The Jihad movements in W. Africa

As jihad is an Islamic "Holy war" directed against non believers.  It greatly aimed at                 .
purifying Islam, converting  people to Islam in line with the Shana  law. This  is why they
were commonly  referred to as holy wars in 19th century  West Africa although  their effects went beyond religious issues.
In 1792 the  great  Songhai  empire  center  for  Islam  In   west  Africa  was  destroyed   by Moroccans and no true replacement  of Songhai was provided  by the conquerors.  Islamic
politcal vaccum  was created.  Tributary  states  began  rivaling  for mdependence.   Pegans nominal Muslims became the rulers of West Afnca.
The Period   that  proceeded   was  characterized    by  widespread   corruption,   decadence,
Misrulsite and  general  disrespect   for  Islamic   faith  and  Islamic  institutions.   It was  this situation that existed  in West Africa up to the beginning  of  19th  century.  The Jihad crisis
And revolutions  stirred the history of West Africa until the advent of colonialism  in the last of the 19th century
The Period between  180 1-1880s  was characterized  in western  Sudan region  with violent es involving  turmoil,  bloodshed,  population  displacement,   creation,  destruction  of
Large empires  and  emergency  of powerful   leaders.  The  aspects  and  many  others  have
Forced historians   to  describe   the  19tb   West  Africa  as  indeed  a  period   of  crisis  and
The main  four-noted  jihad  movements  among many    include  that of Uthman Dan Fordio 1804 the jihad  of Ahmed  Bello  1818, and these were purely  religiously  inspired.  Alhaji
Umar 1851, and  lhat of Maba  Diakhouba  of  1861 these  had  a mixture  of political  and
Economic intentions in their movements .
The fifth one  looks  marginalised.   This  was  Samoure  Toure's   Jihad.  His was  debatable
Because many  scholars  consider  him  as more  of  a politician   and  especially   a resistance against  European colonialism  than a jihad  movement.  But Samoure  himself  is believed to have told his followers  that his was a religious  war.  Islamic  holy  war against  the non believers.
The  Jihad  of Uthman  Dan Fodio.
Dan  Fodio  was  born  in  1754  In Gobir  one  of  the  Hausa  states  located   in northern   Nigeria, He  was born  a Moslem   and  his  father  was  an  Islamic  teacher.   Fodio started   his  teaching when  he  was  on lv 20years   old,  In  1774  he  collaborated     with   a  small  group   of  Islamic center Dan  Fodios   popularity    caused   a threat  to  the  ruling   pagan   king of  Gobir.   In  1802 Uniga king of  Gobir  ordered   for  his arrest and  Fodio chose  to take  a Hejira (flight  from  sinners) from  Deger  in Gobir  to Gaddu  where  supporters   Joined  hima.
In 1804, Dan  Fodios   followers attacked   king Yunifa and  defeated   him   Next he  attacked and overthrew  all old  Hausa rulers because   he never  trusted   them.
Dan  Fodro  chen created   what   became   to be  known   as  the  Sokot   caliphates,    one  of  them was ruled by lus brother  Abdallah 3!1C  another by his  son.  Ahmed   Bello.  He  died  in  1817 having restored from active political a:nd appointed caliphs   to his  kingdom
The Jihad   of  Ahmed Bello
He was a son of Uthman Dan Fodio   He had attended   his  preachings  and  became   one  of his appointed  religious leaders    Thus his method   of work  was  in line  with  that  of his  father Ahmed   Bello   operated    among   the  Fulani  people   of  Macinaland.   His  first  center   was  at Jenne and  later  built  Ill'. Headuuarers  at Secera   like Dan Fodio  he was hated  by  the area chief Ardo and  chose to carry out  a Hejira to Harndullahi  when'   he  received   Dan  Fodio's blessings   and a flag  that  later  he used  as an emblem tor the Jihad.
Bello  later  turned   around   and  attacked    Jenne   people.   Ardo   and  Segu  and  defeated    them with  support   of his  followers
In  1819 he established    his permanent   headquarters.at     Harnedullaln    and  In 1827 he annexed
Tirnbuktu. In  1844 he died  after  establishing    a powerful   Maccma   empire,
Jihad  of Al-Haji Umar
Umar  was  a Tukolor   born  in Futa  Toro in 1794. He  was at first  a follower   of Uthman   Dan Fodio  whose   teaching    inspired   him  to  launch   his  own  Jihad.   Among   the jihadists    of west Africa,  his was  more  organized   on religious   basis  although   It had  some  political   effects.
