Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, the 10th Emir of Kano

By Abubakar Muhammad Musa(Saraki)

Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero son of Emir of Kano Muhammad Abbas was 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 YEARS

Bayero was born in 1299 AH (1881AD). He received his early Islamic education at the Sarki’s palace and he was guided by the prominent Islamic scholars of his time.  While he was the Ciroma of Kano and District Head of Bichi he became very closely associated with the prominent Ulama. When the British colonial administrators introduced the new district administrative structure Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, who was then Ciroman Kano, was appointed the Head of the Home Districts with headquarters at Dawakin Kudu and later (1914) at Panisau. He was appointed as Sarkin Kano in April 1926 and was formally installed on 14 February 1927. Then he was the most experienced contender for the Emirship and had also proved that he was honest, efficient, dedicated and upright.

Emirate: History of Kano Royal tools – Twin spear

LIFE CAREER

Sarkin Kano, Abdullahi Bayero made several appointments during his reign, among those he appointed were his sons; Muhammad Sanusi whom he appointed Ciroma and District Head of Bichi, the position he held before he succeeds his father, as the Sarkin Kano; and Aminu who was appointed Dan Iya and District Head of Dawakin Kudu. After the deposition of Muhammad son of Sarkin Kano Shehu Usman from Turaki and District Head of Ungogo he appointed his brothers Abdulkadir and Muhammad Inuwa as Galadima and Turaki respectively in 1927. He reduced the influence of the “Cucanawa” and also freed all other Royal slaves, which was in line with the British anti-slavery policy. He also delegated some of his executive responsibilities to his councilors… Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero died and left behind 26 children, with Sir. Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero as the eldest and Ado Bayero as the 11th. During his reign, Abdullahi Bayero turbaned members of Dabo clan; Since when Bayero was alive he turbaned four (4) of his children:

1. Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero as Ciroma.
2. Aminu Abdullahi Bayero as Dan’iya. 3. Isa Bayero as Dandarman (later he was dethroned by his father, Sarki Abdullahi Bayero). 4. Faruk Bayero as Danburan. Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero after succeeding his father, he started turbaning his brothers:
3. Make as Magajin Malam and later Turaki.
4. Garba as Danburan.
5. Kabiru as Barde Kerarriya
6. Sani Bayero as Dan buran (later Ado Bayero made him Galadima). Apart from Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero, Emir Muhammadu Inuwa turbaned Ibrahim Cigari as Magajin Malam (later Ado Bayero elevated him to Barde).

Emir Ado Bayero turbaned eleven (11) of Emir Abdullahi Bayero’s sons:

1. Hamidu Bayero as Dan Isa (later Barde and Galadima).
2. Yusuf Bayero as Dan Isa, Dan Buran, Barde and Dan’iya. 3. Bello Bayero as Dan amar, Danmaje and Danburan.
3. Halliru Bayero as Dan Ruwata.
4. Tijjani Bayero as Wakilin Gamma and Wambai.
5. Bashari Bayero as Wakilin Gabas, Danruwata, Dandarman and Dan Isa.
6. Sani Bayero as Yarima and Dan Amar.
7. Idris Bayero as Danburan and Barde.
8. Salihi Bayero as Danburan.
9. Hamza Bayero as Danburan and Sarkin Shanu.
10. Mahmud Bayero as Danmaje, Tafida, Turaki and Barde. When the above 11 that Ado Bayero turbaned is merged with the 4 that Abdullahi Bayero turbaned, the 4 that Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero turbaned, plus the only one that Muhammadu Inuwa Bayero turbaned, plus the 11 that Emir Ado Bayero turbaned and the remaining 5 that does not hold any traditional title:
11. Dalhatu Bayero. 2. Jafaru Bayero.
12. Auwalu Bayero.
13. Salisu Bayero and
14. Tijjani Bayero. One will have a total number of 26, which is the total number of Emir Abdullahi Bayero’s biological sons. Indeed, Ado Bayero was a man of honor, as he honored the entire family of Sarki Alhaji:
15. The Isa Dandarman that Sarki Alhaji dethroned him himself, Ado Bayero turbaned as Wakilin Yamma.
16. The Danburan Faruk that was dethroned by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero, Ado Bayero turbaned his son, Maitama as Danmaliki.
17. The Dan’iya Aminu that was dethroned by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi Dan Bayero, Emir Ado Bayero turbaned his son, Maikano as Danmakwayo.
18. Barde Kerarriya, Kabiru, his son was turbaned.
19. Tijjani Dandarman that was dethroned by Emir Sanusi Dan Bayero, Emir Ado Bayero returned him as Wakilin Yamma.

Peacock royalist on the throne of Zazzau Emirate

In Emir Muhammadu Sanusi’s family, Ado Bayero turbaned:

1. Abdullahi Sanusi as Santuraki, Danruwata and elevated him to Dokaji.
2. Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi as Danmaje (in 2012). As a result of mutual cohesion between Sarki Alhaji Bayero and Galadima Khidir, Sarki Ado turbaned 3 sons of Galadima; Tata as Baura, Tijjani as Danburan and Maizaure as Dan amar. In Turaki Hashim’s family, Ado Bayero turbaned Tijjani as Dan Isa, Turaki, Dan’iya then Galadima, he turbaned Ali Kiru as Yarima. In Abbas’s family, Ado turbaned Garba Abbas As Dan Lawan. In Emir of Kano Usman’s family, he elevated Tafida Mahmud to Wambai, he turbines Sayyadi Ringim as Danmaje and elevated him to Tafida. Ado turbaned Tijjani as Dallatu, Danmaje and Tafida. In the family of Danmaje, Zakari Dan Majekarofi, Ado turbaned his son, Mukhtari as Dallatu, later Danmaje. In Dan Isa Muhammadu son of Umaru Sanda’s family, Ado Bayero turbaned his son, Mijinyawa as Bunu and later Dan Isa. In the family of Sarkin Shanu Hassan, Ado turbaned Sa’adu Aminu as Dallatu and later Dokaji. And many more… The late Kano Emir, Abdullahi Bayero (Sarki Alhaji) as popularly called was a son of late Emir of Kano Muhammadu Abbas, the father of Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Sanusi and Sarkin Kano Ado.

Sarkin Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero died on Thursday 13th Rabi al-Thani 1373 (23rd December, 1953).

The late Emir Ado Bayero widen Kano Emirate by coming up with many Royal titles and honoured those that deserved to be honored before he answered the call of his creator in the morning of Friday, 6th June, 2014 at the age of 85.

Acknowledgment: A Special Royal Salute to a historian per excellence, a Royalist and a grandson of Sarkin Kano Ibrahim Dabo, Alhaji Abdulkadir Sani Koguna

Abubakar Muhammad Musa(Saraki) is a Public and Current Affairs Commentator, Historian, and Linguist. He can be reached via linguistmam@gmail.com  or @linguistmam  via Twitter