- Hausa Kingdoms
The Hausa Kingdoms were a collection of independent city-states situated between the
Niger River andLake Chad .Hausa Bakwai
The Hausa Kingdoms began as seven states with a shared mythology with its founders being the sons of a Queen. They are known as the Hausa Bakwai meaning Hausa Seven. The states included:
*
Daura ? -1806
*Kano 998 -1807
*Katsina c.1400 -1805
*Zazzau (Zaria) c.1200 -1808
*Gobir c.1000 -1808
*Rano
*Biram c.1100 -1805 Banza Bakwai
The growth and conquest of the Hausa Bakwai resulted in the founding of additional states with rulers tracing their lineage to a concubine of the Hausa founding father,
Bayajidda . Thus they are called the Banza Bakwai meaning Bastard or Bogus Seven. The Banza Bakwai adopted many of the customs and institutions of the Hausa Bakwai but were considered unsanctioned or copy-cat kingdoms by non-Hausa people. These states include:*Zamfara
*Kebbi
*Yauri (also called Yawuri)
*Gwari (also called Gwariland)
*Kororafa (a Jukun state)
*Nupe (of the Nupe people)
*Ilorin (a Yoruba state)Zenith
The Hausa Kingdoms emerged in the 13th century as vibrant trading centers competing with Kanem-Bornu and the
Mali Empire . The primary exports wereleather ,gold , cloth,salt ,kola nuts , animal hides, andhenna . Except for minor alliances, the Hausa city-states functioned independently. Rivalries generally inhibited the formation of one centralized authority.Fall
Despite relatively constant growth, the city-states were vulnerable to aggression and, although the vast majority of its inhabitants were
Muslim by the 16th century, they were attacked by Muslimjihadists from 1804 to 1808. In 1808 the last Hausa state was finally conquered byUsuman dan Fodio and incorporated into theSokoto Caliphate .ources
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9054346/Muri Britannica]
* [http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Hausa.html Art & Life in Africa]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/4chapter5.shtml BBC]
* [http://www.amanaonline.com/Sokoto/sokoto_9.htm Amana Online The Fulani Empire of Sokoto]
* [http://www.amanaonline.com/Sokoto/sokoto_1.htm Amana Online Hausaland and the Hausas]
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