SULTAN OF THE SAVANNAH - Uthman Dan Fodio's Conquest

 


Uthman Dan Fodio, also called Usman Dan Fodio was born on the 15th of December, 1754 in Gobir. His father, Mohammad Fodiye was a scholar from Toronkawa Clan, which had emigrated from Futa-toro in Senegal. His mother, Hauwa Mohammad was believed to be from the bloodline of the holy prophet Muhammad, because she was a direct descendant of the first king of Morocco Maulay Idris 1.

Although he was born in Gobir, he settled in Degel, where he expanded his Islamic knowledge together with his father. Dan Fodio's teaching went far, by 1774, he was already a scholar as he had amassed thousands of followers through over a hundred publications including poems and books. He noticed that the rulers of his hometown Gobir, were not practicing pure Islam, as they broke Sharia laws and mixed Islam with pagan practices. Dan Fodio stood vehemently against it and openly criticized the rulers through his teachings.



The King of Gobir, Yunfa was Dan Fodio's former student who Dan Fodio helped to succeed the late King Nafata, but Yunfa turned against Dan Fodio, he feared Dan Fodio's growing popularity and influence, tried to assassinate him in person. After the failed assassination attempt, in 1802 King Yunfa revoked to autonomy of Degel causing Dan Fodio and thousands of his followers to go on exile to Gudu (present day Sokoto).

While in Gudu, Dan Fodio was invested his time to train his followers. In 1804, The Sokoto Caliphate was formed and Dan Fodio was the first Sultan, he was given the title "Sarkin Musulmi"(Commander of the Faithful). There was an incident in Gobir involving Yunfa and some Muslims. Dan Fodio saw this as a good opportunity and from exile he declared Jihad against the rulers of Gobir. The Jihad lasted from 1804-1808. By 1808, he had conquered Gobir (Kano) and other Hausa city states. He found himself as the sole leader of most of Hausaland. By 1809, his son Mohammed Bello had converted the small camp in Gudu (Sokoto) to a city. Usman Dan Fodio retired from war in 1811 to go into administration, but his followers kept on the campaign till 1815.



At the end of the campaign Northern Nigeria, parts of Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Sudan and Senegal were part of the Caliphate. Dan Fodio now set up a proper capital in Sokoto, the caliphate was the largest in West Africa. To ensure proper administration, he put his brother Abdullahi in charge of the western part of the Caliphate (Gwandu) and put his son Mohammed Bello in charge of the Eastern part of the Caliphate. Uthman Dan Fodio died on the 20th of April, 1817 in Sokoto.

SOURCES;

Wikipedia

NaijaBiography

Historyvilla

 

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