Cite this article: Ibrahim, H. B. K. 2023. Historical Development of Settlements in Hausaland: A Case of Gozaki, Katsina Kingdom, c.1500- 1600 A. D. Sokoto Journal of History Vol. 12. Pp. 11-23. www.doi.org/10.36349/sokotojh.2023.v12i01.002
Historical Development of Settlements in Hausaland: A Case of Gozaki, Katsina Kingdom, c.1500- 1600 A. D.
Hussaina B.K.
Ibrahim, PhD
Department of
History
Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria
E-mail:
hussainabeekay@gmail.com
Abstract
Gozaki
emerged as a political entity adjacent to Katsina, Zazzau and Kano Kingdoms by
c.1500 A.D. The growth and development of Gozaki occurred in different stages.
Firstly, it emerged as a hilltop settlement in Dutsen Kuraku (Kuraku hill) and
thereafter a plain settlement which was characterised by the emergence of
Garuruwa (towns) under the authority of Masu Gari. The Masu Gari were the heads
of the towns that emerged in the area and had a number of villages under their
administration. Also, the Masu Gari were superiors to the occupational heads in
their respective towns. The occupational heads anchored various occupations,
such as farming, hunting and smithing in each town. The emergence of the towns
was as a result of the sophistication of the economy which developed beyond
subsistence level. Agriculture was no longer centred on food production for the
teeming population; it served industries, as large hectares of land were
deployed in the production of cotton for the textile industry in the Gozaki
area and beyond. There was the production of goods beyond subsistence level
which led to the development of commerce. This paper used primary sources,
particularly oral sources and Archaeological reconnaissance derived from the
field. The sources have been critically examined for the reconstruction of the
history of the area of study.
Keywords: Gozaki, Katsina Kingdom, Political Entity, Migration, Settlements.
Introduction
Gozaki
was a settlement that emerged in the south-eastern part of Katsina Kingdom,
from a small hilltop settlement at Kuraku to a plain type, due to provision of
security and
advancement of the economy. As a result of the economic development that took
place in the area by c.1500 A.D, Gozaki town was able to excel all other towns
and became the most important in the area. This change occurred due to
historical developments, not by accident. The Mai Gari of Gozaki came to occupy positions over and above other Masu Gari in the area. This was possible due to
important developments that heralded the emergence of Masarautar Gozaki, as a centralized polity with semi-independent
status. Gozaki was conquered by Katsina Kingdom and was administered under the
kingdom with semi-independent status. What this means is that Gozaki like other
settlements in Hausaland emerged from small village units, to towns due to
economic changes, migration among several other factors. There were
developments that led to its emergence as an important polity in the area. The
peak of the developments could be seen in the emergence of masu gari in the vicinity of Gozaki as well as the emergence of
occupational heads and different occupational groups. The occupational heads
emerged in different towns, signalling the occupational sophistication in the
area associated with advanced settlements that consisted of varied groups, and
attracting immigrants to the settlement. The towns had villages and some towns
under their administration, which made them more advanced than the village
settlements. The primary concern of this paper is an analysis of the
factors that led to the development of a kingdom in Gozaki between 1500 and 1600 A.D. Therefore, any discussion of the earlier period is beyond
the scope of the paper.
Development of Advanced
Political System in Gozaki
The
historical development of Gozaki, like other settlements in Hausaland, was
possible due to many factors. One of such was the availability of iron ore in
Tandama in the Gozaki area, which led to the development of smithing activities
and the production of agricultural implements such as hoe, axe, cutlass and war
implements, particularly bows, arrows and spears.[1] Iron smithing took place on
the plain, and not the hilltop settlement of Gozaki. Archaeological
reconnaissance of the hilltops in Gozaki has not revealed the remains of iron
working centres.[2]This
makes us to state that, iron working did not develop on the hilltop, but the
plain settlements of Gozaki. Archaeological excavation has revealed the
presence of spheroids (stone tool) in Gozaki.[3] The discovery of a stone
tool in Gozaki is a pointer to the existence of a continuous settlement in the
area right from the Stone Age period. However, there is the need for more
archaeological excavation of the hilltops of Gozaki to ascertain the nature of
tools used in production in the earlier epoch in the history of Gozaki.
Available
evidence has revealed the existence of iron working on the plains of Gozaki
which became one of the few centres of iron smelting in the states of Hausaland
that were developing at the same time with Maska.[4] That is one of the reasons
why trade in iron-ore developed between Gozaki and other parts of Katsina
Kingdom. In fact, Gozaki was one of the few centres of production of iron ore
in the kingdom of Katsina and Hausaland.[5] That was why iron workers
from northern part of Katsina travelled there, during the dry season period and
engaged in smithing work. The iron blades which were the final products were
carried and sold in the markets of the northern Katsina. Gozaki is part of the
region referred to as the southern part of Katsina. It is possible that, iron
working attracted immigrants from the northern part to settle in Gozaki due to
the availability of the resource there.[6]
Iron smelters were attracted to Gozaki from
other Hausa states. And this has led to the boost of the economy and an
increase in immigrants who decided to settle there permanently, thereby
swelling the size of the heterogeneous population which was beginning to emerge
in the area at that time. The existence of a heterogeneous population during the period of study in Gozaki
points to the fact that the society was ripe for transformation into a more
advanced type. Evidence exist as Gozaki was an important source of iron ore and
one of the few iron working centres, which made it economically important and
politically viable, as a power reckoned with in the south-east region of
Katsina Kingdom.[7]
Therefore, the emergence of rulers to the emerging entity was feasible. Thus, the discovery of iron and
iron smelting have
played great role in the emergence of states in the Western Sudanic region of
West Africa. Thus, these developments partly made Gozaki a centre of importance
in Hausaland.
