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23-Sept-2002
REVIEW OF THE PRINCE OF TIMES: ADO BAYERO AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF EMIRAL AUTHORITY IN KANO
by
Ibrahim Ado-Kurawa B. Sc (HONS) M. Sc Zoology (Applied Entomology)
Director Research, Institute for Contemporary Research (ICR) Kano and General Editor Weekly Pyramid The Magazine
Kano, Nigeria
(majekarofi@yahoo.com
)
http://www.kanoonline.com/ibrahimado/
This book by a distinguished academic and journalist is timely because of the importance of the subject (Ado Bayero) and his domain Kano, the largest Muslim city and province in Sub Saharan Africa. It has a thousand year history of statehood. Bagauda was the first king (sarki) and he was followed by a succession of forty-three others until when the Kingdom was overthrown by the followers of Shehu Usman Danfodio in 1807 after successful jihad campaigns that started in 1804 (pp. 7-13). Thereafter Kano became a province of the Sokoto Caliphate, which was the largest, most prosperous and complexly organized state in pre-colonial tropical Africa. Kano is also the cradle of Hausa culture, the dominant culture in sub Saharan Africa and its language is the most widely spoken language in the region with more than 50 million speakers. One of the outstanding contributions of that culture to the world of arts is the Kano Durbar led by Ado Bayero held twice a year with the longest and most colorful procession of horses in the world.
Amir (Emir) was the official title of the governor of Kano, the richest province of the Caliphate but the people still called him Sarkin Kano just like the previous kings (p. 61 n. 26). Sulaiman, the first Emir was not succeeded by his son because that was the intention of the Jihadists but thereafter succession became hereditary and the family of the second Emir Ibrahim Dabo of the Sullubawa clan became the ruling family. The lineage of Abdullahi Majekarofi the fourth Emir and second son of Ibrahim Dabo led by Alu the seventh Emir became preferred after they had eliminated their rivals, the descendants and clients of Muhammadu Bello the fifth Emir in a bloody civil war. Abbas was the second son of Abdullahi Majekarofi to become an Emir after the defeat of Kano by the British in 1903. Abdullahi Bayero was the first son of Abbas to be the Emir and was succeeded by his son Muhammadu Sanusi, the most important supporter of the NPC (Northern Peoples Congress), who was forced to abdicate by the partys regional government. Muhammadu Inuwa another son of Abbas succeeded Sanusi and he ruled briefly and Ado Bayero the subject of the biography became the Emir in 1963.
Ado Bayero is the longest serving emir in the history of Kano and he witnessed an important transformation from Native Authority to community leadership. He earned this leadership because of his qualities and he set some examples, which other traditional leaders followed. This biography by Dr. Ibrahim is the first authorized account and to large extent it achieved its aim of presenting Ado Bayero as he is. The book is also an important contribution to Nigerias political history because Ado Bayero was a key player who advised all administrations of Nigeria since the first republic. And above all he was a voice of reason during the time of crisis in Nigeria, Africas most populous country and in his turbulent domain. He was able to build network of friends across country for the interest of the nation and Nigerias leaders utilized this social capital. This is Ado Bayeros most important contribution to humanity (141-161pp).
Ado Bayero is truly a prince of the times, he was able to recognize early enough that the Native Authority established by the colonialists most be replaced by a people oriented government therefore he cooperated and set an example which was admired by the initiators of the most important reforms. As the son of Abdullahi Bayrero Kanos most perceptive Emir he was brought up to realize that Islam, should be his primary conscious commitment in life. Thus he became recognized throughout Nigeria as a distinguished Muslim leader. And the key to his acceptability in Sub Saharan Africas largest Muslim city and province is that he has put commitment to Islam above anything else. He attends all functions associated with Islam no matter how humble in fact he puts that above meeting any personality no matter how powerful (p. 176).
Ado Bayeros exceptional human qualities are patience and his word is his bond. He survived the antagonism of the radical politicians because he recognized that it was passing phase and he forgave all those who offended him during the period including his younger brother who wanted to be the Emir. He fulfilled his promises of appointing aristocrats to their hereditary titles. He was a friend in need to old pals and was also never tired of giving them another chance. Dr. Ibrahim did a wonderful job by presenting this character of Ado Bayero in a whole chapter (pp. 245-279). This is perhaps one of the major strengths of the book as an authorized biography. The author also employed his academic and journalistic skills to make a readable masterpiece that keeps the attention of the reader from the beginning to the end. The editors also deserve commendation because there is little or no carelessness on their part except the header of chapter three, which is, From Prince to King but the header of chapter two, A Prince is Born was maintained in all the pages of the chapter apart from its first page.
