How The Sokoto Caliphate Sold Over 4 Million Hausas Into Slavery

 The Sokoto Caliphate, established by Othman Dan Fodio in 1804, presented itself as a champion and committed lover and promoter  of Islam, but its inhuman invasions, captures, and treatments to the Hausas tell a different sad story. While the Sokoto Caliphate claimed to be promoting Islamic values, it used religion to justifying enslaving the Hausas, particularly those whom the Caliphate deemed "un-Islamic." Othman Dan Fodio's jihad against the Hausas was totally unnecessary because the Hausas accepted Islam before them, and were already practising all Islamic tenets and doctrines. So, why wage war against your hosts who received you with magnanimity, if not for economic enrichment purposes? The jihad was a war against un-Islamic practices, with the aim of purging or "purifying" the apostate and defiled Islamic practices of the Hausas in the region. However, the "purification" exercise was a total deception, a calculated scam (419) against the Hausas. In theory, the Caliphate's laws allowed for the capture and enslavement of non-Muslims, including all those who refused to convert to Islam. But in actual practice, all Hausas and non-Hausas captured were thoroughly subjected to enslavement. The level of enslavement was extraordinarily high in the Sokoto Caliphate. For example, the Sokoto Caliphate had no fewer than 4.5 million slaves (mostly Hausas), making it one of the largest slave hubs in human history, only second to the United States, where they worked in the plantations. 

Slaves worked assiduously on rubber, plantain, coffee, and tobacco plantations, domestic chores, and as compulsory soldiers, contributing immensely to the Caliphate's economy. At the inception of the Caliphate, Othman Dan Fodio allowed slavery for non-Muslims, implying that conversion to Islam could lead to emancipation from slavery. After some years, everything changed for the worst to the captives. All slaves were used as slaves undermining whether they are Hausas, Muslims, or not. 

Many historians believe that the Sokoto Caliphate's use of Islam to justify enslavement was a thinly-veiled excuse for economic and political aggrandizements. The Caliphate's actions led to significant social disruptions, unrest, economic morass, dire human sufferings, displacement, and cultural changes and losses. The Sokoto Caliphate's history, especially its persistent invasions of the Hausas, their formers hosts and benefactors who received them warmly when they migrated from Senegambia in the 14th century, raises questions about the intersection of power, religion, truth, and exploitation. The Caliphate's economy relied heavily on slave population, slave labour, selling of slaves, thereby driving consistent expansion and conquest. Othman Dan Fodio's aim to conquer all the territories that formed modern Nigeria truly had nothing to do with Islamic propagation or expansion. No! It was all a smokescreen. In Nigerian parlance, it is said that the more you look, the less you see! It was an economic expansionist movement painted with religion. If the jihad wars were purely religious, why did the Sokoto Caliphate invade their former hosts and helpers, and conquered and utterly destroyed the Hausa Kingdom which was living in peace and wealth for 700 years before the advent of the ungrateful Fulanis? Was it the Koran that told Othman Dan Fodio to fight the Hausas and teach them pure Islamic doctrine? Was it Allah that told Othman Dan Fodio to invade a kingdom that loved them unreservedly, welcomed them, and gave them food and lands freely when they migrated to the Hausa land? Why did the Fulanis pay evil for good? Why were the Fulanis so callous and clannish? Well, it might be that the Hausas, out of their own care-free attitudes, invited their doom. 

The pathetic story of Hausas and Fulanis in Nigeria calls for a sober reflection. It is a perfect example of a servant who wickedly hijacked his master's throne through a bloodless coup detat and turned his former lord into his own servant. The Hausas, a Chadic-speaking race, migrated to the present-day northern Nigeria as early as the 7th century, establishing city-states such as Kano, Katsina, Gobir, Zaria, and others. These city-states flourished, trading with neighbouring regions and developing a rich cultural heritage. In the 14th century, the Fulanis (the murderers), a pastoralist people from Senegambia, began migrating to Hausaland. At the onset, the Hausas welcomed them heartily, offering them food and lands and hospitality, litte-knowing that they were taming poisonous vipers that will bite them very soon. The Fulanis integrated into the Hausa society, with some settling in cities, and others maintaining their nomadic lifestyles. They also inter-married with them.

