Gobir

The Kingdom of Gobir ( ; Demonym: Gobirawa) was a Hausa kingdom in what is now northern Nigeria. Founded by the Hausa in the 12th century, Gobir was one of the seven original kingdoms of Hausaland, and continued under Hausa rule for nearly 700 years. Its capital was the city of Alkalawa. In the early 19th century elements of the ruling dynasty fled north to what is today Niger from which a rival dynasty developed ruling as Sarkin Gobir ("King of Gobir") at Tibiri. In 1975 a reunited traditional sultanate took up residence in Sabon Birni, Nigeria.

The Kingdom of Gobir ( ; Demonym: Gobirawa) was a Hausa kingdom in what is now northern Nigeria. Founded by the Hausa in the 12th century, Gobir was one of the seven original kingdoms of Hausaland, and continued under Hausa rule for nearly 700 years. Its capital was the city of Alkalawa. In the early 19th century elements of the ruling dynasty fled north to what is today Niger from which a rival dynasty developed ruling as Sarkin Gobir ("King of Gobir") at Tibiri. In 1975 a reunited traditional sultanate took up residence in Sabon Birni, Nigeria.

History

Early history (12th century to 17th century)

Gobir was one of the seven original kingdoms of Hausaland, tracing a lineage back to the 11th century. It was the northernmost of the Hausa states and was depended on to protect its sister states from northern adversaries, particularly the Tuareg tribes. From its founding, Gobir had a proud martial reputation, likely stemming from its long history of nomadism. Although the majority of the Gobirawa ('people of Gobir') were Hausa, the ruling dynasty claimed Coptic descent, marking under their eyes with "the same mark found under the eye of the Pharaohs on the monuments," called takin kaza ('the fowl's footprint') in Hausa. This ruling house descended from Bana Turmi, the first Sarkin Gobir, who died at Bilma. They arrived in the Asben region between the 12th and 14th centuries, establishing a state with the Idirfunawa (Hausawa in Adrar) they met there. Historian Mahdi Amadu in the General History of Africa (1984) says that the kingdom was possibly centred on Marandet, a prosperous city from the 9th century, which may indicate the Gobirawa had a centralised state at that time. By the 15th century, Gobir had "many villages inhabited by shepherds and other herdsmen", according to Leo Africanus. It utilised its large number of artisans and linen weavers to produce and export textiles and shoes, "made like those of the ancient Romans", as far as Timbuktu and Gao through Wangara traders. However, due to constant pressure from the Tuaregs since the 12th century, its economy suffered, and the Gobirawa were forced to move southwards. The Tuaregs had established the Sultanate of Agadez/Ayr early in the 15th century, replacing Gobir as the dominant power in the Aïr mountains. The document Kitab Asi Sultanati Ahyar I ("Chronicle of the Sultanate of Ayr I") mentions the Gobirawa as having migrated out of Agadez (Ayr). Some of the population of Asben split to settle in Adar, becoming the . The Kano Chronicle says the 'Abzinawa' arrived at Gobir in the mid-15th century, and were associated with increased availability of salt. After fleeing Asben, the Gobirawa first moved to Maigali and later to Goran Rami, near present-day Sabon Birni. In the early 18th century, they moved their capital to Birnin Lalle. According to the 19th-century German geographer Heinrich Barth, after their conquest the Gobirawa agreed with the Tuaregs that they would not be exterminated and that Tuareg kings should always marry a black woman.

Modern history

Resistance against the Jihadists was continued in the north-east by Sarki Ali dan Yakubu and Sarki Mayaki. With the help of the Hausa ruler of Katsina the latter built a new capital of Gobir in Tibiri, 10 km north of Maradi in 1836. When the Gobir Sultan revolted against the Sokoto Caliphate that same year, Sokoto Sultan Muhammed Bello crushed the rebellion at the Battle of Gawakuke. The Gobirawa dispersed to Birnin Kadaye, Gawon Bazau, and Tibiri. In 1853 some Gobirawa led by Yariman Gobir Dan Halima founded the settlement of Sabon Birnin Dan Halima near Bunsuru River. In 1939/40 (during Umaru Shawai's reign) they moved to Sabon Birni after the town was destroyed in a flood. Animism remained important, and the position of Inna (female priest) was the second most prestigious after Sarkin Gobir. In the late 20th century a local government chairman, an adherent of the anti-bid'ah Izala Society, demanded the position of Inna go to him and his relatives as they were descendants of a previous Inna, after which the official house of the Inna was destroyed. The Sarkin Gobirs did not appoint another one, and the last Inna died in 2003¹. In the present day there are three Sarkin Gobirs in Sokoto State (seated in Sabon Birni, Isa, and Gatawa), ones in Kebbi, Katsina, and Kwara states, and another seated in Tibiri, Niger. In 2024 Sarkin Gobir na Gatawa Isah Muhammad Bawa was abducted along with 5/6 others by bandits for ransom and was later murdered; his son was captured too but was freed after a ₦60 million ransom (approximately US$40,000) was paid. Sarkin Gobir is also a title given in the Ilorin Emirate where there is a Gobirawa minority. The current Sarkin Gobir of Ilorin is Yakubu, having ascended to the position in 2025.

References

La vie d'une cour de chefferie : le Gobir hier et aujourd'hui. Zeinabou Gaoh, ONEP Maradi, Le Sahel (Niger). 30 October 2009.

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1360679096 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.