Ahmadu Rufai ( ar, أحمد رفاعي) was Sultan of

Sokoto Sokoto is a major city located in extreme northwestern Nigeria, near the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of over 427,760. Sokoto is the modern-day capital of Sokoto State and was previously the ...

from 1867 to 1873. He succeeded Ahmad Bello who reigned for eleven months. Rufai's reign was distinguished for being peaceful.

Life

Rufai was a son of

Uthman Dan Fodio Usman Ɗan Fodio ( ar, عثمان بن فودي, translit=ʿUthmān ibn Fodio; 15 December 1754 – 20 April 1817) was a Fulani scholar, Sunni Islamic religious teacher, revolutionary, and philosopher who founded the Sokoto Caliphate and ruled ...

. He spent most of his early life in a ribat at Silame on the frontiers of

Argungu Argungu is a city in Nigeria's Kebbi State, situated on the Sokoto River. As of 2007 Argungu had an estimated population of 47,064. The city is the seat of the Argungu Emirate, a traditional state. The city is a major agricultural center for the ...

, an attack by the Kebbawa later drove him out of Silame but he stayed at the frontier in Tozo. He was likely selected

Amir al-muminin Amir al-Mu'minin ( ar, أَمِير ٱلْمُؤْمِنِين, amīr al-muʾminīn) is an Arabic title designating the supreme leader of an Islamic community. It is usually translated as "Commander of the Faithful", though sometimes also as "Prin ...

as a compromise between the claims of the sons of

Muhammed Bello Muhammadu Bello ( ar, محمد بلو) was the second Sultan of Sokoto and reigned from 1817 until 1837. He was also an active writer of history, poetry, and Islamic studies. He was the son and primary aide to Usman dan Fodio, the founder of the ...

and

Abu Bakr Atiku Abu Bakr Atiku ( ar, أبو بكر أتيكو; 1782–1842) was the third Sultan of the Sokoto Caliphate, reigning from October 1837 until November 1842. Early years Abu Bakr Atiku dan Shehu was born to the second wife of Usman dan Fodio in 17 ...

. During his tenure, he made peace with the Kebbawa who were a thorn on the sides 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. ...

by arranging a truce with the Sultan of Argungu, Abdullahi Toga. The truce recognized the independence of Kebbi and their rights to own the remaining lands the Kebbawa had recovered.Johnston
/ref> His reign was noted as being uneventful in terms of campaigns and battles, there were few expeditions and raids but Sokoto's prosperity did not depend on raids anymore as long as Emirs sent their presents and share of booty and tax.

References

{{Reflist Sultans of Sokoto 19th-century Nigerian people Dan Fodio family