Al-haji   Umar   had  seen  and  witnessed    the  immoral   behaviours    in  Barbara   states   of  Segu and  laxity  of Islamic   followers   of  Futa  Djallon,   Fuca Bundi   and  Futa  Toro  where  he picked an  experience    of becoming    a devoted   Muslim.   These   pegan   behaviours    inspired   Umar  to organize his own  Islamic   revolution.
Between   1852 -   1854, AI-Haj I Umar  conquered   the Barbara   states  of Bambuk   and  Kaarta. Before   this,  he  had   travelled   to  Fez  city in  North   Africa   and  later  went   to  Mecca,   after being  converted   into  Tinjauyya brotherhoods.
His influence went as far as St. Louis in Senegal and at this point Umar came into conflict with the French imperialists. In 1864, he was killed In the battle at Maccina land after full establishment  of Tukolor Empire.
Jihad  of Maba  Diakhou  Ba.
This carried out its activities  in the Gambian valley. Maba's jihad  activities began in 1861 with great  support  from Mandika  and Wolof people.  Maba claimed  that his arm was to purify and spread Islam. He later set up on Islamic state dominated by the Wolof people.
The Mandika  resented  Wolof government  and in 1865 they rose  up in a revolt. In  1867
Maba died but he is credited for efforts to spread/purify  Islam in West Africa. E.g. througb Maba's  influence  both Lat Dior  Diop  (King  of Cayor)  and  Ali Bouri  Ndiaye  (King  of Jolot) were converted into Islam.
Causes  of Jihads.
1.    Social purification;  Adultery, theft, murder and high way robbery had become the order of the day  in west  Africa  after  the collapse  of Moslem  states  such  as Morocco,  Mali and Songhai. This means that the jihad  movements  were organized  to counteract  moral decay
10  West Africa.  Immorality  had grown so high in the empires of West Africa and yet the holy Koran condemned it.
2.    Competition   with  Christianity;   various  European  groups  including  the Portuguese,   the British and the French were in constant  contact with the people of Mali, Ghana, Yoruba, Fulani and other communities.  The spread of Christianity was a threat to the Moslem faith. The jihadists  therefore rose up in order to challenge Christianity  10 defence of Islam.
3.    Defence of  African  independence   Vs European   imperialism;   Jihadists   wanted  to safe guard themselves  from the rule of infidels. E.g. Samoure Toure was not only a jihadist  but was also a great resistor to colonial rule.
4.    Conflict between Moslems and non-Moslems  leaders in West Africa;  Staunch Moslems in west Africa attributed  the Islamic decay in west Africa to pagan rulers e.g. in the Kaarta, Segu and Barbara  society of Hausa state in west Africa. They naturally  considered  pagan rulers inferior to them. Many Moslem schools were established  in west Africa in 18th and 19th century  in order to convert non Moslems into Islam and with several scholars against pagan rulers.
NOTE:
Jihad movements  had underlying  or long term as well as the immediate  causes. The long- term  causes  were  similar  forces  that prompted  all jihad  struggles  while  the  immediate causes were often peculiar to particular jihad movements.
5.    Tension  between  African traditional  religion  and Islam; Though  foreign by origin, Islam had never  recognized  the existence  of other  religious  powers  more  so African  Tradition Religion (A.T.R). It was this refusal that made west Africans to resist against the works of Islam. At first Islamic converts were obtained by persuasive  means but when this method failed  force  was  applied.   It was  this  kind  of situation   that  gave  a rise  to jihad   movements like  that of Uthman  Dan  Fodio,  Alhaji  Umar  and Ahmed   Segu.
6.       Disrupt   of  Islamic   code   of  law;  Islam  was  and  is  not Just  a  religion   but  a way  of  life.
Islamic  faith  does  not only  regulate  their  feeding   habits  but  also methods   of their  marriage, divorce,   inheritance    and  above   all supports   the  political   system   that  is based   on  Islamic law.  Of  shock,   west  African   Moslems   fanatic   states  were  not  guided   by  such  principles e.g.  Segu  and  Kaarta   who  were  under  pagan   rule  while  Hausa  rulers   were  either  nominal or pagan  in nature  and did  nothing  to enforce   Islamic  code.
