345:, where Shehu Usman was based, seeking his guidance. Modibbo Adama was chosen to lead this delegation as he was seen as a learned man who was neutral among the Ardo'en and had no desire for political power nor interest in politics. The delegation embarked on the journey that took several months and finally reached the Shehu in Sokoto. They conveyed their message to him, explaining the situation in Fombina and seeking his counsel. After reviewing the situation, Uthman instructed them to launch the jihad in Fombina. Furthermore, he chose Adama as the leader, appointing him
337:, played a crucial role in disseminating news about the Sokoto jihad. These individuals, seeking refuge from the conflict, carried with them tales of the unfolding events and the growing influence of Usman dan Fodio's movement. As a result of these combined factorsâjihadist activities near Fombina and the accounts of those who had experienced the impact of the Sokoto jihadâthe news of this religious and political movement gradually reached and resonated with parts of the Muslim Fulbe community of Fombina.
413:" so that the people of the caliphate, on the Mahdi's appearance, could "follow him and give him the oath of allegiance." This made Fombina an important region to the Sokoto government and likely influenced Usman's decision to appoint Adama as Lamido as he needed a trustworthy scholar who could spot the signs of the Mahdi and regularly update him on the happenings in the region.
358:...since you tell me that some of the fulani leaders did not come with you, but they sent you to come and receive the flag of the jihad from me and take it back to them. I instruct you to tell them that it is you to whom I have given this jihad flag, and tell them that who ever obeys you obeys me, and whoever swears fealty to you, it is exactly as if he had sworn fealty to me.
566:, so its fall would facilitate the conquest of these areas. Its people were already Muslim, though they mixed the religion with pagan practices. Moreover, it had a large population from whom soldiers could be conscripted, and it was renowned for its excellent horses. Mandara was well organised, however, and would not be an easy prize. The people who lived there, the
764:. Trade flourished, and communications with it. The conquests were also important ecologically. Lands that had once been used for cultivation now became part of Fulani pastureland. Herdsmen cut down trees to make way for cattle, and they burned grasses that their herds later trampled. Centuries of such behaviour have replaced the region's forest with
771:
Ironically, the
Adamawa was more sparsely populated after Adama's conquest. Rather than fight the Fulani invaders, many peoples fled, displacing others in turn. The Adamawa Plateau, once home to many of Cameroon's ethnic groups, soon became a pastureland, and the forest zone of Cameroon became more
644:
From Yola, Adama began the administrative tasks necessary for his nascent state. He did this with Usman's advice; he was to foster understanding between his people and their governors, facilitate communication between elders and their subordinates, and prevent the stratification of society based on
542:), who was the leader of a particular territory, as opposed to an ardo, leader of a particular people. Both groups received flags of command and shared the same status in Adama's armies. Before his death, Adama would appoint over 40 non-ardo lamibe. They would prove his most loyal lieutenants.
307:
valley. Recognizing the need for the spread of
Islamic teachings and the religious development of the local Fulbe community, both Adama and Modibbo Hamman intensified their efforts in this regard. Their dedication to learning and devotion earned them a reputation for their piety and knowledge
367:
across the
Fombina region and to distribute jihad flags among the various Ardo'en to carry out the mission of spreading the faith among the Fulbe and pagan peoples. Adama's role extended beyond local leadership; he was designated as a liaison between the Ardo'en and the central authority in
264:, as his father, a Muslim, provided him with religious education until he was eleven years old. Recognizing the limitations of available Islamic education in the region, Adama was sent away to continue his studies and was accompanied by Hamman Song, a Bolaro of the WolarÉe FulÉe.
668:
Meanwhile, some of the older ardo'en grew powerful through their own conquests. They regarded the unconquered areas near their territories as their own private backyards and defended these zones from all comers. This sometimes surfaced in their relations with Adama, such as when
570:, had a long-standing rivalry with the Fulani, who had fought them under the Bornu in previous years. This animosity only served to drive more Fulani to Adama's armies, though, as many veterans were eager for another crack at an old rival. Furthermore, Fulbe rulers
241:. Fombina later became one of the largest and most complex emirates in Usman's Sokoto Caliphate. It spanned about forty thousand square miles that covered parts of northeastern Nigeria, entire northern Cameroon and parts of Central African Republic.
286:
Upon returning to Wuro Chekke, Adama was met with the news of his father's death during a local conflict involving the Fulbe and Bata communities. Adama left Wuro Chekke not long after receiving the news and joined the Ba'en Fulbe in the
601:, swear his allegiance and convert to Islam untainted with paganism. Bukar agreed to acknowledged Adama's right to rule his own subjects, but he refused to yield his own sovereignty. Adama and his men took Dulo with little fighting.
