The Emirate of Say was an Islamic state founded in 1825 by Alfa Mohamed Diobo, a Qadiriyya Sufi leader who came to Say from Djenné (Mali) in 1810. Though Diobo was no conqueror, his control over Say was ensured by both his clerical renown and the diplomatic protection of the Sokoto Empire, also founded by a Fulani Qadiriyya Sufi cleric,

Usman 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 ...

. In its heyday, the emirate of ''Say'' was widely known from Gao to Gaya as a center for Islamic learning and piety. It is reputed to have had at one time 30,000 inhabitants and to have launched its own trans-Saharan caravans. The city of '' Say'' has retained from those days a traditional government held by the descendants Of Diobo in the office of "al/aize" (literally, son of the cleric, in zarma). They are as follows; Alfa Mohamed Diobo (1825—1834), Boubacar Modibo (1834–1860), Abdourahman (1860–1872), Moulaye (1872–1874), Abdoulwahidou (1874–1878), Saliha Alfa Baba (1878–1885), Amadou Satourou Modibo (1885—1893), Halirou Abdoulwahabi (1893—1894).

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Former empires in Africa History of Niger Ancient peoples History of Africa Zarma people 19th-century Islam Former emirates Former monarchies of Africa 1860s establishments in Africa 1890s disestablishments in Africa Spread of Islam 19th century in Africa Muslim dynasties Countries in precolonial Africa {{Africa-hist-stub