Also, another important factor that led to the
advancement of the Gozaki area is the ability of Gozaki town to provide
security against external aggression. The period of the emergence of the
settlement was a time when it faced constant attacks from states of Katsina and
Kano. Therefore, the ability of the rocky areas to provide security from
attacks was one of the reasons that made Gozaki attractive to people from the
vicinity and from other parts of Hausaland and beyond.[8]
Thus, the issue of security was so important that it made Gozaki the political centre of administration
of the area. The towns of Dabai, Tandama, Danja and others came under its
control. Economic centres of wealth production were located in these towns
under Gozaki to a larger extent. For example, Dabai and Danja were areas
endowed with abundant food crops production.[9] It
was in these areas that large cotton plantations were established. Similarly,
in Tandama there was high iron ore concentration which was exploited for the
production of iron implements. These towns were important centres that led to
the emergence of Gozaki into an advanced political entity.
Gozaki
became prominent and it continued to attract the attention of people from Hausa
states and beyond. The attention of the people was not drawn for nothing. It
was a settlement endowed with the production of guinea corn, millet, potato,
cocoyam in the raining season.[10] An
area endowed with the production of cereals and tuber foods is indeed blessed
in varied crops. Production of variety of food led to its exportation to other areas. In the dry
season, they produced sugar cane, onion, wheat, tomato in large quantity.[11]
This translated into food security for the people not only of Gozaki, but also
to the regions in the northern Katsina Kingdom that experienced food shortages
due to periodic droughts experienced during the period of study. There were
indeed, not many cases of drought experienced in Gozaki. However, northern part of Katsina
Kingdom, including the capital experienced drought after every five years due
to shortage of rainfall.[12]
This means that there were periods of food shortages in those areas. A likely
solution for the people of northern Katsina was either to migrate to areas of
food abundance such as Gozaki, or import food from areas of food stability.
Therefore, the issue of food security had led to the emergence of Gozaki as a
strong political entity.[13]
Another
reason for the political advancement of Gozaki was soil fertility. The soil of
Gozaki area contains sand, silt and clay, and the clay has the highest
composition. The clay has high water retention capacity suitable for the
production of varied crops. Annual rainfall was about 1,000mm (40 inches)
around Danja in Gozaki area,[14]
while in the areas of northern Katsina, the average rainfall is 25 inches, and
as low as 15 inches has been recorded in some of the areas.[15] People are attracted to
settlements with higher rainfall.
Indeed, the Gozaki area was endowed with water
supply, it is moisture dense which enabled people to engage in agriculture all
year round, and this advantage attracted the attention of people to that area. The ability of people to engage
in agriculture all year round provided not only food security; it means that
excess food and vegetables became means of generating income. Gozaki has been
known for the production of onions and tomatoes for long. These two products
were produced in the dry season due to the availability of underground water
for watering of the plants.[16]
Gozaki is said to be lucky to have underground water, otherwise referred to as
“dausayi in Hausa’. Onions and
tomatoes were seasonal and have been scarce and expensive during the raining
season.
Also,
cotton was produced in large quantity and was used in the manufacture of
cloths, a production technique was developed which involved utilisation of the
product in industrial production. However, large hectares of land were only
employed with the establishment of Gozaki entity.[17]What is important is that,
at the early stage, the soil was noted for the production of cotton and this
would have attracted people to settle in the area. Indeed, cotton an important
raw material for the textile industry attracted people from as far as Kano to
settle in Gozaki.[18]
Trade in cotton was a major factor that led to the establishment of commercial
intercourse between Kano and Katsina, even before the formation of Katsina
Kingdom.[19]
Therefore,
the changes in the economy of Gozaki brought significant transformation of the
settlement from a town among equals in the vicinity of Gozaki area, to an
advanced political entity with centralised authority regulating the affairs of
the settlement. The political economy perspective points to the connected
stimulus between the development of the economy and the resultant expansion of
a state. Thus, economic growth stimulated the rise of the kingdom of Gozaki.
Development of Gozaki as a
Centralized Political entity by c.1500 A.D.
A
plain settlement had already emerged after1450 A.D., on the plains of Gozaki,
distinct with the hilltop settlement of Kuraku. The political head of the
people on the plains was a Maigari
(head of town) of Gozaki. The town was one of the many that emerged in the
vicinity of Gozaki in that period; others were Dabai, Tandama, Dabaibayawa and
others. It should be noted that, there was the development of hilltop
settlement in Gozaki which was its beginning. The hilltop settlement was headed
by the Sarkin Gwari. However, due to
the emergence of Masu gari in the
vicinity of Gozaki, the Sarkin Gwari
remained the head of both hilltop and the plain settlement of Gozaki. Then by
c.1500 A.D., a change occurred which had to do with the introduction of Islam
into the area.[20] It
should be noted that, this did not go well with the Sarkin Gwari and his people who perceived it as a ‘threat’ to their
traditional religion. Therefore, the Gwari rulers and some of their followers
under the guidance of a single ruler Wake left Gozaki as defiance to the
introduction of Islam into the area.[21] Therefore, they went to
Birnin Gwari and founded a new settlement on hilltop there. It is possible
that, the Gwari people were attracted to the hills of Birnin Gwari due to the
semblance and similarity of it to the environment of Gozaki. Thus, due to this
link there is still good rapport between Gozaki and Birnin Gwari up to date.[22] The
people of Birnin Gwari up to today identify the people of Gozaki as their own.