604:
Adama searched for someone to rule the settlement, but he found no one whom he felt adequate for the post. Meanwhile, his troops revelled in their plunder. No one expected the
Mandara counterattack, which was launched from nearby
385:'s longevity. Usman had prophesied that the caliphate's reign would last only until the arrival of the Mahdi, within a span of a hundred years. This notion was deeply ingrained in the Sokoto leadership's mindset, and subsequent
340:
In 1809, the Ardo'en of the
Fombina Fulbe clans held a meeting in Guringa to reach a decision on how to approach the situation. After much deliberation, the leaders agreed on a course of action and chose to send a delegation to
333:. Their military campaigns and conquests served as a conduit for information about the unfolding Sokoto jihad. Furthermore, the Fulbe migrants who had fled the regions affected by the jihadists' advancements, particularly from
283:, where he sought guidance from the renowned scholar Mallam Kiari. Adama immersed himself in his studies under Kiari's guidance for about a decade, absorbing a wide range of Islamic teachings and principles.
463:) of Fumbina with whom Adama was concerned. Some of them rejected his primacy for various reasons: He was from a fairly humble background, he owned little wealth, his army was still small, and he lacked
381:. Usman believed that the Mahdi would emerge from the east and urged Adama to be vigilant for signs of his appearance. This emphasis on the Mahdi's coming was significant in the broader context of the
529:, perhaps the first ardo to have settled in Fumbina, proved the major holdout. Bitter relations between Njobdi and Hammam would prove a major obstacle in Adama's quest to maintain a cohesive empire.
517:
The early successes convinced more local Fulani leaders to come to Adama's side. Even those ardo'en who opposed his political rule recognised the jihad as an opportunity to expand their territories.
455:
The non-Fulani
Muslims of the Adamawa largely rejected Adama's jihad; they viewed it as little more than an excuse to spread Fulani hegemony. However, it was primarily the Fulani leaders (
922:
749:. Eventually, three of Adama's other sons would at some point serve as Lamido of Adamawa. Not until the British and German colonial periods would the emirate come to an end.
685:. Instead, Bouba waited for Adama to retreat from the area to bring in his own forces and finish the enemy off. He then sent prisoners from the battle to Adama as a gift.
502:. The victories elated Adama's men, who took numerous Bata slaves. It was during these battles that Adama received the news that his father was killed by the Bata on the
444:. Adama forbade them to pillage or to kill indiscriminately, but enemy nations were given two choices: convert to Islam or become a tributary state. Those
621:(in present-day Nigeria). The town would become his capital by 1841. From here, he and his lieutenants continued to expand the emirate, which he named
746:
738:
708:
682:
571:
325:, initiated in 1804, eventually reached the Fulbe community in Fombina. This was primarily due to the activities of influential jihadists such as
674:
594:
522:
598:
526:
670:
468:
260:, his nose slightly curved." His father, Modibbo Hassana, held the position of ArÉo, a clan leader. Adama's upbringing was deeply rooted in
503:
756:. They spread Islam throughout the region, establishing it as the dominant religion. Education also flourished, as new converts learned
532:
In addition, common Fulani were inspired by Adama's exploits and formed into bands. Adama created a new position for their leaders: The
514:. The two joined forces and fought back the Yanguru, Hona and Kibba peoples. The two forces eventually stopped and both went homewards.
730:
and was inhabited by 1,500,000 people. Further expansion to the south had proved difficult and undesirable since the presence of the
518:
499:
472:
653:. A contingent of councillors and administrators directly aided him, and a household staff of non-Fulbe and slaves doubled as his
923:"Zaman n Nasaara - 'The Hour of the Christians' African Muslim Resistance to European Colonialism by Shaykh Muhammad Shareef"
883:
506:. Modibbo Adama's force continued their battles against Bata and Lala peoples as far as the Gongola River, where he met the
467:. The majority, however, welcomed Adama as a military commander or religious leader at the very least. Adama's son-in-law,
375:
In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Usman emphasized to Adama the importance of anticipating the coming of the
722:
Adama died in 1847 and was laid to rest at Yola (his tomb survives to this day). Adamawa covered 103,000 km from
349:('Lord of the South').â The reason for Uthman's decision to pick Adama, according to a manuscript dated March 1809 in
550:
Adama turned his attentions on the only major state in
Fumbina that could present a threat to his fledgling emirate:
363:
Shehu Usman's instructions to
Modibbo Adama were comprehensive and far-reaching. He directed Adama to propagate
790:
Cameroon
History for Secondary Schools and Colleges, Vol. 1: From Prehistoric Times to the Nineteenth Century.
