Northern Nigeria has many Emirs, some of who have been on the throne for a long. Emirs are an important link to the people, a great source of preservation of the history and culture of the people as well as play their roles in peacebuilding, peace and serving as mediators in conflict. In this list, we will be looking at the top 15 longest-serving Emirs in Northern Nigeria.
Join me!
Longest Serving Emirs and Chiefs from Northern Nigeria
13. The Late Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammadu Mera
The late Emir of Argungu Alhaji Muhammadu Mera, is one of the longest-serving monarchs from northern Nigeria, having spent 37 years on the throne.
Born in 1932, Emir Muhammadu Mera was the 32nd Emir of Argungu. Mera studied in Middle School, Kaduna College as well as the Katsina Teacher Training College. He was later awarded a scholarship by the defunct northern Nigerian Government to study in the UK.
Upon his return, he became a councillor of Education in the Regional Government. He was appointed the District Head of Argungu in 1955. In 1959, upon the death of the Emir, he was appointed the 32nd Emir of Arugungu, the throne of his ancestors.
12. Sarkin Katagum Alhaji Umar Muhammadu Kabir Umar (Baba Umar Faruk), The 12th Emir of Katagum
The late Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Muhammadu Kabir was one of the longest serving Emirs in northern Nigeria having served for 37 years. He is also one of the most loved.
He attended Bauchi Middle School in 1948 and later studied Local Government Administration in 1950. The late Emir was also the Head of the Bauchi State Development Board as well as the Chairman Board of the Governing Council of College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Misau between 1986 to 2001.
The late Emir was appointed in 1980, upon the demise of his father and the recommendation of the Council of Kingmakers. During his reign, he used his wealth of experience and connections to bring development to his Emirate.
He died in December 2017 aged 89.
11. Emir of Daura Muhammadu Bashar of Daura
Muhammadu Bashar, the 59th Emir of Daura was one of the few who lasted long on the throne.
He was born in 1926 to the ruling house of Daura being the grandson of the Emir of Daura Malam Abdulrahman. The late Muhammadu Bashar attended Katsina Middle School, Barewa College, Kano School for Arabic Studies as well as the Institute of Administration Zaria. He later attended the South Devon Technical College in the United Kingdom.
Muhammadu Bashar first started as a scribe in Daura, before gaining promotion to Assistant Chief Scribe in 1950. He later got elected as a member of the Northern House of Assembly in 1951. He became the Wamban Daura as well as appointed as a Minister of Economic Planning in the short-lived First Republic.
Muhammadu Bashar was appointed the Emir of Daura in 1966, one of the most respected traditional intuitions in the country.
He reigned for 41 years, and died in 2007.
10. The Late Emir of Lafia, Isa Mustapha Agwai I
The late Emir of Lafia was born on the 15th of February, 1935 In Kofar Kaura in Lafia. He attended the Institute of Administration of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1958 where he obtained a Diploma in Accountancy.
After that, he joined the service of the Lafia Native Authority as an assistant treasurer. He later held the title of Dangaladima and the district head of Obi.
Agwai was named the Emir of Lafia on 15th May 1974, having defeated numerous other contestants. He served for 43 years making him one of the longest serving Emirs in Northern Nigeria.
He died in 2019 aged 84 after spending 44 years on the throne, making him one of the longest reigning Emirs in Northern Nigeria
9. Emir of Zaria, Shehu Idris
The late Shehu Idris was one of the most respected traditional leaders as well as one of the longest serving Emirs in northern Nigeria. Before he was appointed the Emir, he was a Private Secretary to the former Emir, Muhammadu Aminu. He was also the Dan Madamin Zazzau.
The late Emir was appointed in 1975 and went on to spend 45 years on the throne. Under his reign, his Emirate witnessed significant development and got transformed into an urban area.
The late Sarkin Sudan, Alhaji Sai’du was a descendant of the legendary Shehu Usman Danfodio as well as Nagwamatse, the founder of the Kontagora Kingdom. He was born in 1937.
The deceased worked with the Nigeria Police Force in 1961, as well as with the State Judicial Services. He was appointed to the throne of his ancestors in 1974 and reined for 47 years before his demise in 2021.
He was the longest serving Emir in northern Nigeria before his death.
The late Emir of Kontagora died aged 84.