Nowadays, people from Gozaki receive the hospitality of the people of Birnin
Gwari whenever they visited.[23]
However,
the emigration of the Gwari did not signify that, the whole Gwari people left
Gozaki as some remained and intermarried with the Gozaki people.[24] It
was at this time also that Jangora, an official of Sarkin Gwari Wake who did not leave for Birnin Gwari was made a
ruler of Gozaki.[25] The
decision to appoint him as a ruler was made in recognition of the fact that he
was one of the founders of the Gozaki hilltop settlement. Thus, the new
settlement on the plains of Gozaki was established under the leadership of
Jangora. What this means is that, the Gwari who stayed back in Gozaki reaped
the reward of being patient. Having stayed back they were able to rule Gozaki.
There is a proverb in Hausa language that tackles the importance of patience in
the society, “mai hakuri ya kan dafa
dutse ya sha romo” which means that, the patient can cook a stone and drink
from its sauce.[26] The
proverb was made in consideration of the fact that, it takes longer period for
a stone to be crushed under intensive and high pressure. Thus, the patient one
can see to the crushing of a stone. The patience of the Gwari has recorded them
in the annals of history as a group that ruled not only the hilltop settlement
but the plains. Though, during the rule of Jangora, the nature of
political leadership was
maintained, the change was only associated with the Jangora being the ruler of
the plains, a town, different from the hilltop which they were associated with.
Thus, Jangora was not able to establish a centralized entity in Gozaki.
A new development happened in Gozaki by c.1500
A.D., the same period when Jangora the Gwari ruler became the head of Gozaki.
In fact, the period c.1500 A.D was a turning point in the history of Gozaki.
This had to do with the arrival of immigrants into the area from the Lake Chad
basin that shaped the history of the area. This development was none other than
the arrival of Kyangyaran who has been accredited with founding of the state of
Gozaki. It is said that, the town of Gozaki was founded by a man called
Kyangyaran[27] who
is said to be the founder, and first ruler of Gozaki.[28] It should be noted that,
Kyangyaran was not the founder of the town of Gozaki, when he reached the area
he met independent towns in the vicinity of Gozaki. What Kyangyaran did was
that he was able establish a centralized entity by making the town the metropolis of the entity of
Gozaki. The establishment of a centralised political entity means that there a
king in
Gozaki, who emerged along with
the masu gari of Dabai, Tandama and
others who were heads of towns. However, the king of Gozaki was able to bring under his authority other towns in the
area by making other masu gari in the
area to recognize his rule. Therefore, the political transformation brought by
Kyangyaran in Gozaki led to his acceptance, widely and in all quarters as the
first ruler of Gozaki.[29] This does not signify that,
the towns in the area of Gozaki were not in existence prior to his arrival. For
clarity, the arrival of Kyangyaran did not signal the beginning of political
system in Gozaki. Rather, he was able to shape the political developments
already taking place in Gozaki. Upon his arrival in Gozaki he was viewed as a mai gari, by other masu gari he met in the area and not a king at that point in time,
in the surrounding towns of Gozaki. Innitially, the other masu gari
have seen, and accepted him as a person with similar position as theirs. The
position of mai gari was the highest
political office in the Gozaki area, and was the order of the day at that time
prior to the arrival of Kyangyaran. This is so, because the society did not
emerge overnight, as it went through different stages of development. Prior to
his arrival developments which we noted above occurred in the society, this led
to the transformation of the society to a large entity.[30]
Therefore,
Kyangyaran has been widely accepted as the first king of Gozaki, which has
debunked the legend of origin of Gozaki that claimed Gozo and Agwaragwi, the said
giants, as the first rulers of Gozaki.[31] Kyangyaran was a hunter who
migrated into the area from the Lake Chad basin with large number of people.[32] So
being a hunter and a warrior he was able to use his military might and strength
in Gozaki and established his authority over the masu gari he found in the vicinity, and he established a small
state afterwards. The masu gari that
Kyangyaran met had put up resistance against his authority as they saw him as
none other than a mai gari like them,
with equal powers. Therefore, even if they challenged his authority, Kyangyaran
had the military might of subduing opposition. He came to the area with some
followers whom he could have conscripted into an army to suppress all
opposition. He went a step further to secure his position as a ruler of Gozaki
by defending the state he established against external aggression, by
establishing a strong defence. Prior to his tenure as the king of Gozaki there
was attempt by Katsina Kingdom to conquer the area.[33] Therefore, establishing
defence for internal and external security was paramount for the survival of
the emerging state.
It
should be noted that the Gozakawa
(people of Gozaki) were a mixture of Gwari,[34] Hausa, Bare-bare (people of Borno), Fulani and other groups from different
parts of Africa. This shows that Gozaki emerged as a heterogeneous society
composing of different groups, which was far and above kinship based
settlement. However, as the Hausa in the settlement were the largest in terms
of number, they assimilated other groups into Hausa culture. Indeed, the
importance of migration in the emergence of Gozaki cannot be undermined. The
arrival of Kyangyaran and his people from the Lake Chad basin brought changes
into that entity of Gozaki; and this is a testimony to the fact that people
from other parts of Africa beyond Hausaland also settled in Gozaki.
It
is worth noting at this point that; a centralised state of Gozaki emerged by
c.1500 A.D., at the time when other Hausa kingdoms were also emerging. This was
the time when some territories were gradually brought together through
conquest, and integrated into the kingdom. Consequently, a “state like” system
distinct from a settlement that was based on kinship relations emerged. This
implies that, the people living in Gozaki were not related by blood alone; they
established relations with people from far settlements. It composed of
artisans, farmers and even more villages and towns were incorporated in to the
state. It should be noted that farming remained important in the economy of
Gozaki.
