Finally, hausa fulani pre colonial administration is highly centralized and hierachical in nature. The two administrative headquarters namely sokoto and gwandu were headed by sultans known as the sultan of sokoto and the sultan of gwandu respectively. The paper will examine the political systems of pre colonial nigerian states. Hausafulani precolonial political administration pre. Each emirate was divided into districts for administrative convenience. Examples of yoruba kingdoms include the oyo kingdom, ijesha, ilesa, ijebu, abeokuta, etc. The sokoto caliphate was an independent sunni muslim caliphate in west africa that was founded during the jihad of the fulani war in 1804 by usman dan fodio. A perhaps greater, if more subtle, threat to the hausa kingdoms was the immigration.
The hausas practiced centralized administration as well as traditional religion. Family life is the foundation of yoruba culture, as i have learned and i have been told and shown. By this process, most of the urbanized fulani became hausa in linguistic and cultural terms. Before delving the culture of some groups, it is also worth mentioning about the pre colonial administration hausa fulani. Usman dan fodio led the fulani jihad and took over the political leadership of. It was abolished when the british conquered the area in 1903 and established the northern nigeria protectorate developed in the context of multiple independent hausa kingdoms, at its height, the caliphate. However, the main political institutions in pre colonial hausa fulani include the paramount ruler emir, emirs ministers, district head hakimi, the village heads and the alkali court. They were not permitted to work in the fields or fetch water. The hausafulani empire had its origin from the holy war jihad of 1804 which uthman dan fodio, a fulani muslim launched against the. Different nigerian ethnic groups used to be autonomous hundreds of years ago, so read more about yoruba people now. Rather than retreading over the gold standard of indirect administration implemented in northern nigeria, ochonu instead examines the british development of a subcolonial rule by outside hausa fulani proxies in the predominantly nonmuslim middle belt region. Are you excited to find out new things about nigerian history. After the war, a loose federation of 30 emirates emerged, each recognizing the supremacy of the sultan of sokoto, located in what is now far northwestern nigeria. The ethnic group called hausa fulani resides in northern nigeria, and currently, the geographical location of it includes the nigerian states like sokoto, kaduna, zaria, kano, and katsina.
With the onset of british colonialism, the hausa fulani identity deepened in contradistinction to southern nigerian ethnic identities. Precolonial political systems in nigeria hausafulani political system the fulani took over the political leadership of the habe hausa states in the early 19th century. Offences were divided into minor and serious offences. Precolonial political systems in nigeria igbo traditional. This term is suitable for describing the igbo precolonial political system because it was decentralized and based on. A major distinguishing factor in the pre colonial political organization between the igbo people of nigeria and their other ethnic neighbours was the republican nature of their administration. Igbo pre colonial political system or administration. Summary of hausafulani precolonial administration historical background prior to the jihad or the holy war of 1804, the territory now known as the.
Abstract state formation in hausaland was on course in precolonial nigeria in the context of geographical proximity, biosocial relations and cultural contiguities before the. The precolonial administration in nigeria hausafulani. Colonial nigeria was the era in the history of nigeria when the region of west africa was ruled by great britain in from the midnineteenth century until 1960, when nigeria achieved independence. Igbo traditional political system hausa fulani pre colonial system of administration it was based on emirate system. Minor offences include marriage and divorce, custody of children, inheritance, debt, slander etc. What are the similarities and differences of precolonial. We provide a suitable elearning platform for history students in nigeria. As demonstrated in the analysis of the various pre colonial nationalities in section 2 above, religion was in that time a source of political legitimacy. The hausa states though were not unified, practiced a centralized system, even till the fulani jihad of the 19th century. More importantly, emir is an absolute ruler because there is no principle of checks and balance as epitomized by pre colonial yoruba administration. There are almost 400 local languages and dialects, the most common languages are hausa and yoruba. T he pre colonial northern empire that comprised of the hausa cultures existed as far back the 7th century a. Hausaland lay between the western sudanic kingdoms of ancient ghana and mali and the eastern sudanic kingdoms of kanembornu.
