Frontiers of Knowledge Journal Series | International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2635-3644 | Vol. 4 Issue 1 (March, 2021) The Role of Traditional Hegemony in Community Development: A Case study of Gwadabawa District, Sokoto State, Nigeria (1931- 1968). Yusuf Sarkingobir 1 Department of Biology Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, Nigeria [email protected] Abstract Sokoto Caliphate was a famous formation made by the Fulani Jihadists and their helpers in the Hausaland and environs, which is still afresh in our mind and civilization. It led to the revival of the Hausaland traditional hegemony system. Later, the British invaded the region and installed some of their interests. But, still the system laid by Usman Danfodio is still relevant and unavoidable. The actors in this Danfodio system contributed hugely in the development using their traditional powers. One of the famous grand scions who followed the footsteps of his forefathers was the Sarkingobir Gwadabawa Abdurrahman (who lived circa in 1903-1968 A.D.). Abdurrahman was raised in a family of Atikawa, popularly known for education. He obtained Islamic and Western education accordingly. He started representing Gwadabawa in the aspects of hegemony as early as 1916. Later in 1927-1931 he became the Sardauna of Sokoto after he succeeded his brother Abdun Mamma. Among his achievements on Sardauna stool was the construction of Sokoto-Gusau Road. In 1931 he was turbaned as the Sarkingobir Gwadabawa, District Head of Gwadabawa, a more important post than the Sardauna. He ensured the transmogrification of Illela bush to a town. He ensured many contributions in the development of Gwadabawa District. Some of his roles include: the development in education, construction of roads connecting rural villages, construction of well water supplies, improvement in farming activities and preservation of peace among others. He died in June 1968. Therein, the mantle was given to his son Muhammadu Bello. Still the successors to Sarkingobir stool are his descendants. Keywords: Gwadabawa, District Head, Caliphate, Education, rural roads, peace, Sarkingobir Gwadabawa, Abdurrahman Open Access Journal www.smrpi.com 1 Frontiers of Knowledge Journal Series | International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2635-3644 | Vol. 4 Issue 1 (March, 2021) 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Family of Sarkingobir Abdurrahman Abdurrahman Gwadabawa popularly known as AuduJatau is from the Atiku branch (Atikawa) of Sokoto royal family who are heirs to the Sarkin Musulmi (Sultanate) throne. Atikawa derived from the Abubakar Atiku 1 Ibn Shehu Usmanu (may Allah be pleased with him) who was the second Sarkin Musulmi after Muhammadu Bello. Atiku branch of the sultan’s family have a very close lien over the northern parts of the Sokoto Caliphate. It was started early when Atiku was assigned by Shehu to guard that region. When Atiku became Sarkin Musulmi, his son Ahmadu Zaruku (the grandfather of AuduJatau) took that mantle at Chimmola. In 1859, when Ahmadu Zaruku succeeded as Sultan and his son Muhammadu Maiturare followed in his footsteps living first at Chimmola and subsequently founded Gwadabawa. During the time of Maiturare, the flood of Adarawa/Azbinawa began. Maiturare became Sarkin Musulmi in 1915. Tangaza was carved out from Gwadabawa district in that 1915, and Gada in 1924. All these districts remained the heritage of Ahmadu Zaruku’s descendants (Sokoto State History Bureau, 1979). Atikawa or their followers are numerous and inhabited other places apart from the northern part of Sokoto Caliphate. They can be found either as Sarakuna (leaders) or inhabitants in different places such as in Fajaldu, Danchadi, Jabo, Gwadabawa, Illela, Gada, Tangaza, Dimbiso, Sudan, (Maiwurno), Mecca, USA, Mali, Kontagora e.t.c. This is the family which AbduJatau hailed. He is Sarkingobir Abdurrahman Gwadabawa son of Sarkin Musulmi Muhammadu Maiturare Gwadabawa, son of Sarkin Musulmi Ahmadu Zaruku, son of Sheikh Shehu Usmanu Ibn Fodiyo (may Allah pleased with him). Available record echoed that Abdurrahman Gwadabawa was born in 1903 and he passed away in 1968 (may Allah pleased with him) (Sokoto State History Bureau, 1979; Chafe,1998). The mother of SarkinGobir Abdurrahman was married from Arewa. Some traditions said she came from royal house of Kurdula (Sarkin Arewan Kurdula), while some believed that she was from Sarkin Arewan Yeldu (from Argungu royal house). All the two traditions had shown that she came from one region called Arewa, and if deep surf is performed, the origin might be one. Her name was Jimma (because it was Open Access Journal www.smrpi.com 2 Frontiers of Knowledge Journal Series | International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2635-3644 | Vol. 4 Issue 1 (March, 2021) a tradition of not calling the real name of elders in that time). Jimma came to Gwadabawa along with her younger brother Iliyasu (Noma), who was given the title of Jekadan Gwadabawa later (albeit in their original home they held the title of Jekada) (Namadina, 2020). 