17:
987:
1027:
1022:
625:
after himself. The subordinates had to send him tribute in the form of cattle. Large settlements such as
649:("commander of the faithful"), Adama himself, ruling from Yola and answering only to Usman dan Fodio in
834:
997:
394:
256:. He was described as being "lean and of tall stature, his features sharp and somewhat disfigured by
1007:
322:
238:
1017:
753:
645:
class or wealth. The empire eventually took on three administrative tiers. At the centre was the
641:. Nevertheless, Adama lived in relatively moderate surroundings and never acquired great wealth.
582:
386:
329:
and Bauchi Gordi, who were actively expanding their control over neighboring territories in the
1012:
280:
593:
and headed north, taking several more villages along the way. Outside of the
Mandara capital,
661:), who ruled key settlements. Under them were a number of villages, each headed by a village
230:
494:
in 1803. Adama then led his forces in a series of strikes on Bata settlements such as Pema,
1002:
992:
268:
8:
964:
752:
Despite their loss of independence, the Fulani were now the preeminent ethnic group of
873:
142:
Lauwal, Usman, Mansur, Umaru, Fadimatu, Addo Gurin, Hauwa'u, Hamidu, Bakari, Haliru,
956:
879:
135:
382:
143:
815:
Introduction to the History of Cameroon in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
800:
757:
727:
698:
638:
634:
622:
551:
223:
175:
389:
were entrusted with the task of monitoring the signs of the Mahdi's appearance.
606:
567:
390:
299:, who was highly respected and considered one of the prominent Ardo'en in the
981:
960:
618:
507:
491:
350:
330:
253:
92:
813:
Njeuma, Martin Z. (1990): "The lamidates of northern Cameroon, 1800â1894",
662:
555:
445:
438:
434:
402:
334:
637:
fell to Adama or his lieutenants. By 1825, the Fulani had penetrated the
574:
and others were already embroiled in fighting against the Mandara in the
495:
487:
300:
203:
875:
The lÄmÄ«bÌłe of Fombina : a political history of Adamawa, 1809-1901
731:
563:
483:
410:
304:
288:
276:
968:
944:
575:
761:
723:
657:. Below him were a number of district leaders, the lamibe (singular:
654:
511:
422:
398:
326:
905:
559:
464:
421:
Adama immediately began recruiting Fulani and Hausa volunteers and
257:
215:
878:. Internet Archive. Zaria, : Ahmadu Bello University Press.
765:
449:
426:
219:
170:
742:
678:
658:
650:
630:
626:
590:
586:
534:
479:
406:
369:
342:
104:
677:
refused to come to Adama's aid when the emir was fighting the
441:
430:
377:
364:
272:
261:
211:
927:
Sankore Institute of Islamic-African Studies International
448:
that lacked a centralised government had but one: become
252:
was born in 1779 in Wuro Chekke, located in what is now
490:
where Fulani warriors had regrouped after fighting the
734:
and thick jungle made cattle rearing difficult there.
907:
The rise and fall of Fulani rule in Adamawa 1809-1901
835:"Adamawa | traditional emirate, Africa | Britannica"
781:DeLancey, Mark W., and DeLancey, Mark Dike (2000):
291:. The Ba'en were led by an Islamic scholar called
785:(3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press.
783:Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon
589:. He quickly conquered the Mandara settlement at
979:
554:. It was an attractive target. It lay between
271:, Adama's focus was primarily on studying the
267:Under the tutelage of Shehu Muhammad Tahir in
801:Chapter 8: "The Jihad in Adamawa and Bauchi".
525:is one notable example, and his major rival,
214:into the region of Fombina (in modern-day
910:(phd thesis). SOAS University of London.
871:
478:The makeshift army made headquarters at
920:
146:, Aliyu, Hamman, Sani and Bobbo Ahmadu.
14:
980:
945:"Historical Notes on the Yola Fulanis"
903:
194:(1786 â 1847), more commonly known as
942:
609:. Adama fled the town, and Du na lie
949:Journal of the Royal African Society
938:
936:
899:
897:
895:
867:
865:
863:
861:
859:
857:
855:
471:, had already settled in Fumbina at
792:Hong Kong: Macmillan Education Ltd.
545:
475:and became one of his lieutenants.
308:throughout the upper Benue region.