7.    Unfair  taxation;   Pagan  masters   imposed   heavy  taxes  that  Moslems   felt were  unfair  and un- koranic.   Moreover    the  revenue   generated   was  collected   with  the  use  of  a lot  of brutality including   flogging.   Apart  from  unfair  taxes,  the  wealthy   were  insecure   owing  to jealousy of pagan  rulers  and  farming   population.    The  wealthy   urban  Fulani  therefore   saw  the jihad as a  golden   opportunity    for  establishing    a secure  state  for  themselves    and  their  property. Their   cattle  trade  was  being  overtaxed   by  pagan   rulers.  Thus  Fulani   merchants   looked   at the  rule  of law   in west  Africa.
8.    Presence    of  educated    Moslems;    Muslim   youth,   were  better   educated    than   their  pagan rulers   Quite  often  they  were  employed   as  secretaries,    authors,   diplomats   and  advisors   to their  society  rulers.  The Moslem   clerics  also  had  high  reputation   for the making   of charms that  could  even  ensure  victory  in war alleged.
As a result,  educated   Muslims   felt they  knew  more  about  the  world  in which  they  lived  in than  their  illiterate   rulers.   Thus  Jihad  movements    were  viewed   and  supported   as political intellectual   revolution   in west  Africa.
9.       Inspiration   from  previous   successful   jihad   movement;    the  19th century   west  African  jihad movements    imitated   the  previous  jihad   that  took  place  in Senegal   Futa  Toro,   Futa  Djalon and  Futa  Bondi.   For  long,  the  fulani  Islamic   leaders  respected   Senegal   and  Guinea   as their spiritual    homeland.     What   ever   happened    in  these   states   influenced    the   Fulani's     West
Africa.   Thus   these   19th   century   jihad   movements     were   inspired    by   18th   century   jihad
movements   in Senegal.                                      
10.    Presence   of  able  and  charismatic    leaders;   It was  the  heroic   preaching   of jihad   leaders   as well  as their  tours  that  prepared   the ground  and  mobilized   the masses   for revolution.   Thus personalities        like   Uthman    Dan   Fodio,   Al  Haji   Umar   and   Kanem   with   their   rhetoric propaganda    ably  convinced   the followers   into jihad  movements.
11.    Impact   of  slave  trade;   Further   more  there  was  growing   concern   about  the  inhuman   slave trade  and  slavery  among  the Moslems.   They  found  it unacceptable    for a Moslem  to be sold into  slavery.   More   still  the  Moslems    were  sold  by  non-Moslems     as  an  insult   of  Islam. Thus  jihad   movements     aimed   at  uprooting    the  chiefs   who  were   selling   Moslems    into slavery.
General decline  in Islamic  religion;  Islamic  principles  were  not  even  observed  by the
Muslim converts.  Many  could  smoke,  engage  in prohibited   trade,  and  sell  pork  and alcohol besides  there was stagnation  in the spread  of Islam  especially  after the fall of mali, Songhai and Kanem  Bormu.  It's  believed  that apart from the old Moslem families there were no more new converts to Islamic faith.
adverent  of North  African  Islamic  faith;  further  more,  there  was  a  spread  of  Moslem
brotherhoods   from  North  Africa   to  the  West  African  states.  Such  brotherhoods   like
Tijjjaniyy Quadriyya that had bases in north African were recived in west Africa. they become  a body of Moslem  fundamentalists  who called  for use of force during the spread of lslam  
Their encouragement made personalities such as Samoure Toure,  Uthman Dan Fodio and
Alhaji Umar to organize Jihad  movements .
Effects of Jihads.
There was loss of  life  and  property  because  the  Jihad  were  carried  out  in a military
Manner, during  the Islamic crusade so many people were .killed and a lot of property lost. It is said that whoever refused to be  circumcised beheaded
Related to the above, there was famine in west African the Jihad did not just  take one day
or a year, but they took a long period of time. However   during the jihad  no attention was paid to agriculture because people became more occupied  with defence and security like-wise crops and food stores were all burnt. The result of all these was massive famine.
