Lamido Aliyu Musdafa appoints palace officials with specific functions, but for most of them the titles have become more or less ceremonial. Historically, the rulers of Adamawa had a large body of officials surrounding them in and around the palace. Most of these officials were slaves in the service of the Lamibe. In the early years of the jihad when the emirate had limited sources of income, slaves were an important factor in the production of food. They later became very useful in other areas such as economic, political and military. Men and women captured during wars were turned over to the Lamido as slaves or they could be brought to the palace as tribute and gifts from the rulers in the sub-emirates. The slaves were only captured when they rejected Islam or opposed Muslim rule. In the palace, female slaves were put to use as concubines or domestic servants, while the males became personal servants, courtiers and soldiers.
The slaves fought in the military campaigns as warriors and they became the force behind the governments in Yola and in the sub-emirates. When the slaves were not fighting in the wars, they were working in the farms or at home as domestic servants. Nevertheless, tasks done by slaves were also carried out by free men. Many of them were able to regain their freedom by accepting Islam and rose up the social ladder to wealth, power and prestige. For example during the 19th century, the Baraya, Ajiya, Shamaki and Dan Rimi were powerful offices held by slaves.
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