7. Sultan Sadiq Abubakar III
Sir Siddiq Abubakar III, was the important Sultan of Sokoto between 1938-1988. The Sultan was a descendant of Usman Dan Fodio, through his grandfather Mu’azu. He was appointed by the British because of his trust and support of the public. He so far proved them right.
Sir Saddiq Abubakar III died in 1988 aged ’80s having been on the throne for 50 years. He left behind 52 children, three of which became Sultans themselves.
6. Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Salihu Tanko
Another Emir from Niger state, the late Salihu Tanko was one of the longest serving Emirs from northern Nigeria. He was first appointed a District Head of Tegina in 1971 before he was upgraded to a second class chief of Kagara in 1982. He was later elevated to a first-class Emir in 1991.
The late Emir was born on 5th April 1930. He ruled for 50 years until he died in 2021 aged 90.
The legendary Ado Bayero is synonymous with the title of Emir of Kano, having to be on the throne for 52 years. He was the son of the Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero.
Having attended the Kano Middle School as well as the School of Arabic Studies in 1947, he joined the Native Authority. He became in charge of the Police Force, the popular “Wakilin Dan Doka.” He was also briefly the Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal during the First Republic.
Ado Bayero was appointed upon the death of Muhammadu Inuwa. His time as Emir of Kano coincided with the rapid changes in the country as well as in the region. He also witnessed many reforms to the Emir’s Council. Ado Bayero survived an assassination attempt in 2013.
He died in 2014 aged 83 and was one of the most respected Emirs in Northern Nigeria.
4. Emir of Daura Abdulrahman
One of the oldest and longest serving Emirs in northern Nigeria, Abdulrahman was the Emir of Daura Abdulrahman between 1912 to 1966.
He spend 55 years on the throne and was succeeded by his grandson Bashar.
3. Attah of Igala Aliyu Obaje, CFR
The late Attah of Igala in present-day Kogi state was not only one of the longest serving Emirs in northern Nigeria but in the whole country as well.
Born in 1920, Obaje was the 26th Attah of Igala. At the time of his appointment in 1956, he was the youngest person to be named the Attah. He went on to rule for 56 years, before his death at the age of 102.
Until his death, he was a First Class Chief, the paramount ruler of Igala as well as the Chairman of Kogi State Traditional Council and one of the most respected monarchs in the country.
2. Lamido of Adamawa Aliyu Mustapha Barkindo
The late Lamido of Adamawa Dr Aliyu Musdafa was the 11th Lamido, appointed by the Governor of Northern Nigeria Sir Bryan Sherwood in 1953. He was a direct descendant of Modibo Adama, the founder of the emirate.
Barkindo ruled for 57 years until he died in 2010. He was responsible for many developments in the Emirate, among which include the increase in the number of district heads, the founding of the Aliyu Mustafa College Yola and many more.
He was one of the most respected and longest serving Emirs from northern Nigeria. The late Lamido was survived by his son Muhammad Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa.
1. Chief of Kagoro Gwamna Awan
The late Chief of Kagoro was not only the longest serving emir in northern Nigeria, but the longest serving monarch in Africa as well, having reigned for 63 years. He reigned between 1945 – 2008.
Born in 1915, Gwamna Awan attended Elementary School in Toro and worked at the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) Elementary School in Kagoro. He later joined the Native Authority and became an Assistant Scribe.
Upon the death of the then Chief, Gwamna Awan was appointed in 1944 and became the only Christian monarch in the whole southern part of Zaria.
Northern Nigeria is blessed with many Emirs and chiefs. Emirs are believed to be the fathers of the nation and very important pillars of society. While all Chiefs and Emirs are highly regarded by their people, some stand out above the rest. So who are the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria? What is the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria, and what are their rankings? This is the focus of this article.
Join me as I explore the top ten Emirs in northern Nigeria.
Top 10 Emirs in Northern Nigeria
10. The Emir of Ilorin
While most people don’t regard Ilorin as part of the ‘core north,’ it is an important town in Northern Nigeria. With a strong concentration of Yoruba and Baruba in the region, the Emirate still became an important part of the Islamic Jihad of 1804 when Abdusalami dan Salih Alimi, a local Fulani, became the Emir in 1824.
When the British came, they regarded the Emir of Ilorin as one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria, a ranking that the Emirate still retains today.
