Before the Jihad of Shehu Usman Danfodio in the nineteenth century (19th century), the lands of Maradi, Tasawa, Gazawa, and Garabi were all under the authority of the Sarkin Katsina, from the reign of Sarkin Katsina Korau (1348) down to the kings who succeeded him.
When Shehu Mujaddadi Usman Danfodio called for the launching of the Jihad in order to purify and strengthen Islam in Hausaland and other parts of Bilad al-Sudan, Islamic scholars from different regions began travelling to Sokoto to receive the Jihad flag, which authorized them to conduct the Jihad in their respective areas.
In Katsina, three Mujahideen travelled to Sokoto to receive the Jihad flag from Shehu. They were:
Ummarun Dallaje
Malam Na Alhaji
Ummarun Dunyawa
The main reason for Danfodio’s Jihad was the mixture of Islamic practices with traditional beliefs that was widespread in Hausaland, including Katsina.
After fierce battles were fought and victory was achieved, the Habe rulers (descendants of Korau), under the leadership of their last king, Magajin Haladu, fled into exile. They first settled at Dankama, and later moved to Damagaram. During this migration, Magajin Haladu fell into a well and died.
After his death, Dankasawa, one of Korau’s descendants, continued to lead the group. They remained in Damagaram as refugees.
At that time, Maradi was under the authority of the Sarkin Katsina and was one of the territories governed by the Sullubawa, under Ummarun Dunyawa. The representative (agent) of Maradi at that time was Mani Asha.
On one occasion, Ummarun Dunyawa sent his representative, Mani Asha, to Maradi to collect taxes. However, the people of Maradi, who were already tired of Mani Asha’s rule, planned to kill him if he came. When Mani Asha arrived, they killed him.
After this, the people of Maradi sent a message to the Habe rulers who were in exile in Damagaram, inviting them to return to Maradi and resume kingship, since the Katsina representative, Mani Asha, had already been killed.
Consequently, in the year 1816, the Habe (descendants of Korau) moved from Damagaram under the leadership of Dankasawa and established the Emirate of Sarkin Katsina Maradi, with its headquarters in Maradi town. Dankasawa thus became the first Sarkin Katsina Maradi, beginning his reign in 1816.
From that time onward, the Habe rulers continued to launch attacks on Katsina territories with the intention of reclaiming power from the Fulani Dallazawa. It is said that they conquered Tasawa, Gazawa, Garabi, and other areas which had previously been under the authority of the Sarkin Katsina.
This situation led the descendants of Malam Yusuf of Garabi to migrate from Garabi to Kafin Soli, where they settled.
These attacks by the rulers of Maradi continued for a long period. It is reported that even close to the arrival of the Europeans in Katsina, they were still carrying out raids with the aim of recovering power from the Dallazawa.
Dankasawa was the first Sarkin Katsina Maradi. After him, many other rulers reigned in Maradi, including:
Rauda
Binoni
Danbaskore
and others.
Alh. Musa Gambo
Kofar Soro