He however noted that he will take a penetrating analysis of the following notable precolonial systems in nigeria. Native courts set up by the colonial administration to try cases based on local traditions and customs were equally. Hausa introduction, location, language, folklore, religion. Oldnaija is an online platform dedicated to documenting the history and culture of nigeria. T he precolonial northern empire that comprised of the hausa cultures existed as far back the 7th century a. This is followed by an engagement with land administration and state formation in precolonial yorubaland. Finally, the igbo society is segmentary, republican and sovereign in nature. The notables he noted are the yoruba, hausa fulani and igbo pre colonial political system. Rethinking precolonial state formation and ethnoreligious. Rethinking precolonial state formation and ethnoreligious identity transformation in hausaland under the sokoto caliphate. The hausa fulani of precolonial nigeria was so powerful. Also, there is no principle of checks and balance as compared to pre colonial yoruba system.
The current geographical location includes, but is not limited to, kaduna, sokoto, kano and zaria, not forgetting katsina. It had been part of system of government among ethnic groups in. These few notes aim to provide some historical background to better understand the events that have shaped the people i have met in the countries i visited in africa. Pre colonial political systems in nigeria hausafulani political system the fulani took over the political leadership of the habe hausa states in the early 19th century. Each of the emirs owed allegiance to dan fodio and his two representatives at gwandu and sokoto. In colonialism by proxy, moses ochonu sets out to reexamine a wellknown subject for historians of west africa. Brief history of the hausa political system welcome to.
These implications were to significantly influence the trajectories of social identity. Hausafulani precolonial political system in nigeria. Intermarriage between the hausa and fulani was frequent. The hausa kingdom, also known as hausa kingdoms or hausaland, was a collection of states started by the hausa people, situated between the niger river and lake chad modern day northern nigeria. Hausafulani people of northern nigeria precolonial. Precolonial state formations, political systems, and the relationship between spiritual beliefs and power structures. With their superior cavalry and cohesion, the fulani overthrew the hausa rulers and also conquered areas beyond hausaland, including adamawa to the east and nupe and ilorin to the south. The empire arose in todays northwestern and northcentral nigeria. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to british subjects in 1807. However, thepre colonial nigeria symbolises the methods or ways by which nigerians govern themselves before the advent of colonialism. Since the thesis is based on the novels of buchi emecheta. Everything roots from the family unit and this cant be ignored. Precolonial political systems in nigeria hausafulani. Precolonial political administration in yoruba land oldnaija.
The hausa fulani pre colonial society was feudalistic, hierarchical and oligarchic in nature. Hausa fulani pre colonial political administration. The emir was assisted in his administration by a number of office holders. Hausafulani pastoralists and resource conflicts in. The fulani islamic reform jihad of 180408 superimposed a central political and religious authority on. The reason being that the oba is not an absolute ruler and there is the principle of checks and balance. It also explores the issue of language, especially of writing hausa and other nigerian languages in arabic script, called ajami which was scrapped by the british colonial administration and its. Prior to the jihad or the holy war of 1804, the territory now known as the northern states of nigeria was ruled by the hausa under 14 independent kingdoms. The cattle fulani provide the hausa with meat, yogurt, and butter.
The bayajidda legend and hausa history 9 suspecting that oral traditions can easily be altered by manipulations, historians are reluctant to consider seriously the evidence for transcontinental migrations provided by the bayajidda legend. The area known today as the northern region of nigeria is three times the size of the other two regions eastern and western regions combined. Hausafulani precolonial political system can be credited to the holy jihad fought by uthman danfodio in 1804. Nigeria before colonialism precolonial administration in. The implementation of a fulani centered colonial rule in adamawa province among the chamba people in particular highlighted several foundational problems while eliciting backlash and intermittent, largely cosmetic, reform.