The current Emir of Ilorin is Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, a well respected Jurist Nigerian lawyer, and monarch appointed in 1995 as the 11th Emir of the Ilorin Emirate in Kwara State from Fulani rulings house and chairman of Kwara State Traditional Councils. He is one of the top ten Emirs from northern Nigeria.
9. Etsu Nupe
Etsu is a Nupe word for ‘King’, meaning the Etsu Nupe is the king of all Nupe people, with headquarters in Bida. Hence, in the ranking of Emirs in northern Nigeria, the Emir of Bida is the 9th on the list.
After the fall of the predecessor Nupe Kingdom, Bida Emirate came under the jurisdiction of Gwandu Emirate, the administrative capital of Sokoto Sultanate. Usman Zaki dan Malam Dendo, a local Fulani, became the first Emir of the Nupe Emirate in 1835.
The current Etsu Nupe is Alhaji (Dr) (Brig. Gen) Yahaya Abubakar rtd GCFR, a retired soldier, elder statesman, and Chairman of Niger State Traditional Council of Chiefs, making him one of the most respected Emirs in northern Nigeria.
8. Emir of Bauchi
Before the Islamic Jihad of 1804, The region of Bauchi was ruled by small independent tribes. This changed when in 1805, Yakubu I dan Dadi, one of the students of Shehu Dan Fodio himself, became the first Emir of Bauchi, then titled Lamido. This is why the Emirate is now known as ‘Bauchin Yakubu’, after the founder.
The Emirate remains one of the top 10 emirs in Northern Nigeria, a feat it has achieved since the coming of the British.
The Emir, Dr. Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, is the son of the former Emir, Sulaiman Adamu, who died in 2010 after ruling for 28 years. The Emir is the Chairman of the Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers, which is no easy feat considering there are other historic Emirates in the state; like that of Katagum, Jama’are, who is one of the longest-serving Emirs in northern Nigeria
7. Emir of Zazzau
Zazzau is one of the Original Hausa Bakwai States founded by Bayajidda and ruled by his sons. The Emirate is an important one with a rich history. Zazzau Emirate has some of the most historical rulers, such as Queen Amina, the female warrior queen, Sarki Makau, Sarki Jatau, etc.
The Emirate, apart from being one of the top 10 emirates in northern Nigeria, has a complex history, with the Emir of Zazzau emerging from one of the four ruling Houses; Katsinawa, Mallawa, Bare-bari, and Sullubawa. The current Emir, Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, is from the Mallawa ruling clan, the first in 100 years.
The Emirate is among the top in the rankings of top Emirs in the region. Being situated in the Capital of then Northern Nigeria accorded the Emir much prestige. The Emir of Zazzau then, Ja’afaru Dan Isiyaku, was even a member of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs and a minister without a portfolio, a testament to his ranking among Emirs in the north.
6. Emir of Katsina
The Emirate of Katsina is one of the ancient emirates in northern Nigeria, with the Emir being one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria.
The emirate became part of the Sokoto Sultanate when Ummarun Dallaje, the patriarch of the Dallazawa Dynasty, was handed the flag by Shehu Usman Danfodio. The current Emir is from the ruling Sullubawa dynasty, founded when Muhammadu Dikko became the ninth Fulani emir in 1906.
In the hierarchy of northern Nigeria Emirs, the Emir of Katsina ranks high. He is also the Chairman of the State Traditional Council of Chiefs and the Emir, who controls the most District Heads in Nigeria.
5. Lamido of Adamawa
In the history of rankings of Emirs in Northern Nigeria, the Lamido of Adamawa stands tall. The Adamawa Emirate was formerly located in the Fombina area, currently in Adamawa, Parts of Taraba, Some areas of Cameroon, and Chad. It was one of the vastest Emirates back then.
The Emirate was founded by Modibo Adama in 1809, a disciple of Shehu Dan Fodio when he defeated the Mandara Kingdom. He reigned for almost 40 years and was succeeded by his offspring, a practice that continues today.
His influence made the Lamido one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria, even amongst his peers. The most iconic Lamido, Aliyu Mustafa Barkindo, ruled for 57 years and died in 2010, aged 88. His funeral attracted over 20 state governors and countless other VIPs. His son, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, succeeded him, the 12th Lamidon Adamawa. He is the Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs.
4. Emir of Kano
The current Emirate of Kano was founded in 1805 during the Islamic Jihad. Before then, Kano, one of the original Hausa states, had existed since 999, when Bagauda became the first King of Kano. The Kano emirate also defeated the British in three battles until it fell in 1903, and the then Emir Aliyu Babba was sent into exile.