The
political developments of Gozaki with the arrival of Kyangyaran was similar to
what happened in Katsina Kingdom, as the arrival of Korau signalled a new era
of the establishment of a centralised state of Katsina in 1500 A.D.[35]
With his arrival Kyangyaran decided to take a measure to strengthen his
authority over and above other Masu Gari
he met in the vicinity of Gozaki. In order to strengthen the defence of the
area, he engaged in the fortification of the town of Gozaki, which led to its
advancement to a status of a metropolis and the most advanced town in that
entity.[36]There
are some characteristics of a birni
(metropolis) and capital of a settlement which differentiate it from a gari (town). In other words it is
referred to the characteristics of a state, no matter how small, which
differentiate it with other towns. One of such is fortification of a
settlement. The town of Gozaki was fortified, similar to the way states in
Hausaland were secured with fortification that provided security to the people
not only in the physical sense, but also, provided mental stability; it guaranteed safety to the
people, as they felt a sense of security and protection from danger. This
provided a boost to the growth of the economy, as people felt safe to engage in
commercial transaction within and outside the settlement of Gozaki, than in any other settlement
in the vicinity.
The
ability of Kyangyaran to organise labour in the erection of the fortification,
popularly known as ganuwa in Hausa
Language is a clear indication of his leadership skills. The walls were erected
through a serious effort of canvassing for the support of large number of
people, both free born and slaves. There were leaders assigned to organise the
workforce that was engaged in a strenuous way involving the use of physical
energy and technical know-how. The wall happened to be so thick that makes one
wonder the amount of earth that was used to erect it. Hefty buildings must have
been erected to stand the test of time. Also, the wall was meant to prevent the
enemies from crossing over, either, by breaking down the wall or through
creating a hole on the wall.
That
is why a ganuwa (fortification) is
different from dwelling place in terms of energy, resources and workmanship
devoted in erecting it. The fortification of Gozaki was made of mud, which was
broad and very strong. In fact, the fortification was so strong and impenetrable,[37]
which made it difficult for foreign elements to plan a surprise attack through
it or by bringing it down.[38]
This is an indication that the people took their time, resources and
craftsmanship to put up structures that could be impenetrable from all sides
and direction. In a similar vein, in countries of Asia such as Korea, India and
China for example, states that developed in those regions in the past centuries
were able to develop strong defensive measures, and one of such was the
fortification of their settlements, in a manner that the rulers and the ruled
happened to be in a single fort, a kind of superior fortification, though not
made of mud alone, but a combination of mud, stones and cement. The
fortifications were of great height, about 100 feet high, which prevented the
invaders from easily penetrating inside.[39]However, the palaces of the
rulers were demarcated from the rest of the commoners, an evidence of rise of
authority between the rulers and the ruled.
The
erection of the fortification would have given Kyangyaran a sense of authority
over and above other Masu Gari he
found in the vicinity, and that would have given him some legitimacy as the new
ruler of Gozaki. The other Masu Gari
at that juncture have witnessed a difference in leadership, as Kyangyaran was
able to achieve allot by erecting a fortification for the whole settlement of
Gozaki from all sides. The fortification was highly needed by the people at
that time due to constant attacks on Gozaki from Katsina and Kano.[40] The
provision of security to the people was one of the reasons they decided to
accept him as the new ruler of the emerging entity of Gozaki. In fact, not only
did the rulers of the surrounding settlements submitted to the ruler of Gozaki,
the fortification sent a signal to other rulers, with centralized authority
elsewhere that an important settlement which could not be easily crushed had
emerged. People who wanted to invade Gozaki must have had superior military
tactics, to be able to do so. People coming in from other places into Gozaki,
have found a secured place to inhabit, where they could pursue their means of
living, with the soil being productive and enabling them with food resources
all year round, not found everywhere. Therefore, the emergence of a
heterogeneous settlement began to unfold in Gozaki that became a centre of
political leadership and economic growth.
Another
important factor behind the emergence of Gozaki as the most important
settlement in the region by 1500 A.D., lies in the transformation witnessed in
terms of religion. It became a centre of a more advanced religious practice,
the bori cult. In Gozaki, there
developed a system of religious worship which accommodated the interest of the
heterogeneous community settling in the area. This was the worship of the
spirits and the emergence of bori
cult which was superior to the ancestral worship tenable in the settlement.[41]
Kyangyaran had an upper hand in the bori
cult and he belonged to the iskoki
pantheon that was introduced in Gozaki which is among the reasons why he was
accepted as the ruler. Prior to that period, the ancestors were believed to be
the protectors of the lives and properties of the people and as the dead
watching over the living. The dead,
dwelling in the spirit world oversee the lives of their ‘own’ people living in
the world, and assisting them in time of need and difficulty. The role of the
ancestors could be seen in the mediation they engaged in case of disputes
between people, provision of rain and good harvest, curing various ailments was
also a duty of the ancestors. The ancestral worship reflected a society of
people with close relationship either by blood or through similar traits of
kinship. It also, shows that the society has not advanced to a heterogeneous
type to incorporate people of different values and occupations. The issue of
ancestral worship has been part of the social fabric of many societies in
Africa.[42] The introduction of bori cult in Gozaki catered for the
heterogeneous population that settled there.