Over time, the Fulanis gained influence, leveraging their strategic positions as traders and scholars. They gradually established themselves as Islamic scholars and advisers to the Hausa kings, building a power base clandestinely. Othman Dan Fodio, a Fulani man, emerged from nowhere and became a prominent Islamic leader in Hausaland, criticizing Hausa rulers for perceived corruption and laxity in Islamic practices. In 1804, Othman Dan Fodio launched the Fulanis' Jihad, declaring Hausaland's rulers and their subjects as unrepentant apostates and made clarion calls for their immediate overthrow and replacement. The Fuanis, propelled by Islamic fervour and a gargantuan desire for dominance, invaded and conquered all Hausa city-states, coercively incorporating them into the Sokoto Caliphate system. The Hausas, of course bewildered, were fragmented, un-united, and unprepared, were completely defeated in the battles despite their numerical superiority. After that, the Sokoto Caliphate implemented the Sharia laws, removing with impunity Hausa cultures and values. 

They assumed key positions everywhere, influencing Hausa politics and society till today. The dominance of the Fulanis over the Hausas is exceedingly glaring to everyone in Nigeria. For example, all the past Nigerian presidents from northern Nigeria are Fulanis. All State Governors, Federal Government ministers, ambassadors, national security advisers (NSAs), Governors of Central Bank of Nigeria, petroleum ministers, and top government functionaries in the Presidency, Legislature, and Judiciary etc, are all Fulanis. If you know any Hausa man or woman who has ever held one of the above top offices, please, do not hesitate to tell me! It is as bad as that! Now, the question is, how did the Fulanis with paucity of population invade, conquer, and rule over Hausas with teeming population of people till today? It is because the Hausas were not ready to crush the Fulanis: while all Fulanis everywhere in Africa are strongly united to fight people and possess their lands, the Hausas across all Africa are not united. They are fragmented. Each Hausa city-state abhors the other to the hilt. There is no love-lost between the Hausas, at least, at the time in question. They fought against themselves. If the Hausas were united, the Fulanis would not have defeated them at all in the following battles:

• Battle of Tsuntua (December, 1804):

In the early part of this battle, the Hausas gave good account of themselves and subdued the Fulanis. But, before the battle ended, the Fulanis, led by Othman Dan Fodio, reconnoitered, and defeated the Hausa army, despite being outnumbered. 

• Battle of Tabkin Kwatto (1804):

The brave Fulani forces defeated the Hausa army, capturing a village called Matanraki.

• Battle of Alkalawa:

The battle of Alkalawa was one of the most popular battles of the Fulani Jihads. The Fulani forces defeated the Hausa city-state called Gobir, killing Sultan Yunfa and destroying the city completely, ending Hausa rule.

• Conquest of Katsina (1807):

The Fulani army captured Katsina City, with its ruler Magajin Halidu, committing suicide instead of being captured alive by the enemy.

• Conquest of Kano (1807):

The Fulani forces captured Kano City, with its king, Muhammad Alwali II fleeing and later killed by the Fulanis. 

• Conquest of Gobir (1808):

The Fulanis captured Gobir City, marking the end of the Hausa Kingdom.

In fact, up till today, historians are still surprised that the Fulani army which compromised of only 3,000 soldiers defeated the Hausa army of 30, 000 soldiers in the battle of Tsuntua, showcasing their military prowess, toughness, and determination. The ratio was 1: 10, one Fulani soldier versus ten Hausa soldiers. Yet, the Hausas were smitten! I am not saying that the Hausas were not physically strong. They were. But, obviously, they lacked mental toughness and determination! They did not approach some battles like people who owned the land and were on the verge of being deprived of their inheritance. The Fulanis were not iron rods or spirits which are invincible. They were mortals too but determined to take the fields. And they did. Another factor that gave the Fulanis victory over the Hausas was that they secretly lobbied prominent Hausas and formed alliance with them to help in fighting fellow Hausas. Hence, the Hausas did not present a united force against the desperate Fulanis. Rather, they were busy fighting against themselves like the ancient Chinese Empire which never cared a hoot to form a formidable army until recently. Every man or nation has an enemy. A nation should not be nonchalant about its national security. If the Hausas had formed a strong army, coupled with her great population, the Fulanis could not have defeated and ruled them till today. The Fulanis, the murderers, took advantage of the Hausa's security laxity and constant internal rifts to conquer her. 

