Gwandu, also called Gando, is a town and emirate in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The seat of government for the emirate[1][2] and district of this name is in Birnin Kebbi, which is the capital of Kebbi State and was capital of the historical Kingdom of Kebbi.[3] Founded in the sixteenth century by the Kabbawa, a Hausa people Gwandu today acts as one of the four emirates composing Kebbi State.[4]
The town became important during the Fulani jihad, and from 1815 it was one of the two capitals of the Fulani empire[5] until it came under British control in 1903.[6][7][4]
History
The name "Gwandu" derives from the Hausa word gandu, which translates to "royal farmlands." The town's origins can be traced back to its earlier days as a small village under the leadership of the royal farmer of Kanta Kotal, who was the first King of Kebbi who reigned from 1517 to 1561. Over time, the village developed and expanded, eventually becoming a town. One of the factors contributing to the growth of Gwandu was its favorable geographical location and the presence of fertile lands. The area boasted rich pasturelands, which attracted Fulani pastoralists to settle there.
After the Kebbi expedition during the Sokoto jihad, Gwandu emerged as a significant and permanent base for Usman dan Fodio and his followers. Recognizing the strategic importance of the town, Muhammad Bello ordered the construction of a protective wall around the town in 1806. This defensive wall aimed to fortify the city and enhance its security against potential external threats. Although Usman eventually departed from Gwandu, the town retained its significance within the context of the jihad. It became the capital of the newly established Gwandu emirate under the leadership of Abdullahi dan Fodio. The geographical location of Gwandu, nestled in a valley with surrounding ridges, provided natural advantages for defense against external attacks. The town's topography further contributed to its status as a stronghold.[8]: 56
Emirs of Gwandu
Name | Life | Reign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Mornach Name :Abdullahi I
Full Name:Abdullahi dan Fodio |
1766–1829/30 | 1808–1829/30 | brother of Usman dan Fodio |
Mornach Name :Muhammad I
Full Name:Muhammad wani Abdullahi ibn Fodio |
–1833 | 1829/30–1833 | son of Abdullahi dan Fodio |
Mornach Name :
Ibrahim I Full Name: Ibrahim Halilu Abdullahi ibn Fodio |
–1858 | 1833–1858 | son of Abdullahi dan Fodio |
Mornach Name :Haliru I
Full Name: Haliru Abdullahi ibn Fodio |
–1858 | 1858–1860 | son of Abdullahi dan Fodio. Was killed in battle |
Mornach Name :Aliyu I
Full Name: Aliyu Abdullahi ibn Fodio |
–1864 | 1860–1864 | son of Abdullahi dan Fodio. Moved the capital from Gwandu to Ambursa |
Mornach Name :Abdulkadir I
Full Name: Abdulkadiri ayi Abdullahi ibn Fodio |
–1868 | 1864–1868 | son of Abdullahi dan Fodio. Made peace with the Kebbawa in 1866 |
Mornach Name :Almustafa I
Full Name: Almustapha Muhammad wani |
–1875 | 1868–1875 | son of Muhamman. Died during a campaign against Giru |
Mornach Name: Hanafi I
Full Name: Hanafi Ibrahim halilu |
–1876 | 1875–1876 | son of Halilu |
Mornach Name:Maliki I
Full Name:Maliki Muhammad wani |
–1888 | 1876–1888 | son of Muhamman. Was driven out of Ambursa by the Kebbawa and moved to Gwandu |
Mornach Name :Umaru I
Full Name:Umaru Ibrahim halilu |
–1897 | 1888–1897 | son of Halilu |
Mornach Name :Abdullahi II
Full Name:Abdullahi bayero Muhammad wani |
–1898 | 1897–1898 | son of Muhamman |
Mornach Name :Bayero I
Full Name: Bayero Aliyu |
–May 1903 | 1898–May 1903 | son of Aliyu. Britain colonised the emirate during his reign |
Mornach Name:Muhammad II
Full Name:Muhammadu Aliyu |
18 May 1903 – 20 March 1906 | son of Aliyu. Was deposed and arrested after not cooperating with the British administration during the Satiru Rebellion | |
Mornach Name:Haliru II
Full Name: Haliru Abdu |
–21 March 1915 | 21 March 1906 – 21 March 1915 | great-grandson of Abdullahi Fodio. He moved the capital to Birnin-Kebbi due to his unpopularity in Gwandu[10] |
Mornach Name :Muhammad III
Full Name:Muhammadu Basharu |
–1918 | 29 April 1915 – 1918 | son of Haliru II |
Mornach Name :Usman I
Full Name:Usman Shehu Haliru Abdu |
–1938 | 1918–1938 | son of Haliru II |
Mornach Name: Yahaya I
Full Name: Sir yahaya Haliru Abdu CBE (disambiguation) |
–1954 | 1938–1954 | son of Haliru II |
Mornach Name :Haruna al rasheed I | 1913–1995 | 1954–1995 | son of Muhammadu Bashiru. Was president of the Northern Region House of Chiefs (1958–1966) |
Mornach Name :Almustafa II
Full Name:AlMustafa Haruna al rasheed (Jokolo) |
6 January 1952– | July 1995–3 June 2005 | son of Haruna. Deposed by then Governor of Kebbi, Adamu Aliero |
Mornach Name: Muhammad IV
Full Name:Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar CFR |
22 April 1941– | 5 June 2005–present | two time Military-Governor of the defunct Gongola State |
Climate
In contrast to the dry season, which is hot and partially cloudy, the wet season is oppressively hot and cloudy.[11]
References
- ^ Balogun, S. A. (1973). "Succession Tradition in Gwandu History, 1817-1918". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 7 (1): 17–33. ISSN 0018-2540. JSTOR 41856982.
- ^ Jimoh, Mufutau Oluwasegun (2017-05-01). "Gwandu Emirate: The Domain of Abdullahi Fodiyo, Since 1805". Journal of Pan African Studies. 10 (3): 386–390.
- ^ Balogun, Saka Adegbite. (1970). Gwandu emirates in the nineteenth century with special reference to political relations, 1817-1903. OCLC 38630457.
- ^ a b "GWANDU". Encyclopédie de l'Islam. doi:10.1163/_eifo_sim_2570.
- ^ Hopen, C. Edward (2018-09-03). The Pastoral Fulbe Family in Gwandu. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-95044-5.
- ^ Tukur, Mahmud Modibbo (2016-08-15). British Colonisation of Northern Nigeria, 1897-1914: A Reinterpretation of Colonial Sources. Amalion Publishing. ISBN 978-2-35926-048-9.
- ^ "Gwandu | Nigeria". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ Gwandu, Abubaker Aliu (1977). Abdullahi b. fodio as a Muslim jurist (Doctoral thesis). Durham University.
- ^ Burke's royal families of the world. London: Burke's Peerage. 1977. ISBN 978-0-85011-029-6.
- ^ Balogun, S. A. (1973). "Succession Tradition in Gwandu History, 1817-1918". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 7 (1): 17–33. ISSN 0018-2540.
- ^ "Gwandu Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
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