In
Gozaki, the advancement of the society led to the emergence of different
occupational groups, which further led to the emergence and the introduction of
bori cult. It is said that each
occupational group had certain spirits who were the owners of that occupation.
For example, iron workers sought for the blessing of the spirits of iron and
the same applies to other occupations.[43] This means that, the role
of the ancestors in regulating the lives of the people was no longer tenable,
as it was before c.1500 A.D. Therefore, in order to meet the needs for the
growing population, a bori cult was
introduced. It involved worship of spirits and supernatural beings considered
to be elements of enormous powers, who afflicted people with diseases as well
as provide cure for different afflictions. In fact,
bori was a religious practice among
the people of the area. The followers of a type of bori cult could harm a non-follower using the spirits they
worshipped. However, on a general note, the bori
cult took care of the interest of all, whether related by blood or those from
distant places. That was why it became widely accepted by the heterogeneous
society.
Bori is a form of traditional
religion. Before the advent of Islam people the world over had a deity they
worshipped. People in Hausaland worshipped the Jinns, as they considered them
as deities.[44]
People prayed to the jinn for protection against all adversities like famine,
as they also prayed to him to bless them with all fortunes like offspring and
bountiful harvest. The act for seeking for assistance from the spirits gave
birth to Bori. The intermediaries
between the adherents and the Jinn were the people called ‘Yan Bori. The adherents of Bori
cult called ‘Yan Bori prayed to the
gods of those times, the jinns, for all fortunes and against misfortunes.[45]
The
most notable bori cult in Gozaki was
the Magiro cult, which was the most
common form of worship among the people of the area.[46] Gozaki became a centre of
the bori cult, thereby, bringing the
surrounding settlements under its authority. The recognition accorded the Uwar gari,[47] the female spirit
responsible for protecting the people, was incomparable to any other spirit.
The Uwar gari was similar to the
position accorded to the female spirit, Inna
uwa in the political evolution of Katsina Kingdom. The bori cult involved making animal sacrifices, be it goat or chicken
to the spirits in order to grant the wishes of the people as regards to rain,
good harvest, and cure from illness and protection from enemies. The dwelling
place of the spirits is said to be the baobab tree, and such trees happened to
be the largest in
number in the domain. If such trees were the abode of the iskoki, a lot of them dwelled in Gozaki.[48] Up to today that settlement
is inhabited by the iskoki who
frighten people at every opportunity; they might have frightened invaders to
Gozaki alike.[49]
Therefore, Gozaki was able to supersede other surrounding settlements and they
were able to submit to her. The rulers of Gozaki became part and parcel of the
new religious order and were able to dominate not only the religious aspect but
became in charge of the political authority of the area. Interestingly, the bori cult was not only the belonging of
the males; women were part and parcel of it. In fact, that is why the position
of Magajiyar bori emerged, a title
held by women who co-ordinated the activities the bori for the rulers and the ruled. Interestingly, a renowned spirit
worshipped was a female, popularly called Inna
uwa, meaning mother.[50]
Therefore,
Kyangyaran set the foundation of a strong political system and became the first
Sarkin Gozaki. The emergence of the
office of Sarki heralded the
emergence of a political system whereby other settlements of Dabai, Tandama,
Dabaibayawa were brought under its fold and Sarkin
Gozaki became the chief executive officer of that territory. However, it is
said that, there was the rise of chief priest in every community in Hausaland,
who had all the powers at their disposal and even exercised political influence
in the settlements and were the preservers of the accord made between the
ancestors and the spirits of the land.[51] It is now clear that, the
spirits were the owners of the land and they gave the people usufruct rights
according to the sacrifices offered to them. Therefore, the rise of the chief
priest in Gozaki for example would have heralded a power tussle between them
and Kyangyaran. It is possible that, Kyangyaran was widely accepted by the
spirits of the land. And the Bori
cult might have served the interest of the spirits to have warranted his
acceptance as the ruler of the entire Gozaki region. The chief priest continued
to perform their duties in the religious sphere. The bori was however used by some people to inflict pain on others by
spreading diseases to the enemy or making someone barren. This is so because,
animal sacrifice made to the spirits by some people could make them derail from
their role of ‘protecting’ all members of the community.
The
tenure of Kyangyaran was short-lived as he left Gozaki and this paved way for
another ruler to assume office. There is paucity of source to explain why
Kyangyaran left Gozaki to Birnin Gwari.[52] The traditions of Birnin
Gwari support the view that immigrants from Katsina founded the settlement, as
it is said that “hunters from Katsina went and founded Birnin Gwari. When they
reached the area they only met bushes and vast open land which they were able
to transform into a settlement due to fertile nature of the soil, which was
swampy in nature, and suitable for the production of varied crops.”[53] We
have to note that, other immigrants Wake, and his people left Gozaki for Birnin
Gwari. According to Oral Tradition collected in Birnin Gwari, it stated that,
the old settlement of Brinin Gwari was founded by hunters from Katsina and were
able to put themselves in position of authority.[54]In fact, these hunters from
Katsina along with the Gwari people from the area ruled Birnin Gwari.[55]
The
evidence from Birnin Gwari has corroborated the claim in Gozaki that Kyangyaran
and followers left for Birnin Gwari and they established the political
leadership there. This is shown in the king-list of Birnin Gwari which
established that there was mixed succession between the Gwari rulers at the
time of the arrival of these hunters, up to the reign of the last Gwari king
Shijaw.[56]
What is clear is that, Kyangyaran was not chased out of Gozaki or was defeated
in a war, to have warranted him leaving the settlement. He left on his own
accord for another settlement. It is possible that, his whole existence and
dreams rested on ushering in political developments and transformation of the
settlements he inhabited, that was why after transforming Gozaki, he set out to
Birnin Gwari to transform it into an advanced settlement as well. It is possible that, he was
one of those rulers who were not interested in establishing long reigns and
dynasties. Also, travelling from Lake Chad Basin he had passed through some
settlements before reaching Gozaki. Though there is no information on his life
before reaching Gozaki. What is important is that he left his foot print, and
the mark he left behind is indelible in the history of Gozaki, it cannot be
washed away by the sand of time.
