THE QUAKE: THE HAUSA CITY-STATES (Kebbi)

                                                            

The Kebbi area is well-watered and has long been settled by skilled fishermen. The fishermen came under the rule of migrants known as the Lekawa from Egypt. In its early days Kebbi was remote from the other Hausa Habe states. In the 15^th century a chief from Kebbi got married to a princess of Kastina thus sealing a closer bond with the people of Kastina.

Kebbi qualified to be called a state in the early 16^th century and immediately rose to prominence in Hausaland.  The founder of Kebbi state was Mohammed Kanta who was also known as Kotal Kanta or just Kanta of Kebbi. Mohammed Kanta was the son of the ruler of Lekawa who married the princess of Kastina. Mohammed Kanta had a rough beginning. His half-brother inherited the father’s position and the title of Magaji which led him to become disillusioned, he left his home and joined some bands of Fulani herdsman. Mohammed Kanta gained great respect among the Fulani, he was a reputed boxer with ferocious character. His unrelenting attribute, aggressiveness and prowess in boxing were enough to make him the leader of his age group, the Fulani young warriors. He led this band of Fulani young warriors into Kebbi and took over the government of Kebbi.

Mohammed Kanta hated the family title Magaji, he took the title Kanta of Kebbi instead. Mohammed Kanta so far had proven to be a young man of rebellious character, considerable physical strength, leadership acumen and astute in organization.

Slowly Mohammed Kanta began an expansion program. He followed latest affairs of  Kebbi’s neighbors, he weighed the leaders of the then Hausaland on a scale of choice. During this time Kebbi was more like a village-state than a state. Mohammed Kanta recognized the position of Kebbi in Hausaland and knew his army will stand no chance against her stronger neighbors. He voluntarily and openly supported the great leader Askia Mohammed as the later went on a conquering rampage against the other Hausa states. He knew forming an alliance with Askia Mohammed will provide him security from invasion. Again, Mohammed Kanta knew he will get valuable shares of Songhai’s plunders if he gave Kebbi’s support. He was a wise man who saw into the possible future even when the odds are low. He knew that a powerful Songhai empire will be to his advantage since the other powerful Hausa states will shy away from coming near Kebbi. This scenario will afford him a moment of peace and no worries of invasion and thus enough time to devote in organizing, training and building up his army. We know that Mohammed Kanta was hostile to the people of Kastina for not supporting his claim to the throne, however Kastina had Songhai to worry about than a Village-state with no outstanding military records.

Mohammed Kanta believed that a strong Songhai state must weaken the other powerful Hausa states. He foresaw the unlikelihood of a continues exertion of Songhai’s military power on the other Hausa states due to Songhai’s main cities and military bases were located far from the other Hausa states. With all these in his favor Kebbi accepted the lordship of Songhai state.

Kebbi’s location offered her a strong natural protection from invading army because of the extensive marshes surrounding the area. When Songhai began her invasion of Hausaland the treacherous Kebbi state was spared the fate of Gobir, Kastina, Zaria and Kano. Mohammed Kanta offered military assistance to the invading army as they turned toward Agades.

Problem arose between Songhai and Kebbi when it became clear to Mohammed Kanta that Songhai had no intention of sharing the spoils from Agades. This development angered not only Mohammed Kanta but also his war commanders. He broke his allegiance with Songhai and became hostile to his former protector. In about 1516, Mohammed Kanta led his army against Songhai troops at a place known as Tara, the Songhai’s troops were decisively defeated causing them to fall back toward Songhai. This battle broke Songhai’s power in Hausaland ending her invasion.

The invasion of Songhai weakened the powers of the other Hausas states and the Tuareg. With no one to oppose him Mohammed Kanta invaded a large area of the then Hausaland. Seeing his new military prowess, Air, Gobir, Daura, Kastina, Zaria and Nupe were forced to submit to Kebbi. These submissive states contributed tribute and manpower to support the undisputed king of Hausaland.

Mohammed Kanta was also a good leader as he was a warrior. He was an intelligent city builder, who used the labor tributes and wealth received in building great cities and centers  such as Surame, Gungu and Leka. Mohammed Kanta made Surame his capital, such was the reinforcement at Surame that its walls (moat with seven concentric mud and stone walls) were impregnable. He made Gungu a garrison town where he kept a large number of soldiers needed to repel invading army and also offered assistance in policing his empire. Leka became a holiday destination for the royal family.

Mohammed Kanta was a strict and active ruler. He had a fifty paddlers powered canoe with copper fittings built so that he can tour the whole of Kebbi during the rainy seasons when most tracks were impassable.

The only major enemy of the powerful Kebbi was Bornu. The Mais (kings) of Bornu regarded the whole of Hausland a tributary thus will not have any Kebbi nonsense. Bornu mustered an army and laid siege to Surame. The ensuing battles were so bloody that both sides lost large numbers of men. Bornu had the upper hand and would have taken Surame if the defenders had not deceived the invading forces. The Kebbi defenders placed dead bodies in defiant positions to guard unprotected areas along the walls, this act deceived the Bornu army causing them to withdrew. Kebbi troops pursued the fleeing army and defeated them at Nguru but were now a depleted army. Mohammed Kanta led his army back towards Surame but was ambushed by Kastina rebels on the way home. In the ensuing battle Mohammed Kanta was killed, his men carried his body back to Surame.

Kanta’s successors were unable to continue in the footstep of Mohammed Kanta. The area Mohammed Kanta conquered was too vast that his successors were unable to hold together the whole conquered lands. Bornu increased in power during the reign of Idris Alooma, also Zaria became a powerful state around this time, these two factors contributed to the decline of Kebbi. Zaria and Bornu reduced the sources of tributes for Kebbi. Songhai repeatedly mounted an invasion but was beaten back by Kebbi defenders. Kebbi continued to be an independent state for a long time due to protective marshes and strong walls surrounding the state. Internal dissensions weakened Kebbi considerable and in about 1700, Sarki Tomo abandoned Surame and made Birnin Kebbi his capital. 

Kebbi’s decline was completed in the 18^th century when they became tributary to Gobir.

In 1805, the Fulani attacked and sacked Birnin Kebbi. The defiant nature of the people of Kebbi was all they needed to continue existing. They founded another city known as Argungu, establishing themselves again, they successfully prevented every effort from the Fulani to crush them.