emirate · West Africa
Gwandu Emirate
Origins
After the victory of the jihad, Usman dan Fodio divided responsibility for his realm around 1812: his son Muhammad Bello took the east from Sokoto, while his brother Abdullahi dan Fodio took the west from Gwandu, a town he had fortified in 1808. Abdullahi, a respected scholar and poet, ruled until his death in 1829.
Rule and society
Gwandu ranked second to Sokoto and supervised emirates such as Ilorin, Nupe, Liptako and the lands of the Dendi kingdom, receiving their tribute. Its rulers were scholars as well as administrators, and the emirate fought long wars with the Hausa of the Kingdom of Kebbi, who built the rival Argungu Emirate. Abdullahi's son Khalilu ruled from 1833 to 1858.
Decline and legacy
British forces occupied Gwandu in 1903, and the Anglo-French boundary split its lands. The Nigerian part became an emirate in Northern Nigeria, and the Emir of Gwandu still reigns in Kebbi State.
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (4)
- Gwandu Emirate was part of Sokoto Caliphate1808 CE – 1903 CE
- Kingdom of Yauri paid tribute to Gwandu Emirate1810 CE – 1901 CE
- Bida Emirate was a vassal of Gwandu Emirate1856 CE – 1901 CE
- Gwandu Emirate was conquered by Protectorate of Northern Nigeria1903 CE
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Gwandu Emirate. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gwandu-emirate
- MLA
- “Gwandu Emirate.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gwandu-emirate. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Gwandu Emirate.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gwandu-emirate.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Gwandu Emirate’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gwandu-emirate (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