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Gwandu

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Gwandu
LGA and town
Nickname: 
TA ABDULLAHI
Gwandu is located in Nigeria
Gwandu
Gwandu
Coordinates: 12°30′8″N 4°38′33″E / 12.50222°N 4.64250°E / 12.50222; 4.64250
Country Nigeria
StateKebbi State
DemonymGwandawa (plural)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Map

Gwandu, also called Gando, is a town and emirate in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The seat of government for the emirate[1][2] and district of this name is in Birnin Kebbi, which is the capital of Kebbi State and was capital of the historical Kingdom of Kebbi.[3] Founded in the sixteenth century by the Kabbawa, a Hausa people Gwandu today acts as one of the four emirates composing Kebbi State.[4]

The town became important during the Fulani jihad, and from 1815 it was one of the two capitals of the Fulani empire[5] until it came under British control in 1903.[6][7][4]

History

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The name "Gwandu" derives from the Hausa word gandu, which translates to "royal farmlands." The town's origins can be traced back to its earlier days as a small village under the leadership of the royal farmer of Kanta Kotal, who was the first King of Kebbi who reigned from 1517 to 1561. Over time, the village developed and expanded, eventually becoming a town. One of the factors contributing to the growth of Gwandu was its favorable geographical location and the presence of fertile lands. The area boasted rich pasturelands, which attracted Fulani pastoralists to settle there.

After the Kebbi expedition during the Sokoto jihad, Gwandu emerged as a significant and permanent base for Usman dan Fodio and his followers. Recognizing the strategic importance of the town, Muhammad Bello ordered the construction of a protective wall around the town in 1806. This defensive wall aimed to fortify the city and enhance its security against potential external threats. Although Usman eventually departed from Gwandu, the town retained its significance within the context of the jihad. It became the capital of the newly established Gwandu emirate under the leadership of Abdullahi dan Fodio. The geographical location of Gwandu, nestled in a valley with surrounding ridges, provided natural advantages for defense against external attacks. The town's topography further contributed to its status as a stronghold.[8]: 56 

Emirs of Gwandu

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Usman dan Haliru II, Emir of Gwandu (r. 1918–1938)
An 1898 map of the Gwandu Emirate
Emirs[9]
Name Life Reign Notes
Abdullahi dan Fodio 1766–1829/30 1808–1829/30 brother of Usman dan Fodio
Muhammad Wani –1833 1829/30–1833 son of Abdullahi dan Fodio
Ibrahim Halilu –1858 1833–1858 son of Abdullahi dan Fodio
Haliru –1858 1858–1860 son of Abdullahi dan Fodio. Was killed in battle
Aliyu –1864 1860–1864 son of Abdullahi dan Fodio. Moved the capital from Gwandu to Ambursa
Abdulkadiri –1868 1864–1868 son of Abdullahi dan Fodio. Made peace with the Kebbawa in 1866
Almustafa –1875 1868–1875 son of Muhamman. Died during a campaign against Giru
Hanafi –1876 1875–1876 son of Halilu
Maliki –1888 1876–1888 son of Muhamman. Was driven out of Ambursa by the Kebbawa and moved to Gwandu
Umaru Bakatara –1897 1888–1897 son of Ibrahim Halilu
Abdullahi Bayero –1898 1897–1898 son of Muhammad Wani
Bayero Aliyu –May 1903 1898–May 1903 son of Aliyu. Britain colonised the emirate during his reign
Muhammadu 18 May 1903 – 20 March 1906 son of Aliyu. Was deposed and arrested after not cooperating with the British administration during the Satiru Rebellion
Haliru Abdu –21 March 1915 21 March 1906 – 21 March 1915 great-grandson of Abdullahi Fodio. He moved the capital to Birnin-Kebbi due to his unpopularity in Gwandu[10]
Muhammadu Bashiru –1918 29 April 1915 – 1918 son of Haliru II
Usman –1938 1918–1938 son of Haliru II
Yahaya CBE –1954 1938–1954 son of Haliru II
Haruna Rasheed CFR CMG CBE 1913–1995 January 1954– August 1995 son of Muhammadu Bashiru. Was president of the Northern Region House of Chiefs (1958–1966)
Mustapha Jokolo 6 January 1952– July 1995–3 June 2005 son of Haruna. Deposed by then Governor of Kebbi, Adamu Aliero
Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashir CFR 22 April 1941– 5 June 2005–present two time Military-Governor of the defunct Gongola State

Climate

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In contrast to the dry season, which is hot and partially cloudy, the wet season is oppressively hot and cloudy.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Balogun, S. A. (1973). "Succession Tradition in Gwandu History, 1817-1918". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 7 (1): 17–33. ISSN 0018-2540. JSTOR 41856982.
  2. ^ Jimoh, Mufutau Oluwasegun (2017-05-01). "Gwandu Emirate: The Domain of Abdullahi Fodiyo, Since 1805". Journal of Pan African Studies. 10 (3): 386–390.
  3. ^ Balogun, Saka Adegbite. (1970). Gwandu emirates in the nineteenth century with special reference to political relations, 1817-1903. OCLC 38630457.
  4. ^ a b "GWANDU". Encyclopédie de l'Islam. doi:10.1163/_eifo_sim_2570.
  5. ^ Hopen, C. Edward (2018-09-03). The Pastoral Fulbe Family in Gwandu. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-95044-5.
  6. ^ Tukur, Mahmud Modibbo (2016-08-15). British Colonisation of Northern Nigeria, 1897-1914: A Reinterpretation of Colonial Sources. Amalion Publishing. ISBN 978-2-35926-048-9.
  7. ^ "Gwandu | Nigeria". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  8. ^ Gwandu, Abubaker Aliu (1977). Abdullahi b. fodio as a Muslim jurist (Doctoral thesis). Durham University.
  9. ^ Burke's royal families of the world. London: Burke's Peerage. 1977. ISBN 978-0-85011-029-6.
  10. ^ Balogun, S. A. (1973). "Succession Tradition in Gwandu History, 1817-1918". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 7 (1): 17–33. ISSN 0018-2540.
  11. ^ "Gwandu Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Nigeria) - Weather Spark". weatherspark.com. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
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