Kano Emirate has since been transformed into one of the most important emirates in Nigeria. While the Emir of Kano is one of the most known Emirs and ranks higher in the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria, he is not the most senior. The Emir pays homage to the Sultan of Sokoto, who remains the supreme leader. This, however, doesn’t mean the Emir isn’t one of the top 10 Emirs in Northern Nigeria.
Before the creation of 4 new Emirates in the state, Kano state is the only other state apart from Sokoto with a single Emirate. Now the state has 5 First class emirates. The Late Ado Bayero, The 13th Fulani Emir, was one of the longest-serving and most respected Emirs in Nigeria, and he ruled for 52 years.
3. Emir of Gwandu
This might seem surprising, but the Emir of Gwandu is one of northern Nigeria’s top 3 emirs. While this Emirate is lesser-known than others on the list, it is no less important. The emirate, located in present-day Gwandu, Kebbi state, is one of the two capitals of the Sokoto Emirate, the other being Sokoto itself.
After the Jihad, Dan Fodio divided the sultanate into two; between his son Muhammadu Bello and his brother Abdullahi. Gwandu was then the eastern capital, where several Emirs reported to and paid homage to.
While the state is the traditional headquarters and the Kingdom of Kebbi, it has lost much of its glory. Currently, the Emirate is embroiled in a legal tussle as to who becomes the Emir after the 19th Emir of Gwandu Alhaji Mustafa Haruna Jokolo was deposed in 2005. The Supreme Court will hear the final case in 2023.
2. Shehu of Borno
The Borno Emirate is the second among the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria. The Borno Emirate was founded at the start of the 20th century and succeeded the Bornu Empire, which has existed since 1000.
The current ruling dynasty, El-Kanemi, dates back to Muhammad El-Kanemi, the ruler between 1809 –1837. The Borno Empire has never been defeated in the Islamic Jihad. Islam came to the region in the 11th Century, and Borno has been a center of Islamic learning since the 17th century.
The current Shehu of Borno, as they are known, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanem, is a descendant of the founder of the Emirate, El-Kanemi. He has been on the throne since 2009 and is one of the highest-ranking emirs in northern Nigeria, second only to the Sultan himself. The Shehu is also the Deputy President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the highest Islamic Organization in Nigeria, and the deputy Chairman Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
1. Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto is the most important Emir in northern Nigeria, as well as the spiritual leader of the country’s almost 100 million Muslims, often referred to as “Sarkin Musulmi” This makes him the most influential Emir as well as the topmost in the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria. The Sultan is also the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam – JNI), and president-general of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) as well as the Chairman Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
The current Sultan, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, succeeded his brother, Muhammad Maccido, who died in a plane crash in 2006. He is the son of Abubakar Sadiq III, the 17th Sultan of Sokoto and the longest-reigning Sultan. They are the descendants of Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Sultanate.
The Sultan is the number one traditional ruler in northern Nigeria and Nigeria. All classes of society respect him.
Conclusion
As earlier stated, all the Emirs in northern Nigeria are influential and well respected in their respective localities. But by the rankings of the Emirs from northern Nigeria, these are the top 10. They are highly influential and well respected.
What do you think of the list? Tell me in the comments section.
Skinny jeans have been all the rage since 2008. It became part of men’s clothes and has remained popular and one of the defining fashion pieces for both men and women in the past decades before it faded.
Until recently.
Skinny jeans are not just confined to ‘jeans’ it is slim-fitting trousers, including all fashion items like suit trousers, joggers, and so on.
Skinny jeans, as we know them appeared first in the 50s. They later came back in the 90s and disappeared in early 2000 when the flair jeans came into fashion. Skinny jeans later became a thing decades later and are still in vogue to date.
While some major fashion changes occur every year or two, minor changes occur almost constantly. Old trends are updated with minor tweaks, or old styles are re-invented.
How skinny jeans have lasted this long is still a mystery; perhaps it’s such a chic thing and goes with anything and everything.
Anytime the flair jeans are in vogue, the skinny jeans disappear. That hasn’t been the case since 2008, and skinny jeans have been reigning. The end is not in sight for these jeans because of their versatility.
