HADEJIA A YAU

The Government and Society of Hadejia in
the 19th Century:
The government of Hadejia in the 19th
century, like other emirates of the old
Sokoto Caliphate, was based on autocracy.
The emir who was a spiritual as well as
temporal head was at the helm of affairs. He
was assisted in governing by a class of
officials or titleholders who were resident in
his court. It was only the Sarkin Auyo who
was permitted to stay outside the
headquarters: he lived permanently at Auyo
town. The composition of these titIe holders
or Hakimai was made up of 'ya'yan Sarki
(Princes), Dangin Sarki (emir's relatives),
Barorin Sarki (clients), and Bayin Sarki
(slaves). The structure of this emirate's
administration was never dominated by the
"Fulani ruling caste", since the
heterogeneous nature of the area was
taken into cognisance in the distribution of
both civil and military offices. For example,
during Sambo's reign the title of Madaki was
held by a Bamange and that of Galadima
was given to a Ba-Auyaki, both non-Fulani
tribes.
Militarily, the emir was the Commander-in-
Chief of the emirate, delegating his function
in practice to Sarkin Yaki (Captain General or
War Chief), Jarma (Chief of the Brave Ones),
Madaki, Sarkin Arewa and other war chiefs.
The composition of the entire military force
was made up of courtiers, title-holders and
their household slaves, Dogarai (the
emirate's bodyguards) and contingents
from the "fiefs". Hadejia had two broad
sectors of the army: the cavalry (Barade) and
foot soldiers. Militarily the emirate was
considered to be the strongest emirate east
of Kano. This reputation it enjoyed and
enhanced right from the days of the Buhari
Revolt up to the coming of the British.