2. BODY APPEARANCE OF SARKINGOBIR ABDURRAHMAN Abdurrahman was a light-skinned complexion person, which gave the popular name Jatau (a word derived from red color). He was tall (not very tall), not slimed and not fat. He does not usually speak a lot. People cannot look at his eyes for long ( Namadina, 2020). 3. EDUCATION OF ABDURRAHMAN AND PRIOR APPOINTMENT BEFORE ASCENDING THE THRONE AS SARKINGOBIR. As a tradition of any muslim family, Abdurrahman was quickly enrolled into Islamic school. Therein, he got deep education in Islamic sciences. He usually quotes quranic, hadith, and literatures when talking during his days. Probably, his Islamic knowledge earned him respect and reverence and popularity from the followers and elites during his life. He utilized one medical book written by Sultan Muhammadu Bello in treatment of people suffering from diverse medical conditions including the issues of spirit (jinn) and mayu. Being somebody born during the time when Turawa was at the height of Sokoto invasion, he was appointed to acquire the western knowledge through elementary school and self-taught ways (Sokoto State History Bureau, 1979). Abdurrahman has been representing Gwadabawa in the affairs of Sarauta up to 1927. In 1927-1931 he was Sardaunan Sokoto, after he succeeded his brother Abdun Mamma. During his reign as Sardaunan Sokoto, he was a Sultanate councilor in- charge of works, in-charge of Yandoka (police, dogarai, gidanyari prison, and security). He toured Zamfara land. It was then that he ensured the construction of motorable Sokoto-Gusau road. In 1931, he succeeded as SarkinGobir of Gwadabawa (the district head of Maiturare’s house and leader of Atikawa), after Sarkingobir Adiya (may Allah be pleased with him) (Majalisar ra'ayin jama'a ta Sakkwato, n.d.; Sokoto State History Bureau,1979). Open Access Journal www.smrpi.com 3 Frontiers of Knowledge Journal Series | International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2635-3644 | Vol. 4 Issue 1 (March, 2021) 4. PROMINENT RELATIONSHIPS, MARRIAGES AND SIGNIFICANT FACTS ABOUT SARKINGOBIR ABDURRAHMAN GWADABAWA Some of the prominent relations of Sarkingobir Abdurrahman include: 1. Bunun Tangaza Shehu (his junior) 2. MarafanTangaza Isah (his senior) 3. Marafa Ibrahim Dasuki was his nephew (district of Gada). 4. Malam Abdu Tangaza (one time Sarkin fuloti) was his nephew. 5. One of the wives of Sarkingobir Abdurrahman was the daughter of Sarkin Musulmi Hassan (the cousin of Sarkin Musulmi Abubakar III. 6. District head of Kware Muhammad Bello married his sister, which he divorced later. 7. He had a good relationship with the Sarkin Tudun Gidan Karma (Muhammadu Nagari, father of the current Sarkin Yamma Dan’Iya. 8. Other friends of Sarkingobir Abdurrahman were Bunun Tangaza Shehu, Sarkin Rafi Ummaru. He had been representing Gwadabawa in traditional leadership (sarauta) since as early as 1916 (Majalisar Raayin Jama'a ta Sakkwato, n.d.). He helped Sarkin Musulmi Tambari (his senior) during the reign of Tambari as Sarkingobir Gwadabawa, before Tambari ascended, the Sarkin Musulmi throne, Abdu Jatau has been in good terms with Sarkin Musulmi Hassan till the time of his death. When Hassan died in 1938, he contested for the Sultanate throne but lost to Abubakar III. This contest led to some repercussions upon him around 1937-1938; later he became on good term with Sarkin Musulmi Abubakar III up to the time he passed away in 1968 (Sifawa, 2020). 9. Sarkingobir Abdurrahman was a member of the Sultanate council in 1950 (Sokoto State History Bureau (1979). 10. Some possible successors of Sarkingobir Gwadabawa Abdurrahman mentioned were: Marafa Bello (second son), Bunun Tangaza Shehu, Marafa Ibrahim Gada. Abdurrahman once said, when he is elected to KADUNA Assembly, he will leave his District affairs to be safely looked after by the Sardaunan Chimmola Muhammadu Zayyanu, his son (Sokoto State History Bureau (1979). After the death of Sarkingobir, he was succeeded by his son Open Access Journal www.smrpi.com 4 Frontiers of Knowledge Journal Series | International Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2635-3644 | Vol. 4 Issue 1 (March, 2021) Muhammadu Bello in 1968. Muhammadu Bello was succed by Muhammadu Zayyanu (brother to Muhammadu Bello). In 2014, Muhammadu Lawal was succeeded as the Sarkingobir Gwadabawa after his father Muhammadu Zayyanu (Ayama, 2018). 11. Sarkingobir Gwadabawa Abdurrahman had a good chance of becoming Sultan but that was not written in his destiny. It was openly spoken in his District that he was only waiting for higher favours to come on his way (Sokoto State History Bureau (1979). 5. CHILDREN OF SARKINGOBIR ABDURRAHMAN GWADABAWA Abdurrahman was blessed with a number of children males and females who became very important and specialized in their various endeavours, more especially in the service of humanity. They are listed below: 1. Muhammadu (Sardauna), born in 1931, one-time village head of Chimmola 2. Muhammadu Ahmad Chimmo 3. Muhammadu Bello (Marafa), born in 1932 one time village head of Asara later succeeded his father as sarkingobir in 1968.