229:Modibbo Adama received a flag from
24:
585:in 1809 with a large army in good
416:
397:) further requested Adama to send
316:
42:Lamido Fombina (Lord of the South)
29:Lamido Fombina (Lord of the South)
25:
1039:
933:
892:
852:
612:
103:Hubbaare Modibbo Adama in Gurin,
803:London: Oxford University Press.
597:, Adama demanded that the king,
482:, a fort at the junction of the
904:Njeuma, Martin Zachary (1969).
617:Adama and his men retreated to
914:
827:
808:History of Cameroon Since 1800
323:Usman dan Fodio's Sokoto jihad
202:meaning "learned man"), was a
13:
1:
821:
244:
806:Ngoh, Victor Julius (1996):
741:succeeded him after a brief
425:. These were mainly mounted
7:
797:The Fulani Empire of Sokoto
795:Johnston, H. A. S. (1967):
10:
1044:
921:Shareef, Muhammad (2005).
237:('southlands') during the
943:Boyle, C. Vicars (1910).
717:
705:
696:
690:
226:, also known as Adamawa.
181:
169:
160:
155:
151:
134:
111:
98:
86:
74:
70:Muhammadu Lawal Éii Adama
66:
56:
48:
39:
34:
872:Abubakar, SaÊčad (1977).
775:
760:writing and studied the
709:Muhammadu Lawal bi Adama
409:in the direction of the
311:
361:
222:) and established the
192:Adama Éii Ardo Hassana
161:Adama Éii Ardo Hassana
817:. Palgrave MacMillan.
788:Fanso, V. G. (1989).
452:or convert to Islam.
355:
279:, the capital of the
231:Shehu Usman dan Fodio
275:. He later moved to
61:position established
988:18th-century births
772:heavily populated.
233:to lead a jihad in
1028:Lamidos of Adamawa
1023:History of Adamawa
839:www.britannica.com
810:. Limbe: Presbook.
224:emirate of Fombina
885:978-978-125-011-8
754:Northern Cameroon
715:
714:
706:Succeeded by
699:Lamido of Adamawa
558:to the north and
405:and the south of
277:Birnin Ngazargamo
239:Sokoto revolution
208:Yillaga (YirlaÉe)
206:scholar from the
189:
188:
165:
164:
16:(Redirected from
1035:
998:Sokoto Caliphate
973:
972:
940:
931:
930:
918:
912:
911:
901:
890:
889:
869:
850:
849:
847:
845:
831:
691:Preceded by
688:
687:
647:emir al-Mu'minin
546:Mandara campaign
395:Sultan of Sokoto
383:Sokoto Caliphate
295:, also known as
153:
152:
32:
31:
21:
1043:
1042:
1038:
1037:
1036:
1034:
1033:
1032:
1008:Fulani warriors
978:
977:
976:
941:
934:
919:
915:
902:
893:
886:
870:
853:
843:
841:
833:
832:
828:
824:
778:
747:Hamidu bi Adama
739:Muhammadu Lawal
720:
711:
702:
694:
639:Adamawa Plateau
615:
548:
508:Lamido of Gombe
419:
417:Early campaigns
319:
317:Adama's mandate
314:
247:
210:clan. He led a
176:Adamawa Emirate
130:
107:
91:
79:
30:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1041:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1018:Adamawa Region
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
975:
974:
932:
913:
891:
884:
851:
825:
823:
820:
819:
818:
811:
804:
793:
786:
777:
774:
719:
716:
713:
712:
707:
704:
695:
692:
614:
613:Administration
611:
581:Adama reached
572:Modibo Damraka
547:
544:
429:fighting with
418:
415:
387:Lamibe Fombina
347:Lamido Fombina
331:Gongola valley
318:
315:
313:
310:
297:Modibbo Hamman
246:
243:
187:
186:
183:
179:
178:
173:
167:
166:
163:
162:
158:
157:
149:
148:
138:
132:
131:
129:
128:
125:
122:
119:
115:
113:
109:
108:
102:
100:
96:
95:
88:
84:
83:
76:
72:
71:
68:
64:
63:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
37:
36:
28:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1040:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1013:Adamawa State
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
985:
983:
970:
966:
962:
958:
955:(37): 73â92.
