Major Centralised States in Pre-Colonial Nigeria – JSS1 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Third Term)

Centralised states in pre-colonial Nigeria were organised kingdoms and empires, each ruled by a powerful leader who governed with the help of officials before European colonial rule began.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State the meaning of pre-colonial Nigeria.
2. List examples of centralised states in pre-colonial Nigeria.
3. Describe how the Hausa States were organised after the jihad of Usman Dan Fodio.
4. Name the officials who assisted the Emirs and state their duties.
5. Describe the political organisation of the Kanem Borno Empire.
6. Describe the people and the government of the Nupe Kingdom.

What is pre-colonial Nigeria?

Pre-colonial Nigeria is the period before European colonial rule, that is, before colonialism.

• Centralised state: a state with one powerful ruler and a system of officials who help him govern.
• Ruler’s titles: Emir (Hausa States), Mai (Kanem Borno) and Etsu (Nupe).
• Lessons in this note: the Hausa States, Kanem Borno and the Nupe Kingdom.

What were the major centralised states in pre-colonial Nigeria?

There were eight major centralised states in pre-colonial Nigeria, listed below.

1. Hausa States: found in the north, later organised into emirates.
2. Kanem Borno: the empire around Lake Chad, ruled by the Mai.
3. Nupe Kingdom: found mainly in present-day Niger State, ruled by the Etsu.
4. Oyo Empire: a large Yoruba empire.
5. Igala Kingdom: a kingdom in the Niger-Benue area.
6. Benin Empire: a kingdom in the forest region of the south.
7. Niger Delta City States: trading states in the creeks of the delta.
8. Calabar: a trading state in the south-east.

How were the Hausa States organised?

After the jihad of Usman Dan Fodio, the Hausa States were organised into two caliphates, then into emirates and districts.

What were the caliphates?

A caliphate is a large section of the Hausa land ruled under Islamic leadership.

• The jihad: a war led by Usman Dan Fodio from 1804 to 1810.
• After the war: fourteen Hausa states were merged and then split into two sections, Eastern and Western.
• Eastern Caliphate: capital at Sokoto. It included states like present-day Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Yola and Zaria.
• Western Caliphate: capital at Gwandu. It included states like Argungun, Ilorin and Kontagora.
• Usman Dan Fodio: head of the whole Hausa land, called the Sarkin Musulmi.
• Bello: Usman’s son, made ruler of the Eastern Caliphate.
• Abdullahi: Usman’s brother, made ruler of the Western Caliphate.
• Title: Bello and Abdullahi were both called Emirs.

What were the emirates and who were their officials?

An emirate is a smaller division of a caliphate, headed by an emir.

• Purpose: each caliphate was sub-divided into emirates so that administration would be easy.
• Emir of an emirate: a lesser emir, chosen only with the approval of the Emir of Sokoto or Gwandu.

The officials who assisted the emir were:

• Waziri: the prime minister or chief administrative officer.
• Madawaki: the commander of the army.
• Dogari: the head of the police.
• Galadima: the official in charge of the capital.
• Maaji: the keeper of money and the treasury (treasurer).
• Sarkin Ruwa: the river and fishing official.
• Sarkin Pawa: the head of the butchers.
• Sarkin Fada: the official in charge of the administration of the palace.

What was the work of the Hakimi?

The Hakimi was the official who headed a district in an emirate, appointed by the emir.

1. Overseeing the affairs of the district.
2. Maintaining peace and order in the district.
3. Collecting taxes from the people.

The main taxes were:

• Zakat: the Islamic tax paid by Muslims.
• Jizyah: a tax paid by non-Muslims.
• Jangali: the cattle tax.

The Hakimi appointed village heads, who helped him carry out his duties.

What were the powers of the Emirs and the law used?

• Powers: the Emirs of the caliphates had almost unlimited powers.
• Law: the judiciary was based on Sharia law.
• Judges: Alkali judges administered the laws.

What was the order of government in the Hausa States?

Government passed from the head of the Hausa land down to the villages in five levels.

What was the Kanem Borno Empire?

The Kanem Borno Empire was a large empire around Lake Chad that began east of the lake and later centred on Borno in Nigeria.

Where was Kanem Borno and who were its peoples?

• Location: a region that today includes parts of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria.
• The So: the original inhabitants of the empire.
• The Zaghawa: nomadic people from eastern Africa who settled east of the lake.
• The Kanuri: an important group of people in the empire.
• The Bulala: they arrived late in the region but were also part of the kingdom.

Who were the rulers of Kanem Borno?

• The Zaghawa: the first rulers of the empire, before they were driven out.
• The Saifawa: the ruling family that took over from the Zaghawa.
• Growth: the Saifawas enlarged their territory by conquest and by marriage into the ruling families of subordinate states.
• Move to Borno: around the 14th century the Saifawas moved across Lake Chad into Borno in Nigeria.
• The name: this move is why the empire is called Kanem Borno.

Who was the Mai and who helped him?

The Mai was the king of Kanem Borno, assisted by a state council.

• The council: twelve members made up of royal family members (maina) and dignitaries (kaigana).

The dignitaries included:

• Kaigama: commander-in-chief of the army and warden of the south.
• Mestrema: keeper of the royal household and warden of the east.
• Yerima: warden of the north.
• Galadima: warden of the west.

The royal household included:

• The Mai: the king.
• The Gumsu: the head of his wives.
• The Magira: the official mother.
• The Magara: his sister.
• The Groma: his eldest son and official heir.
• The Maina and Mairam: the other sons and daughters.
• The Maidugu: the grandson.
• The Chima Kura: the fiefholder and controller of the administration.

The government of Kanem Borno was centralised because the Mai held absolute power in the empire.

What was the Nupe Kingdom?

The Nupe Kingdom was the centralised state of the Nupe people, ruled by the Etsu, in the area of present-day Niger State.

Who are the Nupe people?

• Location: mainly in Niger State, Nigeria.
• Subgroups: Batau, Kyedye, Eghagi, Ebe and Benu.
• Outside Niger State: some Nupe live scattered over several states in West-Central and Northern Nigeria.
• Farming: they grow staple crops like millet, guinea corn, yams, groundnuts and rice.
• Hunting: they are also hunters.

How was the Nupe Kingdom governed?

• Head of government: the Etsu (also called Etsuzhi).
• His duties: he carried out measures of administration and was responsible for law and order.
• How he was chosen: from within any of the sub-sections into which the inner city (Bida) was divided.
• His power: he was very powerful and his words were law.
• Limits on his power: some traditions and laws checked or restricted it.

How do the three states compare?

The table compares the ruler, the main helpers and the location of the three states in this lesson.

Evaluation

1. What is meant by pre-colonial Nigeria?
2. Name five examples of centralised states in pre-colonial Nigeria.
3. Name the two caliphates of the Hausa States and their capitals.
4. State three duties of the Hakimi.
5. Who assisted the Mai of Kanem Borno in running the empire?

Assignment

Write short notes on the Nupe Kingdom. Include where the Nupe people live, what they do for a living and the role of the Etsu.