Larger political  units were established.   For example,  Sokoto  caliphate  by Uthman Dan
Fodio, Tukolor  Empire  by  Alhaji  Umar,  Maccina  kingdom   by  Ahmed  and  Mandika
Kingdom    by Samoure Toure. The jihad  movement  flag bearers  also established  Emirates
such as Adamawa, Illorin and Baunch.
Important to  note  is  that,  some  of  the  states  that  were  created   had  well-organized administrative   structures   which  later  colonialists   utilized   and  inherited.   For  example Lugard exploited the Sokot structure to entrench indirect rule system in Nigeria. Therefore jihad movements  were not only a means through which the ancient glories of Ghana, Mali and Songhai were revived but also powerful nation building was witnessed.
A new  system  of administration   was  established  in West  Africa.  The new  system was based on the Islamic  code and by Muslim  administrators.  The Fulani  who were foreign and  migrant  subjects  became  the  masters  since  they were  the  ones  knowledgeable   in Islamic law. Nevertheless  such laws were not fully recognized  by nominal  Muslims  and non-Moslems. It comprised a lot of unfairness to them.
Creation  of Judicial  adjustment;  before  jihad  movements   broke  out,  West  Africa  was administered  according  to traditional   law that was  not  only- out  of date  but  could  also sometimes  lead to confusion.  After the triumph  of jihad,  organized.Islamic   law replaced the judicial  confusion that was evident in much of west Africa i.e. Law and order replaced the past anarchy and civil strife.
6.  Inspire of the short-term  disaster caused,  the jihads  in West Africa in the-long   run led to the  establishment  of  peace  and  stability   which  increased   commercial,     economic    and agnculiural    activity in much of West Africa.
NOTE:
Commerce came to be dominated by the Fulani and booming Slave trade was subjected to non-believers who suffered from constant raids until the advent of colonialists.
7. improved  management  of economic  affairs.  The past unfair  and un-koranic  taxes  were abolished   alongside the corrupt officials and their corrupt system that for long had been a center of grievances  in West Africa. The new era brought In a period of social harmony as econonic management  replaced  gross economic mismanagement.   Doubt is held whether these nun Muslims appreciated    such changes.
    Creation of  disunity  among  the  west  Africans.   Some  people  were  divided  along  the different    brotherhoods   such  as the Quadriyya  and Tijjaniyya  mainly  it was  because  of these Islamic sects that Bornu and Sokoto Muslims remained irreconcilable  although, they were born Moslem states.
One  of  the  factors  for   disagreement   was  that,  while  the  Tijjaniyya   believed  more  in education  and  scholarship   as  the  ideal  means  of  effecting  an  Islamic  revolution.   the Quadriyya put emphasis  Oil  the use of force.  Another  line of disunity  was along  being Muslim and non-Muslim.  With aLI these differences. Jihad states proved hostile and this is why  with  the advent of colonialists,  states  like Bambara  and Yoruba  states  collaborated with colorualists.
9        Islam acted as a unifying  factor for some states, People who embarked on Islamic   faith got united and were even strong enough to resist colonialism.  States in west Africa   that had been   swept    by  Islamic   reform   resisted   European   rule   in  order to maintain their independence and also preserve their states from the rule of infidels. That's  why men  like Samoure    Tome  were  able  to unite  the Mandika  Empire  against  the  French    invaders. Secondly. West Africans  viewed Europeans  as "Spirits"  and this negatively    affected   the spread of Chrisnamty  in the region.
10.    Many people were converted  to Islam in west Africa; while the faith of nominal Muslims was strengthened.   many  pagan  traditionalists   'Were "Strongly"   got converted  to Islam. Consequently.    mosques replaced traditional shrines and Moslem teachers took the place of traditional religious leaders.
More so. loyalty to ethnic groups was replaced by loyalty to Moslem brotherhoods  such as
Quadi ivya in Sokoto and Tijjarniyya in Bornu and Tukolor.
In some places  however,  conversations  never  gained  a strong  ground.  For example, in Tukolor,  conversions  were  achieved  at the point  of a sword was with drawn,  there was equaily large scale reversions  to traditional beliefs more so among the Saharan people.