954:
950:
946:
939:
937:
928:
924:
917:
909:
908:
900:
898:
896:
887:
881:
877:
876:
868:
866:
864:
862:
860:
858:
856:
840:
836:
830:
826:
816:
812:
809:
805:
802:
798:
794:
791:
787:
784:
780:
779:
773:
769:
767:
763:
759:
755:
750:
748:
744:
740:
735:
733:
729:
725:
710:
701:
700:
689:
686:
684:
680:
676:
672:
666:
664:
660:
656:
652:
648:
642:
640:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
610:
608:
602:
600:
596:
592:
588:
584:
579:
577:
576:Diamaré Plain
573:
569:
565:
561:
557:
553:
543:
541:
537:
536:
530:
528:
524:
523:Wollarbe clan
520:
515:
513:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
476:
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
453:
451:
447:
446:ethnic groups
443:
440:
436:
432:
428:
424:
414:
412:
408:
404:
401:to "south of
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
379:
373:
371:
366:
360:
359:
354:
352:
348:
344:
338:
336:
332:
328:
324:
309:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
284:
282:
278:
274:
270:
265:
263:
259:
255:
254:Adamawa state
251:
250:Modibbo Adama
242:
240:
236:
232:
227:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
196:Modibbo Adama
193:
184:
180:
177:
174:
172:
168:
159:
154:
150:
147:
145:
140:14 Children:
139:
137:
133:
126:
123:
120:
117:
116:
114:
110:
106:
101:
97:
94:
89:
85:
82:
77:
73:
69:
65:
62:
59:
55:
51:
47:
44:
43:
38:
35:Modibbo Adama
33:
27:
19:
18:Modibbo Adama
952:
948:
926:
916:
906:
874:
842:. Retrieved
838:
829:
814:
807:
796:
789:
782:
770:
751:
737:Adama's son
736:
721:
697:
667:
646:
643:
616:
603:
599:Bukar Djiama
580:
549:
539:
533:
531:
527:Hammam Sambo
516:
488:Benue Rivers
477:
460:
459:, singular:
456:
454:
420:
391:Sultan Bello
376:
374:
362:
357:
356:
346:
339:
321:The news of
320:
296:
292:
285:
281:Bornu empire
266:
249:
248:
234:
228:
207:
199:
195:
191:
190:
185:Ardo Hassana
141:
127:Jahra (Yara)
80:
60:
41:
40:
26:
1003:Fula people
993:1847 deaths
671:Bouba Njida
469:Jauro Dembo
423:mercenaries
293:Ardo Hamman
289:Faro valley
81:Wuro Chekke
57:Predecessor
982:Categories
822:References
732:tsetse fly
703:1806â1847
635:Ngaoundéré
564:Chad Basin
504:Beti River
427:cavalrymen
411:Nile River
245:Early life
961:0368-4016
724:Lake Chad
655:bodyguard
568:Mandarawa
538:(plural:
512:Buba Yero
327:Buba Yero
258:small-pox
67:Successor
52:1806â1847
560:Baghirmi
465:charisma
439:poisoned
393:(second
269:Baghirmi
216:Cameroon
118:Asta Jam
766:savanna
743:regency
623:Adamawa
583:Guringa
562:in the
552:Mandara
521:of the
457:ardo'en
235:Fombina
220:Nigeria
200:Modibbo
171:Dynasty
144:Zubairu
124:Mammare
969:715032
967:
959:
882:
844:28 May
762:Qur'an
758:Arabic
745:under
718:Legacy
679:Namchi
659:lamido
651:Sokoto
633:, and
631:Garoua
627:Maroua
591:Guider
587:morale
540:lamibe
535:lamido
519:Njobdi
500:Turuwa
498:, and
473:Malabu
450:slaves
437:, and
370:Sokoto
353:, was:
343:Sokoto
204:Fulani
182:Father
121:Yasebo
105:Fufore
99:Burial
965:JSTOR
776:Notes
728:Banyo
663:chief
556:Bornu
480:Gurin
442:arrow
431:sword
403:Wadai
399:spies
378:Mahdi
365:Islam
335:Bornu
312:Jihad
301:Benue
273:Quran
262:Islam
212:jihad
156:Names
136:Issue
112:Wives
49:Reign
957:ISSN
880:ISBN
846:2023
693:none
683:Poli
619:Yola
607:Mora
595:Dulo
496:Tepa
492:Bata
486:and
484:Faro
461:ardo
351:Yola
305:Faro
218:and
93:Yola
90:1847
87:Died
78:1779
75:Born
726:to
681:at
675:Rai
673:of
435:bow
407:Fur
984::
963:.
953:10
951:.
947:.
935:^
925:.
894:^
854:^
837:.
799:.
768:.
665:.
629:,
578:.
510:,
433:,
372:.
971:.
929:.
888:.
848:.
303:-
198:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.