China was not serious about its national security until recently. The concept of national army in China dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE), with various dynasties maintaining their own military forces. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) evolved from the Red Army, founded by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1927. After the CPC had established the People's Republic of China in 1949, the PLA became the country's national army. China is one of the oldest countries in the world. Yet, the disunity, wrangling, bickering, and in-flighting amongst them robbed her of a united formidable army. Chinese regions and communities were busy fighting themselves for centuries without a standard army, while newly formed empires established strong armies. The concept of national armies evolved over time, influenced by factors such as feudalism, monarchies, and modern nation-state formations.

European countries developed at different times, but many began forming national armies during the Middle Ages. For example, the Ancient Roman Empire had a professional army between (1st century -5th century CE). In the Medieval Age, feudal armies were formed in Europe between 9th-15th centuries. Armies were also formed in Modern Nation-States of Europe:

• France had the first standard army in Europe beginning in the 15th century under Charles VII.

• England/ Britain established a standard army under Henry VIII in the 16th century.

• Prussia (Germany) established a highly powerful army (Bradenburg-Prussian Army) in the 17th century.

• Other European countries got their armies between 17th -19th centuries. Yet, China, with all its innumerable population and intimidating resources had no standard army until recently. Like China, the Hausas, inspite of her great population, did not form a formidable army against the blood-thirsty Fulanis. They took security for granted and never read the handwriting on the wall until the Fulanis took away everything from their hands. Now, it is too late to recover what was lost! 

The Sokoto Caliphate, founded by Othman Dan Fodio, pretended to be a flag-bearer and exemplary teacher and promoter of Islam, whereas it used religion to invade, capture, and enslave the Hausas. The Sokoto Caliphate engaged in slave trade daily, with estimates suggesting that it had not less than 4 million slaves, making it the second largest slave market in the world at that time, after the USA. The Sokoto Caliphate wanted slaves at all costs. Since the Hausas had population and security laxity, it became a target of attack. The Sokoto Caliphate invaded them. It captured them in millions since they were now like sheep without a shepherd. No army. No agitations. No rebellion. Nothing. The Sokoto Caliphate sold the Hausas into slavery, especially to the Britons, accusing Hausa kings of Islamic apostasy, backsliding, and lukewarmness. Slaves were acquired through raids, wars, and were used for agricultural labour, domestic chores, and others. The Sokoto Caliphate sold over 4 Million Hausa slaves to various slave markets, chiefly the trans-Saharan and the Indian Ocean trade routes. Some slaves were given as tribute to the Sultan and his emirs. Did you clearly get what I said? I said that in the Sokoto Caliphate, human beings (men, women, and children) were presented as gifts to Othman Dan Fodio and his high-ranking emirs as a mark of loyalty to them. The more slaves one has at that time, the more money he gets. Emirs sent slaves as part of their annual tribute to the Sultan of Sokoto, showcasing their loyalty and submission. Hausa slaves were also given as gifts to officials and nobles within the Caliphate, serving as a symbol of wealth, power, and status. That was how Othman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, exploited the Hausas who once welcomed and gave them land to live in. The Sokoto Caliphate cannot engage into slavery today because the Britons are no longer buying the Hausa slaves. Today, the Sokoto Caliphate trains and weaponizes thousands of young men, and persuades them to practise terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, arbitrary killings, rape, arsonry, burning of Churches, and other societal vices. When victims are kidnapped, the Sokoto Caliphate demands for ransoms for their release. That is how the Caliphate is making money from successive Nigerian Governments. 

In conclusion, the Sokoto Caliphate, founded by Othman Dan Fodio in 1804, is often remembered as a beacon of Islamic scholarship and reform in West Africa. However, its bourgeoning rise to power was built on brutal enslavement and sales of over 4 million Hausas into slavery, especially to England, the closest friend to the Fulanis. Under the guise of "jihad" and "purification of Islam", the Caliphate justified the raiding, capturing, and selling of over 4 million Hausas to the Britons and other slave dealers. This lucrative slave trade fueled the Caliphate's economy, enriching its leaders and increasing regional conflicts. Up till today, many descendants of enslaved Hausas still bear the scars of their vulnerable ancestors' trauma. The International Community, United States, and the Nigerian Governments should understand that the Sokoto Caliphate, represented by terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers will not easily give up on their evil trades due to the money they get from it.

Please, kindly share this post with your friends and loved ones. Thank you very much.