However,
there was no interregnum in the history of Gozaki. The leadership of the entity
continued in the hands of the Gwari after Kyangyaran, and it continued to be
administered as a centralized entity. In fact, dynasties that ruled Gozaki were
clearly marked in its history, consisting of rulers who reigned in Gozaki as an
independent entity and later as an entity under Katsina kingdom. What is
important is that, these rulers stirred the affairs of Gozaki and administered
it as a significant entity whose economy was reckoned with in terms of internal
production of goods and services as well as income generation.
Incorporation of Gozaki into
Katsina Kingdom
The
incorporation of Gozaki into Katsina kingdom was done in the context of
territorial expansion undertaken by the newly formed Hausa kingdom, Katsina, in
the beginning of the sixteenth century Central Sudan. Gozaki at that point in
time was not an insignificant settlement that was desolate; rather, it had
emerged as an important entity. The availability of natural and agricultural
resources in Gozaki has contributed immensely to its emergence as an important
entity by c.1500 A.D. That natural resource and along with many factors made
Gozaki attractive, and it drew the attention of state builders in Hausaland.
And it was annexed and conquered by Katsina Kingdom in the fifteenth century.
However, Gozaki came under Katsina kingdom instead of Zazzau kingdom despite
its proximity with the latter. Zazzau was a centralised political entity with
well centralised political entity and a well developed military structure at
that point in time.[57]
Also,
it is also likely that, Katsina Kingdom was the fastest in terms of territorial
acquisition of Gozaki over and above Zazzau and Kano. In Hausa Language the
ability to grab something at a faster rate is called ‘shigar sauri’. Therefore, it was likely that Katsina Kingdom did shigar sauri, outwitted Zazzau and
acquired Gozaki. It is possible that, the attention of Kano and Zazzau Kingdoms
was not on Gozaki at that time. Though as we stated earlier there was attempt
by Kano to conquer it. The most important issue to be considered is that,
Katsina Kingdom acquired Gozaki and brought it under its administration due to
the supposed significance of Gozaki to the growth of Katsina Kingdom. The
kingdom of Katsina was established in the fifteenth century in the northern
territory of the state. [58]
Thus,
the formation of the kingdom of Katsina in the fifteenth century around the
Birnin Katsina by Korau “requires the
bringing of the towns of Katsina Laka.... under the authorities of the Birni.”[59] ‘Birni’ here is referred to as Birnin Katsina, the capital of the
Katsina kingdom. Also, this information has been corroborated by oral
information where it has been stated that, Gozaki was brought under the
authority of Katsina Kingdom during the rule of Korau.[60]
Thus,
the acquisition of Gozaki by Katsina Kingdom signalled a new era in its
history. Instead of Gozaki existing as an independent entity composing of the Gozakawa (people of Gozaki), it became
an entity under Katsina.
In
fact, Gozaki was one of the important territories under the Sarakunan Garuruwa (heads of territories) of Katsina. Others were Maska,
Kogo, Dugul, Samri, Yandaka and Gazobi.[61]
The
occupation brought an end to the independent status of Gozaki, along with Maska
located to the west; they became provinces under Katsina Kingdom.
Conclusion
Gozaki
emerged as a centralized political entity in the fifteenth century in an area
south east of Katsina Kingdom, close to Zazzau Kingdom. It was administered as
a political entity under the administration of a king, the Sarkin Gozaki. However, the independent existence of Gozaki was
brought to an end with its conquest and incorporation into Katsina kingdom,
thereby bringing an end the independent settlement of Gozaki in c.1500 A.D., as
it became an entity under the Sarki
Katsina, the overall head of the kingdom.
Bibliography
1.
(a) Oral Interviews
i.
Interview with Mallam Sani Ladan,
Limamain Masallacin bakin hanya, guide to historical sites in Gozaki, Gozaki,
12th June, 2020
ii.
Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, 43
years, civil servant, the interview took place at Kafur local Government
Secretariat, 6th September, 2018.
iii.
Interview with Mallam Sani, civil
servant, the interview took place in front of his house in Gozaki, 10th August,
2020.
iv.
Interview with Mallam Salisu, Potter,
50 years, Gozaki, July 2017.
(b) Field Reports
1.
Fieldwork Report on Gozaki by Oyinloye
Yinka Olenrajaju, Department of Archaeology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
2013.
2.
Umar Bashir, “An Archaeological Field
Report of Gozaki Kafur Local Government of Katsina State”, June 2016.
(c)
Archival Records
NNNAK
KATPROF/1/6,3. Maska District Notebook
NNNAK
KATPROF /1/25 Danja District Record Book
NNAK
KATPROF 1/1695, Assessment Report Galadima District
2.
Published Works:
a. Books
Barth,
H., Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa, Vol. 1, London.
Bello,
Muhammad, Infaqul Maisuri Bello,
Being a Paraphrase and some parts translation of Infakul Maisuri of F.J., The Rise of the Sokoto Fulani
Aiman
Zagami, Hausawa da Makwabtansu, vol.