Mar 16, 2014 for instance, while some political systems are centralized or chiefly society e. The differences between hausafulani, yoruba and igbo nation. Although the origin of these cultures remains a mystery, legend holds that bayajidda, a traveler from the middle east, married the queen of daura and bore him seven sons. Local government administration in nigeria is as old as history and its dated back pre colonial era. Hausa fulani pre colonial political system can be credited to the holy jihad fought by uthman danfodio in 1804. It conquered areas beyond hausaland, including adamawa to the east and nupe and ilorin to the south.
However, hausa remained the language of administration and, alongside arabic, of scholarship and literature. Jan 25, 2012 it really focused on the colonial powers disregard to existing groups of people when they formed the colonies. The hausa practice intercropping and doublecropping. Another 17 million people speak hausa as a second language.
Summary of hausa fulani pre colonial administration pre. The hausa and fulani people are located mostly in northern part of nigeria. A historical and comparative analysis of colonial and post. Ever before the commencement of colonialism, the people of what later became known as nigeria were. The notables he noted are the yoruba, hausafulani and igbo precolonial political system. The search for colonial administrative coherence and uniformity prompted. The colonial and precolonial eras in nigeria this project is based on the goal of explaining an event in the relatively recent past by working progressively further into the past to uncover more and more information that seems to bear on the issues.
Mar 09, 20 he argues that throughout precolonial history, yoruba acted as a panregional and unified identity 2005, 25. The precolonial political administration in yoruba land had a decentralized structure i. The jihad that followed this occupation was seen as a religious one as well as political. Precolonial traditional political system in nigeria. While i was reading, i really wanted to know more about the differences in culture between the three main ethnicities of nigeria. Farming was huge among the tribes,travelling traders sells clothes and many other items. The system of government adopted is monarchical in nature popularly regarded as a highly centralized method of administration. In the pre colonial period, the fulani, under shehu usman danfodiyos leadership, were able to revive islam in most parts of the hausaland. Summary of hausafulani precolonial administration pre. There were no chiefs compared to yoruba and hausa fulani pre colonial administration.
The hausa fulani precolonial history a group of muslim from the. Interestingly, indirect rule would not have been possible without the already established pre colonial system. Structure of the hausafulani precolonial political. Hausa and fulani people nigeria people and culture. The hausa fulani ethnic group can be found in the northern parts of nigeria. Precolonial political administration in yoruba land. Mar 30, 2014 hausafulani precolonial political system can be credited to the holy jihad fought by uthman danfodio in 1804. It attempts to justify that both colonial and post colonial civil service recorded bureaucratic successes but quota and federal character policies partly affected post colonial bureaucratic practice in nigeria. The eastern caliphate which included states like yola, gombe, kano, zaria and katsina had sokoto as its capital while the western caliphate, including ilorin. While the hausa fulani empire established a centralized system of government deeply rooted in the islamic religion, the yoruba kingdom had a government that provided for checks and balances on the organs of government.
Hausafulani people of northern nigeria precolonial nigeria. Hausa is written in arabic characters, and about onefourth of hausa words come from arabic. Prior to the jihad or the holy war of 1804, the territory now known as the northern sector of nigeria was ruled by the hausas under fourteen 14 independent kingdoms. This was largely a pragmatic administrative project, although preexisting british and caliphate. Summary of hausa fulani pre colonial administration historical background. Hausa fulani women, after the introduction of purdah system were confined to their households. The kanuri also practiced a similar system but under a central authority udo, 1980. Hausa is the most widely spoken language in west africa.
