Jobawa

The Jobawa are a sub clan of the Fulani ethnic group, Primarily found in the old Eastern Kano they were the First Fulani Clan to make contact with the Hausa People.^[2]

History

The Jobawa were reportedly the First Fula people to make contact with the central Sudan thus sparking the possibility of them being a Pre-Tengualla Fulani migration from the primordial Fula body. At some point during the 14th century the Jobawa emerged as a power in the East of the Sultanate of Kano and shortly afterward became the natural heirs to the Makama of Kano^[3] ( an office they still hold to this day).

Jihad Period

During the Fulani jihads of the 19th century the jobawa were instrumental to the pacification of the Sultanate of Kano. A switching of allegiance by Muhammadu Bakatsine, the then Makama of Kano and the Magajin Jobe at the epic battle of 'Daukar Girma' ^[4] turned the tide of the Kano campaigns in favour of the Fulani's. Bakatsine was later to become one of the Seven Founding fathers of the Kano Emirate ensuring for the Jobe a place in the newly founded Sokoto Caliphate.

However after the jihad, the leadership of the New Kano Emirate was given to the rival clan of Sullubawa under Suleman Abu Hama, but as recompense, Mandikko Ibn Bakatsine, the son of Muhammadu Bakatsine was made the first Madaki of the Kano Emirate. The Jobe also retained control of the office of Makama and much of Eastern Kano except for the Fortresses of Gaya and Birnin Kudu, making them the custodians of more than two-thirds of the entire emirate.^[4]

References