Modibbo Adama, 1st Lamido Adamawa
(1806-1848)
Modibbo Adama was born in 1771 in Wuro Chekke to a Fulani clan leader, Ardo Hassana. At an early age, Adama began his Islamic learning under the teaching of his father so that by the age of eleven he had completed the study of the Qur'an. His search for scholarship was extended to the far reaches of his home-place. For ten years, Adama studied under the great Islamic scholars, Shehu Muhammadu Tahir in Bagarmi, Mallam Kyari in Borno and also in Sokoto. By the time he came back, Adama became well known for his knowledge in Islamic studies. His learning and piety earned him the title, Modibbo, or learned one. Though the son of a clan leader, Modibbo Adama was not interested in political power; he was only keen on expanding his Islamic knowledge.1 |
Lamidos of Adamawa Emirate (1806 till date )
Let's go down memory lane |
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At the time the Sokoto jihad took off in 1804, the Upper Benue region was in a chaotic situation.2 The Fulbe and the surrounding ethnic groups, especially the Bata were always engaged in political hostilities and in clashes based on local interests such as tax and cattle raids. Modibbo Adama returned in 1805 to his family near Gurin and discovered that his father Ardo Hassana, was killed in one of the battles between the Fulbe and the Bata people. Modibbo Adama brought the news about the Islamic jihad in Sokoto being waged by the great scholar Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, the Commander of the Faithful. He preached to his fellow Fulbe to channel their energy to the cause of Islam instead of fighting for local interests.
Based on this new direction, the Fulbe clan leaders- Ardo Gamawa of Rai, Ardo Njobdi of Bundang, Ardo Hamman Dandi of Banyo and Ardo Hamman Sambo of Tibati- sent a mission to Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio to endorse the launch of an Islamic jihad in the east (of Sokoto). They chose Modibbo Adama to lead the delegation because of his youth, learning and humility without “the intention of transforming him into the overall leader of the jihad.”3 Modibbo Adama was received well by Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio in Sokoto, seat of the Caliphate in 1806. In a letter of appointment to Modibbo Adama, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio charged him thus: Now Adama, the times are difficult, since you tell that some of the Fulani 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 whoever obeys you obeys me, and whoever swears fealty to you, it is exactly as if he had sworn fealty to me.4
Then Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio gave him the mandate: Modibbo Adama, today I have made you leader from among the Fulbe people with whom you are, not because you are superior to them, but because of the trust they have in you. You are to understand my injunction and hold fast to it... I warn you to avoid oppression, wanton damage, spilling of blood without sanction of law, and nepotism, because if you indulge in partiality and discrimination, your authority would be broken.”
Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio then conferred on Modibbo Adama the title of Lamido Fombina or Amirul Yemen, meaning Lord of the South. Modibbo Adama, however, never used the title of Lamido as a political leader, but preferred to be called Modibbo, the learned one.
The jihad in Adamawa started five years later than the other emirates in the Caliphate. In the next 40 years, Modibbo Adama embarked on building a completely new emirate government where none had existed before. The Emirate of Adamawa, first referred to as Fombina, derived its name from Modibbo Adama. Adamawa Emirate at its peak once covered 40,000 square miles from Marua and Madagali in the north to Ngaundere and Tibati in the south and from Lere and Rei Buba in the east to Mayo Lope in the west. It was the largest and most strategic emirate, south-east of the Sokoto Caliphate. |
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The Upper Benue region was inhabited by diverse ethnic groups and heterogeneous independent tribal groups. It was in this complex context that Modibbo Adama consolidated his conquests, established an emirate and put in place an Islamic government as was done by other Fulbe leaders in the Sokoto Caliphate.
Though itself a component part of the caliphate, Adamawa Emirate was in structure formed by more than thirty separate decentralized units fused into a centralized large emirate.
Modibbo Adama returned from Sokoto in 1806 and from his base in Gurin started to plan the jihad. He was instructed by Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio to wait and plan for three years. In 1809, Modibbo Adama launched his crusade by attacking the Bata towns of Pema, Turwa and Tepe. In 1810, Modibbo Adama sent a force under Ardo Hamman who routed Demsa, capital of the most powerful Bata states, near present day Garua and took over from the Bata chief, Yideng. (Click Next to continue)
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