An official known as hakimi was usually appointed to the emir to. As fulani rule in the province transitioned into the second half of the colonial period, new problems emerged. The hausa fulani empire had its origin from the holy war jihad of 1804 which uthman dan fodio, a fulani muslim launched against the hausa rulers of the period with a view of making islam devotedly practised as the only religion in the land. Igbo precolonial political administration precolonial. Ever before the commencement of colonialism, the people of what later became known as nigeria were living under different administration or political arrangements. The main political institutions among the igbos were the ohana eze the town assembly, the king or rulers, the council of elders or chiefs and the age grade. Economic and social organization of rindre in pre colonial time agriculture was the dominant economic activity of the rindre during the pre colonial period. He however noted that he will take a penetrating analysis of the following notable pre colonial systems in nigeria. Minor offences are tried by compare the judicial system of the pre. Find out some curious facts about pre colonial administration in igboland this info is useful and interesting for those who want to learn facts from the history of the homeland and compare administration then and now. African political systems are described in a number of textbooks and general books on african history. However, in terms of ethnic diversity of the population in the country the official language remains english. Hausa represents a place hausaland, a people the hausas, a language and a culture that spans multiple west african nations, with a heavy concentration in northern, nigeria.
Doc the hausafulani precolonial history mbah lynda. The fulani slave raiders in the first half of the nineteenth century made several attempts to subjugate them but it was not possible. This is a comprehensive overview of the hausa people, arts, culture, history language and much more. The defeat of the hausa led to the abolition of the hausa kingdom and the establishment of fulani emirates. Hausafulani precolonial political administration nigerian scholars. Hausa fulani pre colonial system of administration 2. It is important to note that yoruba pre colonial administration was not highly centralized compared to hausa fulani system. Ehret 2002 emphasizes the diversity and long history of precolonial social and political formations, whereas curtin, et al.
The hausa fulani, the igbo and yoruba established distinct and functioning governments which were peculiar to their environment. Their similarities is quite clear but their differences is more complicated. Sequel to the previous post which gave an account of the hausa fulani empire, this post will guide you on the political organization of the hausa fulani empire, how the empire was run before the coming of the colonialists and what unique features there were in the politics of the hausa fulani empire. Precolonial political and socioeconomic history of the rindre. The hausa also grow and eat root crops and a variety of vegetables. The hausacaliphate imaginary in precolonial middle belt. Precolonial political systems african studies oxford. They can be found in the northern part of nigeria covering areas like kaduna, sokoto, kano, zaria, etc. The judicial system of the pre coloniai hausa fulani society was based on the sharia, a body of the rules dealing with civil and criminal matters based on the holy koran. The colonial and pre colonial eras in nigeria this project is based on the goal of explaining an event in the relatively recent past by working progressively further into the past to uncover more and more information that seems to bear on the issues. For instance, while some political systems are centralized or chiefly society e.
The fulani conquest and rule of the hausa kingdom of. Whereas the hausa fulani and the yoruba, for example, operated a centralized system of. With a population of over 30 million, they have the largest population in west africa because of their intermarriages and constant interaction with different peoples. With the onset of british colonialism, the hausafulani identity deepened in contradistinction to. The igbo precolonial political system was described by many scholars as an acephalous political system which can be translated as a leaderless or chiefless political system.
Precolonial political systems in nigeria hausafulani political. The pre colonial political administration of the land of the hausa fulani was a highly centralized one and is hierarchically structured. Sokoto caliphate the sokoto caliphate was an islamic state, the most powerful in west africa in the nineteenth century. Nigeria in favour of the three major ethnic groups hausafulani, igbo and. It had been part of system of government among ethnic groups in nigeria particularly the yoruba. The paper applies historical and comparative analysis of colonial and post colonial civil service in nigeria. Cotton and peanuts are processed and used locally, but part of the harvest is exported. Britishsupervised hausafulani colonization in the middle belt has a long, scattered, but recoverable ideological history. The pre colonial administration in hausa fulani land had a complicated structure and was strongly centralized. This tradition was dominant in the hausa fulani caliphate, where islam had established a tradition of governance which guaranteed a union between politics and religion. Compare the judicial system of the precolonial hausa.