Have you ever wondered how to find a gender-neutral name for your baby? One of the many ways you can do that is to name your baby with unisex Hausa names. Some people might want to consider a unisex name for their baby. This does not necessarily mean that the name has to be gender neutral, but it could be a name that could go either way. This popular trend is gaining momentum, but it can be difficult to find a unisex name that isn’t already popular.
Today, I will give you various unisex names in Hausa, as seen in the list below. You can check for othertraditional Hausa names if you are interested.
1. Gambo
2. Kaka
3. Shekarau
4. Tawaye
5. Auta
6. Azumi – Born during the month of Ramadan for males, “Ramadan” is the name
7. Kyauta
8. Rabo
9. Tsakani
10. Mailafiya
11. Baba
12. Tala – Born on Tuesday for males, “Dan” is added as a prefix
13. Ladi – Born on Sunday for males, “Dan” is added as a prefix
14. Jumma – Born on Friday for females, “i” is added as a suffix
15. Asabe – Born on Saturday for males, “Dan” is added as a prefix
16. Balaraba- Born on Wednesday for males. “Balarabe” is the name
17. Atine – Born on Monday for males. “Dan Liti” is the name
18. Lami – Born on Thursday for males, “Dan” is added as a prefix
Why Do You Need Unisex Hausa Names?
There is no doubt that the world is becoming more and more accepting of gender fluidity. More and more people are choosing to live their lives outside of the traditional and religious norms of what it means to be a man or a woman. But even though our society is constantly changing, our names have not. Unisex Hausa names are a new way of naming that is becoming popular in our society. This type of naming has been used to help people who don’t feel comfortable with their gender identity.
Unisex names are great for a variety of reasons;
Unisex names allow parents to choose whatever name they like, regardless of whether they have a son or daughter.
They are gender-neutral, which means they can be given to a child of either gender.
Hausa unisex names allow parents to choose a name that reflects the child’s personality. For the most part, it’s best to stick with traditional names.
How to Find the Best Unisex Hausa Names for Your Child
Some unisex Hausa names are commonly used among females, such as Azumi and Kyauta. Some Rabo and Baba are more commonly used among males. The first step to finding a unisex name is to think about what you want your name to be.
Some people want their names to reflect their personality, while others want their names to sound like the name of their favorite celebrity. It’s up to you to decide what you want your name to be. If you want to find a unisex Hausa name, you should choose a name that is not gender-specific.
Conclusion
Names are a very important and personal decision. They are something that goes with you for a lifetime. This is why it’s so important to choose a unique name. This can be done by choosing an unusual, unique, or unisex name. This can be done by choosing a gender-neutral and gender-appropriate name.
Unisex Hausa names can be made into a gender-specific names by adding a suffix or prefix. For example, a name like “Balaraba” can be made into a boy’s name named “Balarabe” by removing “a” and adding the suffix “e.” A name like “Asabe” can be made into a boy’s name named “Dan Asabe” by adding the prefix “Dan.”
Which unisex Hausa name do you like the most? Which was the most shocking? Let me know in the comments.
Safeeya Yusuf, also known as Safara’u Kwana Casa’in A.K.A Safa, needs no introduction. She is an artist, entertainer, actress, and businesswoman. Nothing much has changed about the actress. Well, nothing except her dressing style.
Recently, Safara’u has preferred baggy shirts and clothes. Fans of the singer when she was an actress in the hit series Kwana Casa’in know this is not how she used to dress back then. The actress dressed in Atamfa and veils back then, but just like Nafisa Abdullahi’s dressing style has evolved over the years, the same for Safa.
So what influenced the transition?
The actress had been body-shamed for her ‘thin’ looks. One user on Instagram once commented on her video and likened her physique to ‘an umbrella.’
Safa had also been criticized for having just ‘one shirt,’ which she is seen wearing in many videos.
This, coupled with the actress being criticized for her nose ring and other ‘immoral dressing,’ necessitated the change.
Safa was also heavily criticized for hugging colleague Mr_442 in a viral video. She was wearing a baggy shirt too, then, of course.
The dressing evolution became more pronounced in May 2022, when a quick check on her Instagram page revealed all baggy dressings. Even her birthday shoot on the 23rd of June, 2022, featured not-so-skinny clothes.
This might be a coping mechanism to escape body shaming and criticism of her dressing. Like how American popstar Billie Eilish wears baggy shirts so people won’t judge or sexualize her, Safaa appears to be doing the same.
