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 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 (1 ...

from 1819 until the Battle of Kano in 1903 which as a result of British colonisation transformed into the Kano Emirate Council. 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 cer ...

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 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 Borno State is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Yobe to the west, Gombe to the southwest, and Adamawa to the south while it ...

and the

Sokoto Caliphate The Sokoto Caliphate (), also known as the Fulani Empire or the Sultanate of Sokoto, was a Sunni Muslim caliphate in West Africa. It was founded by Usman dan Fodio in 1804 during the Fulani jihads after defeating the Hausa Kingdoms in the F ...

, his army was subsequently annihilated by the Emir of Bauchi after having failed to breach the ancient Kano city walls.

Biography

Dabo was a pious Islamic scholar and one-time student of Emir Suleimanu, one of Dabo's works ''Kaff al-Ikhwani'' has been recovered and was later published. He was known to have written out the

Qur'an The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , si ...

and had three daughters and several sons.

Rise to power

He was appointed Emir of Kano on 23/24 Dhul Qa’ada 1234 AH (21 September 1819) by Sultan

Muhammad 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 ...

fulfilling the wish of Emir Suleiman.

Death and succession

He died on Friday 9th Safar 1262 AH (9 February 1846) and was succeeded by his elder son Usman I. (Ado-Kurawa 1989: 53 and Last 1966: 468-9).

Dynasty

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations. In the Royal House of Kano, descent is traced back patrilineally to Ibrahim Dabo. #

Usman I Maje Ringim dan Dabo Osumanu (also known as Usman I or Usman I Maje Ringim dan Dabo) was an Emir of Kano who reigned from 1846 to 1855.; iGoogle Books Biography in the ''Kano Chronicle'' Below is a biography of Osumanu from Palmer Palmer may refer to: People and ...

(ruled 1846-1855) #

Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo Abdullahi (full name: Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo) was an Emir of Kano who reigned from 1855 to 1883.; iGoogle Books Biography in the ''Kano Chronicle'' Below is a biography of Abdullahi from Palmer Palmer may refer to: People and fictiona ...

(ruled 1855-1883) #

Muhammadu Bello dan Dabo Muhammad Bello was an Emir of Kano who reigned from 1883 to 1892.; iGoogle Books Biography in the ''Kano Chronicle'' Below is a biography of Muhammad Bello from Palmer Palmer may refer to: People and fictional characters * Palmer (pilgrim), a ...

(ruled 1883-1893) #

Muhammadu Tukur Mohammed Tukur was the Emir of Kano, a state in what is now Northern Nigeria. Tukur presided over Kano during the Bassasa, a period of civil war that saw multiple claimants to the Kanoan throne. Early life Tukur became the Galadima of Kano dur ...

dan Bello dan Dabo (ruled 1893-1894) # Aliyu Babba dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1894-1903) # Muhammad Abbass dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1903-1919) # Usman II dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1919-1926) #

Abdullahi Bayero Abdullahi Bayero CBE CMG dan Muhammad Abbas (1881–1953) was Sarki (Emir) of Kano, with headquarters in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria from 1926 to 1953. As a traditional ruler he had extensive powers under the British colonial authority. Early ...

dan Abbas dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1926-1953) #

Muhammadu Sanusi I Alhaji Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I, KBE was the Acting Governor of Northern Nigeria (1957) and Emir of Kano from 1954 to 1963. He was the eldest son of Emir Abdullahi Bayero. He was a powerful Emir that had substantial influence in the colonial Northe ...

dan Abdullahi Bayero dan Abass dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1954-1963) # Muhammad Inuwa dan Abbas dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1963 - he served for 3 months only) # Ado dan Abdullahi Bayero dan Abbas dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1963-2014) #

Muhammadu Sanusi II Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Ajami: سنوسي لاميط سنوسي, ''Muhammadu Sanusi na biyu''; born 31 July 1961), known by the religious title Khalifa Sanusi II (Ajami: خليفة السنوسي), is a spiritual leader in the Tijanniyah Sufi ord ...

dan Chiroman Kano Aminu dan Muhammadu Sanusi I dan Abdullahi Bayero (ruled 2014-2020) # Aminu dan Ado dan Abdullahi Bayero (2020–present) Ibrahim Dabo was the father of Osumanu (Usman I) (ruled 1846-1855), Abdullahi (ruled 1855-1883), and

(ruled 1883-1892).

Biography in the ''Kano Chronicle''

Below is a full biography of Ibrahim Dabo from Palmer's 1908 English translation of the '' Kano Chronicle''.; i
Google Books

References

{{Rulers of Kano Emirs of Kano 19th-century rulers in Africa