1, Northern Nigeria Publishing Company, 1970
Ibn
Khaldun, Al- Muqaddimah (Rosenthal
translation), Dar al Qalam, Beirut, 1981
Nakuta,
Abubakar Ibrahim, Takaitaccen Tarihin
Birnin Gwari, Kual Printers, Kaduna, 1999
Palmer,
H.R., Sudanese Memoirs III, London, 1928.
Usman,
Y.B., The Transformation of Katsina 1400-1883, Ahmadu Bello University
Press, Zaria, 1981.
b.
Articles
Adamu,
M., “Thousand Years of Hausaland Participation in Trans-Saharan Trade 9th
to 19th centuries” in History Research at A.B.U vol. I
1981/82
Aliyu,
M. K., Archaeological Survey of Gozaki Site: A Preliminary Report, Zaria Archaeological Papers, vol. 11,
no.1, 2012
Holowinska
Zofia, “Ancient Towns in Katsina and Daura Emirates”, Fieldwork Report, 1974.
Ibrahim,
Hussaina B.K., “Gozaki:The Emergence and Political Development of a Settlement
in Central Sudan Up to 1600 A.D.” Degel:
The Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies, vol. 19, no.2, December, 2021
[1] For details on the emergence of Gozaki see
Hussaina B.K. Ibrahim, “Gozaki: The Emergence and
Political Development of a Settlement in Central Sudan Up to 1600 A.D.” Degel: The Journal of the Faculty of Arts
and Islamic Studies, vol. 19, no.2, December,
2021.Pp. 76-97.
[2] Fieldwork Report on Gozaki by Oyinloye Yinka
Olenrajaju, Department of Archaeology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. 2013.
[3] M. K. Aliyu, “Archaeological Survey of Gozaki
Site: A Preliminary Report”, Zaria
Archaeological Papers, vol. 11, no.1, 2012
[4] For details see Hussaina B.K. Ibrahim, “History of the Emergence,
Development and Collapse of Gozaki, Katsina Kingdom, c. 1450-1915 A.D.”, PhD
thesis, Department of History Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, June, 2023.
[5] J.E. G Sutton, “Towards a less
Orthodox history of Hausaland”, Journal of African History, vol. 20 no.2, 1979.
[6] Ibid
[7] Interview with Mal. Mato, farmer, 85 years,
his house in Gozaki, 12th August, 2020; Interview with
Mallam Sani Ladan, 70 years, knowlegeable in oral history of Gozaki, 15th February, 2018.
[8] NNAK KATPROF 1/1695 Assessment Report
Galadima District
[9] KHCB File 116, “Tarihin Garin Gozaki”, Garuruwan Jihar Katsina., Katsina
History and Culture Bureau, Katsina State , vol. II
[10] Interview with Mallam Isiya, 55 years, Gozaki,
farmer, 16th August, 2018.
[11] Ibid
[12] A. T. Grove, Land and Population in Katsina Province, Kaduna, 1952
[13] Michael
Watts, Silent Violence: Food, Famine and Peasantry in Northern Nigeria,
University of California Press, Berkeley,1983; Hussaina B. K. Ibrahim, “Impact of
Colonialism on the Aspect of Economy of Katsina Metropolis, 19031960” M. A.
thesis, Department of History Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.2011.
[14] B. J. Smith et all, “ Size Sorting of Surface
Materials on Debris Mantled Slope near Zaria, northern Nigeria” Savanna, vol. 7 no. 1, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, 1978.
[15] A. T. Grove, Land and Population..., op.cit
[16]Interview with Mallam Umar, 60 years, farmer,
his house, Gozaki, 14th August, 2020; Interview with Ado
Ibrahim, 62 years, in front of his house, ‘Yar kasuwa Masari, 22nd July, 2020; Iinterview with Auwal Alhassan Gozaki, 32
years, Mazarkwaila producer, Gozaki, 15th December, 2020.
[17] Y.B. Usman,The
Transformation of Katsina 1400-1883, Ahmadu Bello University Press, Zaria,
1981, p.32
[18] Ibid
[19] Ibid
[20] Interview with Mallam Sani Ladan, Limamain
Masallacin Bakinhanya, guide to historical sites in Gozaki, Gozaki, 12th
June, 2020.
[21] Interview with Mallam Sani Ladan, Limamain
Masallacin Bakinhanya, Ibid; Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, 43 years,
civil servant, at Kafur local Government Secretariat, 6th September, 2018.
[22] Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, 43 years,
civil servant, at Kafur local Government Secretariat, 6th September, 2018.
Interview with Alhaji Zubair Abdul Ra’uf, 58 years, Danmasanin Birnin Gwari,
via phone and whatsapp chat on 8th August, 2023 and 11th August
2023. Danmasanin Birnin Gwari corroborated the information on the history of
Birnin Gwari and Gozaki relations in a discussion of Waziri of Birnin Gwari via
phone call, 11th August, 2023.
[23] Ibid
[24] Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, Civil
Servant, 43 years, and the interview took place in Kafur Local Government
Secretariat, 20th July, 2019.
[25] A. B. Sani, “Al’Adunmu”, Journal of History
and Culture Bureau, Katsina State
[26] This proverb is a common saying among the people of Hausaland.
[27] Interview with Mallam Salisu , Potter, 50
years, Gozaki, July 2017
[28] Zofia Holowinska,
“Ancient Towns in Katsina and Daura Emirates”, Fieldwork Report, 1974; M. K.Aliyu, “Archaeological
Survey of Gozaki Site: A Preliminary Report”, Zaria Archaeological Papers, vol. 11, no.1, 2012
[29] The tradition of Gozaki which attributes the
establishment of Gozaki as a political entity is widespread among the
inhabitants of Gozaki. The tradition is extant and recovered through oral
interviews conducted by the author.
