1st Term
HAUSA/FULANI TRADITIONAL POLITICAL
SYSTEM
After the great Jihad war (1804-1810) led by
Usman Dan Fodio, the former fourteen Hausa states were merged and then divided
into two caliphates. The eastern caliphate which included states like Yola,
Gombe, Kano, Zaria and Katsina had Sokoto as its capital while the western
caliphate, including Ilorin, Argungun and Kontagora had Gwandu as its capital.
Usman Dan Fodio became the head (Sarkin Muslim) of the whole Hausa land while
the control of Sokoto (eastern) caliphate went to Bello, Usman Dan Fodio’s son,
and that of Gwandu (western) caliphate went to Abdullah, Usman Dan Fodio’s
brother.
Structure
The Caliph: The
caliph is the head of a caliphate. The
Emir: The Emir is the head of an emirate. He is under the Caliph, but under
him are the following officers: Waziri, Galadima, Madawaki, Dogari, Maaji,
Sarkin Ruwa, Sarkin Fada, Sarkin Pawa. The
Hakimi: He is appointed by the emir to head a district, as the emirate is
subdivided into districts. Village heads:
the district is further divided into villages. The Hakimi appoints village
heads to collect taxes, maintain law and order and carry out other
administrative functions at that local level.
The 3
governmental functions are expressed as follows: Legislative function: Islamic laws were the supreme laws of the emirate,
but the emir had the capacity to make laws on matters which were not covered by
Islamic laws. Executive function:
The emir was an authoritarian and had absolut powers, even though he had
advisers and officers under him, yet he may accept or reject any of their
advice. Judiciary function: This is based on sharia law. It is administered by
Alkali judges. At times, minor cases may be decided by the village heads.
Criminal cases and land issues were referred to the emir because most civil
cases are covered by sharia laws.
Features
(1)
It is ruled by religious laws. (2) It is highly centralized (3) It has an
established tax system
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