Table Of ContentUTHMAN
DAN FODIO
UTHMAN
DAN FODIO
The Theory and Practice
of
His Leadership
ISLAMIC PUBLICATIONS BUREAU
39, PAYNE CRESCENT. APAPA,
P.O. BOX 3881, LAGOS.
NIGERIA.
© ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI
JEAN BOYD
First Prmted September, 1978
Filmset and Printed by Academy Press Ltd., Lagos
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Background
1. The State of Hausaland at the end of the
18th century. 1
2. The Reasons for the Jihad. 5
The Shehu : his example and teaching
3. An explanation of why people joined the
Shehu: how the Shehu inspired people
through his teaching. 12
4. How the Shehu inspired people through
his personal example. 17
Selections from the Theories of the Leaders
5. The essentials of Good Government and
the obligations of Leadership. 21
6. The Shari’a: the Rule of Law and the
Role of Judges. 28
7. Education: Schools, Teachers, Pupils and
Students. 32
8. Evidence of the interest of the Leaders in
day-to-day matters. 41
How Bello implemented the Theories of the
Leaders
9. Muhammad Bello, Son of Shehu Uthman
Dan Fodio. His personal example and
administration. 45
10. His welfare programme. 59
EPILOGUE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOREWORD
This work is certainly very important. It fills an
embarrassing gap left by practically all books dealing
with Nigerian History which are directed to young
boys and girls studying in our secondary schools and
teacher training colleges. It offers an opportunity to
those who cannot read the original source to have a
real feel of the works of the Sokoto Jihad leaders.
It is a work based not on conjecture but on solid
facts extracted from original sources.
The method of presentation of facts makes the work
appealing especially to the readers it is intended for.
It is precise and condensed, and is written in simple
and clear language.
Dr. S.A.S. Galadanci,
Vice Chancellor,
University of Sokoto,
Sokoto State, Nigeria.
10th October, 1977.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Authors wish to express their indebtedness to the
following people
Alhaji Dr. Junaidu, Wazirin Sokoto, for his advice
and encouragement. Mallam Haliru Binji, the Grand
Kadi, for checking the chapters on Government and
Justice which are drawn from his translation of
Liya’al Hukkam. Dr. Shehu Galadanci, the Vice
Chancellor of Sokoto University together with Dr.
Abubakar Gwandu, Head of the Department of
Islamic Studies for reading through the draft of
chapters 1-8 and giving us their most valuable
comments.
Mallam Boyi of Kofar Atiku, and the scholars of his
Makarantar Ilmi for the research they did for us.
Alkali Sidi Sayudi, for his explanations about
zakkat, ganima, jiziya and sadaka. He has translated
some of the major works from Arabic to Hausa and
we have used these translations in our book. Mallam
Muhammadu Magaji for his research, especially his
research in the Fulfulde manuscripts.
Alhaji Boyi na Sarkin Kudu who, with Mallam
Muhammadu, conducted many interviews on our
behalf.
Mr. J. R. Muggeridge and Mr. D. Hogarth for their
comments on the balance and style of the book.
Mr. K. Lupton for giving access to his copies of
Clapperton’s Narrative. Mr. J. F. Boyd, Maigida,
for his patience and good advice.
Alhaji Shehu Shagari,
Turakin Sokoto.
Jean Boyd.
Sokoto, January, 1978.
viii
Photographs
We wish to thank the Sultan of Sokoto for giving
special permission to have the buta, majalisa and
lamp of the Shehu photographed. We wish also to
thank the Emir of Gwandu fôr allowing the Holy
Qur’an belonging to Abdullahi Fodio and his
Hubbare to be photographed.
We acknowledge the help of Mallam Shehu Aliyu
in obtaining the photograph of the Kofar Soro and
thank Alhaji Malami Aja and Mallam Muhammadu
Magaji for their technical assistance.
Alhaji Shehu Shagari,
Turakin Sokoto.
Jean Boyd.
Sokoto, January, 1978.
INTRODUCTION
From time immemorial, in every land and among
every community in the world there has been a
handful of outstanding personalities who have left
their marks indelibly in the history of the lands and
the communities in which they have lived Such were
the extraordinary leaders and reformers who through
their gifted talents and prowess have helped to
change the course of histoiy among their peoples.
In the history of the Western Sudan the part
played by the Muslim leaders of Hausaland will
continue to occupy a dominant position in the pattern
and behaviour of the lives of the peoples of the present
day West Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.
In spite of Western influences» the ideals and ideas of
those leaders stand unsurpassed as excellent guides in
the everyday lives of the inhabitants of this vast
region which extends from the Cameroons in the
east, to the sources of the River Niger in the west;
from the Libyan sand in the north to the Atlantic
coast in the south. Situated almost in the middle of
this region lies what is known as Hausaland, embrac
ing the states of Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto in the
Federation of Nigeria and also certain areas of the
Republic of Niger. Over the last century and a half
the influence of Shehu dan Fodio and his companions
has reigned supreme in this area and beyond.
The name DANFODIO has in these lands and
through this period become a household word. Shehu
Uthman Dan Fodio, popularly known as Ibn-Fodio
or Dan-Fodio has earned for himself many praise
names, they include
“Shehu Nuru Zamani” (The Light of his genera
tion), “The Shehu” (The Shaikh or Sage), “Shehu
Malamin Malamai” (The General Tutor of all
Teachers), “Malami abin Biya” (The Teacher
who is worthy of Emulation), “Gigami Uban
Tambura” (Ilie Drum whose sound exceeds
all other drums).
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