[30] A. Smith, “Some Notes on the History of Zazzau
under the Hausa Kings” in M.J. Mortimore (ed), Zaria and its Regions: A Nigerian Savannah City and its Environs,
Occasional Paper no. 4, Department of Geography, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, 1970.
[31] For details see Hussaina B.K. Ibrahim, “History of the Emergence,
Development and Collapse of Gozaki, Katsina Kingdom, c. 1450-1915 A.D.”, PhD
thesis, op.cit
[32] Zofia Holowinska, “Ancient Towns in Katsina
and Daura Emirates” op.cit; M. K.
Aliyu, Archaeological Survey of Gozaki Site: A Preliminary Report”, op.cit
[33] Interview with Mallam Salisu , Potter, 50
years, op.cit
[34] Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, Civil
servant, 43 years, Kafur Local Government Secretariat, September, 2018
[35] Y. B. Usman, The Transformation of Katsina op.cit, pp.10-19
[36] Zafia Holowinska, “ Ancient towns...” op.cit
[37] Interview with Mallam Sani, civil servant, the
interview took place in front of his house in Gozaki, 10th August, 2020.
[38] Hussaina B.K. Ibrahim, “Gozaki: The Emergence and Political Development
of a Settlement in Central Sudan Up to 1600 A.D.” Degel, op.cit, p.92.
[39] The historical movies of the Asians depict
that fortification was an important measure employed by the rulers in securing
their territories.
[40] Aiman Mahamman Zagami, Hausawa da
Makwabtansu vol. 1, Zaria, 1970; Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, Civil
servant, 43 years, op.cit; Interview with
Mallam Sani, civil servant, op.cit
[41] Hussaina B.K. Ibrahim, “Gozaki: The Emergence and Political Development
of a Settlement in Central Sudan Up to 1600 A.D.” Degel, op.cit,p.83
[42] Hussaina B.K. Ibrahim, “History of the Emergence, Development and Collapse
of Gozaki, Katsina Kingdom, c. 1450-1915 A.D.”, PhD thesis, op.cit
[43] Finn
Fuglestad, “A Reconsideration of Hausa History before the Jihad”, Journal of African History, Vol. 19,
No. 3, 1978, pp.319-339.
[44] Interview with Dr. Muhammad Tahar Adamu,
Ibrahim Yaro Yahaya Centre for Research in Nigerian Languages and Forklore,
Bayero University, Kano by Uthman Abubakar, www.dailytrust.com.ng, 2017
[45] Ibid
[46] Interview with Mallam Ladan, farmer, 65 years,
Gozaki, 20th December, 2019.
[47] Ibid
[48] Interview with Mallam Haruna Gozaki,65 years,
Farmer, at his house in Gozaki, 18th August, 2018
[49] Ibid
[50] In the emergence odf settlements in hausaland religious factor has played
important role. see A. Smith, “Some Considerations Relating to the
Formation of States in Hausaland”, JHSN,
vol. 5. No. 3, Dec. 1970, p.340; Y.B. Usman,
“The transformation of Katsina c.1796-1903: The Overthrow of the Sarauta System
and the Establishment of the Emirate” PhD Thesis, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1974;
Abdullahi Mahadi,”The Sarauta and the Economy:The Sarauta Systema and Its Role
in Shaping the Socity and Economy of Kano with Particular Reference to the
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries”, Ph.D. Thesis, Departmenet of History,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1982
[51] Finn Fuglestad, op.cit
[52] Zafia Holowinska, op.cit; Interview with Mallam Dalha Gozaki, Civil servant, 43
years, op.cit; Interview with Mallam
Babangida Gozaki, 50 years, Kafur Market, 16th June, 2021.
[53] Abubakar Ibrahim Nakuta, Takaitaccen Tarihin Birnin Gwari, Kual Printers, Kaduna, 1999, pp
2-3.The book is written in Hausa Language, so the quotation was translated into
English Language by the current researcher with the assistance of A. S.
Muhammad, Department of African Languages and Cultures, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.
[54] Norman K. Grant, “Some Oral Tradition from Sabon Birnin Gwari”, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria,
vol.4, no.1, 1967, pp.135-139.
[55] Ibid
[56] Ibid
[57] Hausawa da Makwabtansu vol. I, op.cit
[58] Y.B. Usman,The
Transformation of Katsina 1400-1883, op.cit
[59] Interview with Alhaji Nuhu Yashe, Bebejin
Katsina, District Head of Kusada, 90 years, Sabon Layi, Katsina, 3rd April, 2021; Y. B. Usman, “Some
Aspects of the External Relations of Katsina Before 1804” Savanna:
Journal of Environmental and Social
Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, vol.1 No. 2, December, 1972; Interview with Musa Gambo Kofar Soro,
50 years, a journalist who has written on the history of Gozaki, the interview
took place in Kofar Soro Katsina, 10th July, 2023.
[60] Interview with Mallam Musa Isuhu, 50 years,
farmer, in front of his house at Gozaki, 25th May, 2019; Interview with Musa
Gambo Kofar Soro, 50 years, op.cit
[61] KHCB,“Garuruwan Jihar Katsina 2”, Katsina State History and Culture Bureau,
unpublished Research Paper, op.cit;
Interview with Musa Gambo Kofar Soro, 50 years, op.cit
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