11.        Intellectual    revolutions;     The  jihad   movements    also  stimulated    an  intellectual     revolution rhat   led   to   remarkable      developments        in   education      in   attempting      to   Justify     their attacks/reforms    on  the   nominal    and   non   Muslims,    jihadists     like   Uthman     Dan   Fodio, Ahmed    Bello   and  Alhaji   Urnar   began   wntmg    books.   Many   works   of  Islamic    literature were  published.    The  products   of  these  jihadists    schools   became   a powerful    force   against colonialism.
  Disruption    of trade  businesses;    Before   they  started,   there  was  a profitable   trade  known   as the  Trans-Atlantic     ocean  trade  with  outsiders   by the Africans    in  return   for  manufactured
goods   from Europe    This  trade  could  not go on during  the jihads   because   of security  risks.
Jihads   made  missionaries    to appeal   for  protection    from  home.   The  jihads   encouraged    the colonization    of  West  Africa   indirectly.    Jihadrsts were  a threat   to  Christianity    due  to  this, missionary      groups    in   west    Africa    had   to   request     for   protection      from    their   horne government.    This  protection   could  only  come  -n the name  of West  African   coloruzation,
Reasons  for the   Success    of  Jihads.
A number of reasons   have  worked   jointly   to  explain   why  the jihad   movements    in  West Africa  were  successful   and  these  include,
Disunity   among   nominal   and  non-Islamic    states  in West  Africa;  there  was  mutual  jealousy and  suspicion   among   the West  African   states.  The  Hausa  states  were  particularly   disunite which  provided    the  Fulani   with   an  opportunity     to  attack   and   defeat   each  one  of  them individually.    Besides   this, pagans  were  able  to unite  and challenge   the fanatic  Muslims.
Jihad  movements in the 19th century West  Africa   also.  enjoyed good   leadership.     Such
Leaders included   Uthman   Dan  Fodio,  Ahmed   Bello  and  Samoure   Toure. Jihad  movements were not  only  powerful   but  also. detennmed people  at their centres,   strove to achieve   their
targets   in the  name  of fait.  They fought   courageously    to. the  point  of  outmatching    the  old rulers in west africa
led by  elites,   The  jihad   movements     were   also.  led  by  educated    people   who   had   very convincing     rhetory   that  Won them   big  numbers    of  dedicated    followers.    With   educated leaders  and  advantages   of unity  that Islam  converted   among  the jihadists    in addition   to. the possession  of fire  arms,  victory  had  to. be on the side  of jihadists.
           Hope to. gain  economic    achievements;     socially,   politically    and  economically, poverty   in     west  Africa  also  made  the  non  Muslims   such  as those  of Hausa    state  to. support   the jihads.
Through   this confusion,   some  supporters   hoped   to raid  and  loot.
influence of  old  aristocracy    Malpractice;    Another facilitating    factor    for  the  successes    of
The jihads    was  the  conservatism          And mal        practice  of  oId rulers   In    West   Africa,    which
irritated    the population.    Had  the  old aristocracy    made  liberal   reforms   on  say  taxation   and promised to' rule  like  devoted   Muslims,   the jihad  holy wars  would  have  been  averted.
6.    The success  of previous Jihads; It was agreed that the latter Jihads such as that of Samoure Toure and Maba Dia-Khouba  derive their courage  from the success of the previous jihads such as that of Uthman Dan Fodio and Umar.
7    Presence of Fulani  population  almost  in every part of west Africa: the wide dispersal  of the   Fulam     in  West  Africa,  the  elite  group  committed  to  erase  pagan  regimes  in West Africa  was  another  reason  for their  success.  the  incumbent  rulers  had  to deal  not with
foreign invaders but with organized strategic  groups of Fulam in West Afnca.
Revision questions
1.     "Political  crisis  under the guise  of religion"  is this the assessment  of the religious  holy wars in J 9th century west Africa?
2         What In your view was the significance  of the Jihad movements  for the history  of West Africa by 1914?
3    Examine the causes and consequences  of 19th century Jihad movements  in West  Africa.
4          To what extent were Jihad movements  responsible  for the cnsis  and rev olutions  in West Africa?