs | Burkina Faso | Cameroon | Ethnic groups of Africa | Fulani Empire | Mali | Nigeria ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... Species See Species and subspecies A goat is a mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat. ... Species See text A Sheep is a mammal, one of several woolly ruminant quadrupeds in the genus Ovis. ... West Africa is the region of western Africa that is generally considered to include the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte dIvoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. ...

The Fulani were mostly Muslims, as were the rulers of most of the states in the region. The Islam of the rulers of these states was quite fragile, however, and they quickly reverted to the nationalistic animist religions when threatened. Over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Fulani began to launch scattered uprisings against rulers who were oppressing them. These established a number of small, and usually briefly lived, emirates in the west of the Sahel. Islām is described as a dīn, meaning way of life and/or guidance. Six articles of belief There are six basic beliefs shared by all Muslims: 1. ... // Nationalism is an ideology which holds that the nation, ethnicity or national identity is a fundamental unit of human social life, and makes certain political claims based upon that belief; above all, the claim that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state, and that each nation is... This article is in need of attention. ...

The most powerful states in the region were the city-states of Hausaland. They had large Fulani populations, who were generally considered second class citizens. Over the centuries, however, the Hausa and Fulani had become quite integrated. One of the more marginal Hausa states was that of Gobir. Poor and on the periphery of Hausaland, it was ruled by a remnant of the defunct Gao empire. This rule was noted for its despotism towards both the Fulani and the Hausa peasants. The Hausa are a people of northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger. ... Gobir was a city-state in what is now Nigeria. ... GAO may mean: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (formerly General Accounting Office) Golf Association of Ontario Gipuzkoako Aldizkari Ofiziala Grupo de Agricultura Organica This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same...

One of the most revered religious scholars of the region, Usman dan Fodio, an urbanized Fulani, lived in Gobir. With the initial approval of Bawa, the ruler of Gobir, he was allowed to found a religious community at Degel. In exchange, dan Fodio blessed the monarchy and educated Bawa's nephew and heir Yunfa. When Yunfa became ruler, however, he decided to revoke the autonomy of dan Fodio's community and have dan Fodio assassinated. Shaihu Usman dan Fodio (also referred to as Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio; alternative spelling, Shehu), 1754-1817 was a writer and Islamic reformer. ... Degel is a town in northern Nigeria. ... Yunfa (r. ...

Degel was defended, but unable to stand up to the army of Yunfa - dan Fodio and his followers retreated from Gobir. From exile dan Fodio called for a jihad against oppressors throughout the region that became the Fulani War. Joined by large numbers of Fulani and also many Hausa, this sparked a general uprising in Hausaland and most of the region's governments quickly fell. Dan Fodio was proclaimed as ruler of the new empire. Fulani war 1804-1810 also know as Fulani Holy War or Jihad of Usman dan Fodio was a military conquest in present day Nigeria. ...

Growth of the Empire

From this base in Hausaland the Fulani rapidly spread throughout the region. The open plains to the west were annexed, to the south the Fulani captured the northern section of Yorubaland. They were blocked in the east by the kingdom of Kanem-Bornu in 1810. Since Fulani strength was centered on powerful cavalry they could not expand very far southwards, however, as the horses were ineffective in the forests of the region and could not withstand the diseases of those latitudes. It became the largest state in Africa stretching from what is today Burkina Faso to Cameroon. The Yorùbá are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria, comprising approximately 26 percent of that countrys total population, and numbering about close to 100 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa. ... The Kanem-Bornu Empire existed in Africa, established around 1200 and lasting, in a changed form, until the 1840s. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The new empire was organized into a series of emirates that were loosely controlled by dan Fodio. Under him the empire was spilt into two divisions, one ruled by his brother, the other by his son. In 1815 dan Fodio retired from the Sultanate and the empire passed to his son Muhammed Bello. He built up the new capital at Sokoto, turning it into a major centre. The empire in the nineteenth century is often referred to as the Sokoto Caliphate. Dan Fodio's brother Abdullahi continued to rule in the west, and this position, known as the emirate of Gwandu, was passed to his heirs but remained subordinated to Sokoto. The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Son and aide of Usman Dan Fodio. ... Sokoto (which is the modern/anglicised version of the local name, Sakkwato; also known as Sakkwato, Birnin Shaihu da Bello or Sokoto, Capital of Shaihu and Bello) is a city located in the Northwestern region of Nigeria, and is the modern day capital of Sokoto State (and its predecessor, the... Gwandu, also called Gando, is a town and emirate in Kebbi, Nigeria. ...

In addition to its military prowess, the empire became known for its scholarship. Bello, Abdullahmi, and dan Fodio were all considered great scholars and despite ruling such a vast state, all three continued to produce a sizable output of poetry, and texts on religion, politics, and history. While scholarship continued in the empire after Bello's death it became divorced from political life. Over time, the empire also became far more Hausan in character with the Hausa language becoming the official language.

The empire continued to be a economic success, Hausaland, now unified, reached a level of unprecedented prosperity and the region remained safe from raids by Saharan nomads.

While the Sultan of Sokoto was paramount the Emirs controlling the other cities, especially Kano steadily increased in power during the nineteenth century. In 1893 a crisis of the succession saw the rulers of Kano rise to preeminence. For other uses of the word Kano see Kano (disambiguation). ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

European colonization

The empire began to collapse under pressure from European colonialism that destroyed traditional trading patterns and armed neighbouring states. In 1903 both Sokoto and Kano were sacked and the Empire collapsed, being divided between the French and British. 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The colonizers preserved the Fulani emirate system as the local rulers were given considerable autonomy by the British. The Sultan of Sokoto remains to this day the main religious leader of Nigerian Muslims, and the position is still held by descendents of dan Fodio. The Sokoto Caliph was the ruler of the Sokoto Caliphate. ...

See also

• List of Sokoto Caliphs
• Sokoto
• Usman dan Fodio

The Sokoto Caliph was the ruler of the Sokoto Caliphate. ... Sokoto (which is the modern/anglicised version of the local name, Sakkwato; also known as Sakkwato, Birnin Shaihu da Bello or Sokoto, Capital of Shaihu and Bello) is a city located in the Northwestern region of Nigeria, and is the modern day capital of Sokoto State (and its predecessor, the... Shaihu Usman dan Fodio (also referred to as Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio; alternative spelling, Shehu), 1754-1817 was a writer and Islamic reformer. ...

External link

• British Sokoto Conquest - 1903