Like all human endeavors the book contains some avoidable shortcomings. A fundamental error is on page 11 where the author stated that: went as a representative of all the major Fulani clans of Kano. These were the Sullubawa under the leadership of Mallam Jamo, the Danejawa under Mallam Danzabuwa, the Jobawa under Mallam Bakatsine, and the Danbazawa under Mallam Dabo. These clan leaders led the jihad in KanoThe four clan leaders then came to constitute the electoral college of Kano Emirate. The question is where are the Yolawa clan in this narration? And yet on page 102 he wrote: He then handed to the Madaki, being the leader of the council of kingmakers,. How did Madaki patriarch of the Yolawa clan who were not mentioned among the four major clans become the leader of the kingmakers? This is an avoidable error for an authorized biographer of the Emir whose project took about ten years to complete and was made a member of the emirs council to comprehend palace traditions where he interacted everyday with Madaki the third most senior chief in the emirate hierarchy (p. xviii). And another significant observation is that he did not even exhibit familiarity with the precedence of the chiefs on page 17 where he did not explain the transformation from the Tara ta Kano (council of nine) of the pre-jihad era and the emirate administration established by the jihadists.
Another avoidable error is this statement: In 1933, Mallam Sulaiman, a scholar of commoner descent, was co-opted into the aristocracy when he was made Maajin Kano by Emir Abdullahi Bayero (p. 238). This is because based on the authors definition of aristocracy Wali Sulaiman was not born of commoner descent. On page 205 the author wrote: The sarakuna comprised (from the top downwards) the emirs, the hakimai, alkalai, palace scholars, other titled officials (e.g. among royal slaves), village heads and ward heads. A basarake, or member of the ruling class was therefore anyone from any of these groups in the emirates. The other class, the talakawa, comprised all others who did not belong to any of the above mentioned families. The father of Wali Sulaiman was Mallam Ismaila who was made the chief Imam of Kano by Sarkin Kano Alu after the defeat of the Tukurawa and his grandfather was the dagaci (village head) of Ruru in Dutse district. While his mother Hadiza was a descendant of Mallam Gyano a contemporary of Shehu Usman. And Mallam Duttiwa son of Mallam Gyano was among the highest category of students of Shehu as documented by Gidado Dan Laima in Raud al-Jinan. This error is avoidable because any information on Wali Sulaiman could easily be verified since he was one of the prominent scholars of Kano who solidified the foundation of intellectual resistance to colonial rule.
The author mentioned the positive role-played by his subject during the Muffet investigations where he was reported to have said: I will not assist you to destroy my brother (p. 111). This is a very important revelation as a biographer the author should have investigated further to find out why the subject made such a bold and daring statement against the powerful northern regional government. This could have enriched the book by educating the readers on intra class struggle in northern Nigeria. While the Kano elites were trying to enhance their image with good works the regional government was thwarting their efforts so as to cut their wings to avoid a rival power base because of Kanos potential as an economic power within the region.
Digging into the affairs of Muffet would have shed more light on this struggle and the difficulties encountered by Kano administrators from the Emirs up to the present day governors. The only industrial undertaking established by the federal governments was the national truck manufacturers, which is now dead because of its weak foundation. The regional government did not establish any industry in Kano as it did in some other provinces. Yet without encouragement of previous regional and subsequent federal governments Kano has the largest concentration of privately owned industrial establishments in northern Nigeria. This was largely because of the encouragement of Kano Emirs from the time of Abdullahi Bayero who supported the establishment of Gwamaja Textile Mill the first textile factory in Nigeria. The NPC led northern regional government attempted to thwart Kanos march to industrialization by frustrating Emir Sanusi whose Native Authority took a loan to build the first industrial estate in Kano.
One of the major precipitates of the Native Authority financial crisis that triggered the Muffet investigations was that the regional government deliberately refused to release funds even though it approved and was aware that the Kano Native Authority took a loan to build the Bompai Industrial Estate. This refusal was designed to ensure that the lending bank called the guarantee of the government and then precipitate the removal of the Emir who was the head of the Native Authority. The regional government was disappointed that the Kano Native Authority had papers to show what it did the money. But people keep on repeating that Sanusi was investigated for financial impropriety without stating his own side of the story and the failure of the regional government to tarnish his integrity. The author fell into this trap on page 58 where he stated the governments version but ignored the Sanusis side.
Most of the shortcomings of the book are as a result of the authors neglect of secondary sources for example he did not consult Smiths recently published work on Kano, which is a rich source of information even though prejudiced in analysis. Despite these shortcomings the author has done a good job and he deserves commendation for adding an authoritative account to the scanty collection of historical works on Nigeria. Karl Maier recently observed the difficulty of obtaining books on Nigerias history a symptom of the failure of the university system. It is hoped that the next edition would take care of some of the lapses.
Author: Omar Faruk Ibrahim
Publisher: Africa World Press, Trenton NJ USA and Asmara Eriteria 298 + xi pp.
Price: $39
Reviewer: Ibrahim Ado-Kurawa, majekarofi@yahoo.com Director Research, Institute for Contemporary Research (ICR) Kano.
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