Modibo Adama

Modibo Adama (* around 1786; † 1847 ), also known as Adama bi Ardo Hassana , was a leader in the jihad of the Fulbe and the founder of the Emirates Adamaua , after which the state of Adamaua in Nigeria and the Adamaua region in Cameroon are named to this day .

Life

Adama's father Hassana was a small nobleman from Ba'ajo and a student of the Koran and later lived in Guringa . Adama also became a student of the Koran, first in Bornu under Mallam Kiari, later in the land of the Hausa under Usman dan Fodio , from whom he received the title Modibo (the educated). In 1803 father Hassana fell in the fight against the Bata . In 1804 Adama returned to Guringa, while Usman dan Fodio began jihad against the Hausa.

In 1806 a delegation from Guringa, including Adama, met with Usman in Gwandu . As a result of the meeting, Adama was commissioned by Usman to conquer Fumbina . Fumbina was then the name of the area south of Lake Chad and was inhabited by non-Muslims.

Adama set up a volunteer army of riders from Fulbe and Hausa men, armed with sword, bow and arrow, and moved to Fumbina. Those living there should either adopt Islam or would be enslaved. At first the army fought successfully against the Bata .

Then his army attacked the state of Mandara (between Bornu and Bagirmi ) under King Bukar Djiama . He could take the capital Dulo , but not hold it. So he retired to Yola.

The empire was constantly expanded in numerous campaigns. In 1825 the occupation of today's highlands of Adamaua began . In 1841 Yola became the capital. After all, the empire comprised 103,000 km² and 1,500,000 people. The conquests led to a population decline as many who did not submit to Adama and did not want to become Muslims fled south. Thus the Fulbe became the dominant ethnic group and Islam became the predominant religion in Adamaua. Since the Fulbe had many herds of cattle, they reduced the vegetation with primeval forest in favor of savannahs. Adama remained loyal to Usman dan Fodio and his successors as Caliph of Sokoto throughout his life .

In 1847 Adama died and was buried in Yola. He was succeeded by his son Muhammadu Lawal , followed by two other sons of Adama.

literature

• Mark W. DeLancey, Mark Dike DeLancey, Mark Dike: Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, 2000
• VG Fanso: Cameroon History for Secondary Schools and Colleges, Vol. 1: From Prehistoric Times to the Nineteenth Century. Hong Kong: Macmillan Education Ltd., 1989
• HAS Johnston: The Fulani Empire of Sokoto . Chapter 8: "The Jihad in Adamawa and Bauchi". London: Oxford University Press, 1967
• Victor Julius Ngoh: History of Cameroon Since 1800 . Limbe: Presbook, 1996
• Martin Z. Njeuma: "The lamidates of northern Cameroon, 1800-1894 . In: Introduction to the History of Cameroon in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Palgrave MacMillan, 1990

predecessor	Office	successor
-	Emir of Adamaua 1810–1847	Muhammadu Lawal