Ibrahim Dabo was the leader of the
Fulani
The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...
Sullubawa
''For the Arab Hutaymi tribe, see Sulluba''
The Sullubawa are a Fulani clan that historically featured prominently in the Fulani War which founded the Sokoto Caliphate. The ruling dynastic houses of Kano Emirate and Katsina Emirate; as well a ...
in Kano and founder of the eponymous Dabo dynasty. His progeny has lasted over two centuries reigning as
Muslim rulers of the ancient city-state of Kano. The dynasty has become synonymous with the ancient city-state in affectionate sayings as "''Kano ta Dabo Cigari''". They have independently ruled the
Kano Emirate
The Kano Emirate was a Muslim state in Northern Nigeria formed in 1349 during the reign of Sarkin Kano Ali Yaji when Wangarawa brought Islam into Kano and Sarki Ali made Islam as State religion (www.rumburilmi.com.ng). Sarki Muhammadu Rumfa ( ...
from 1819 until the
Battle of Kano in 1903 which as a result of British colonisation transformed into the
Kano Emirate Council
The Kano Emirate Council is a traditional state in Northern Nigeria with headquarters in the city of Kano, the capital of the modern Kano State. Preceded by the Emirate of Kano the council was formed in 1903 after the British pacification of t ...
.
Dabo reigned as
Emir of Kano
Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or cerem ...
from 1819 to 1846. He embarked upon policies to centralize the administration and raise revenue.
During his reign he was responsible for establishing several
ribat
A ribāṭ ( ar, رِبَـاط; hospice, hostel, base or retreat) is an Arabic term for a small fortification built along a frontier during the first years of the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb to house military volunteers, called ''murabitun'' ...
s, including
Fanisau and
Waceni.
His centralization saw the revival of old royal slave titles which he exploited to consolidate his power.
Dabo invaded the
Ningi chiefdom but was defeated by
Gwarsum Gwarsum was a 19th-century leader of the Ningi chiefdom. Little is known about him, but from around 1807 he looked to increase the size of his chiefdom in the area that is now Butawa Territory. He was known to have secured a victory over the Emir ...
at
Basshe.
In order to re-establish his authority and independence, Dabo re-introduced the elaborate court and regalia of the
Bagauda dynasty The Bagauda Dynasty is a house of noblemen who founded and ruled the Kingdom (eventually Sultanate) of Kano throughout its existence. The Dynasty spanned over 800 years spread out through ten centuries, one of the longest in recorded human history ...
after the Kano Emirate was invaded by
Muhammad al-Kanemi of Bornu who was looking to seize the city-state as a buffer zone between the
Bornu Empire Bornu may refer to:
* Bornu Empire, a historical state of West Africa
* Borno State, Nigeria
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