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{{short description|Hausa multi ethnic state from 1500 to 1840}}
[[Image:Kwararafa.jpeg|thumb|right]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
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'''Kwararafa''' was a multiethnic state and/or confederacy centered along the [[Benue River]] valley in what is today eastern [[Nigeria]]. It was located southwest of the [[Bornu Empire]] and south of the [[Hausa States]], and much of what we know of the Kwararafa come from these sources. They rose to prominence before 1500, were in conflict with their more powerful neighbours in the 17th century, and reduced to a small tribute state by the 18th century.<ref name=fisher1975>H. J. Fisher. The Sahara and the Central Sudan. in The Cambridge History of Africa: From C 1600 to C 179. Richard Gray, J. D. Fage, Roland Anthony Oliver, eds. Cambridge University Press, (1975) ISBN 0521204135 pp. 134-136</ref> It is believed that Kwararafa was either a confederacy or caste led conquest state led by the modern [[Jukun people (West Africa)|Jukun people]], or perhaps a collective name given by their [[Muslim]] foes for a number of pagan peoples to their south.<ref>Elizabeth Allo Isichei. A History of African Societies to 1870. Cambridge University Press, (1997) ISBN 0521455995</ref>
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Kororofa
|common_name = Kwararafa
|era = [[Middle Ages]]
|year_start = ''c.'' 1500
|year_end = ''c.'' 1840
|status = [[Confederation]]
|status_text = [[Tribe|Tribal]] [[Confederation|confederacy]]
|p1 = Nok culture
|s1 = Wukari Federation
|image_map = Kwararafa.jpeg
|capital = [[Wukari]]
|common_languages = [[Jukun Takum language]]
|title_leader = [[Tribal chief]]
}}


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'''Kororofa''' ('''Kwararafa''' in [[Hausa language|Hausa]]) was a multiethnic state and/or confederacy centered along the [[Benue River]] valley in what is today [[Middle Belt|central]] [[Nigeria]]. It was southwest of the [[Bornu Empire]] and south of the [[Hausa States]]. They rose to prominence before 1500, were in conflict with their more powerful neighbours in the 17th century, and reduced to a small tribute state by the 18th century.<ref name=fisher1975>H. J. Fisher. The Sahara and Central Sudan. in The Cambridge History of Africa: From C 1600 to C 179. Richard Gray, J. D. Fage, Roland Anthony Oliver, eds. Cambridge University Press, (1975) {{ISBN|0-521-20413-5}} pp. 134-136</ref> It is believed that Kwararafa was either a confederacy conquest state, led by the modern [[Jukun people (West Africa)|Jukun people]] or perhaps a collective name given by their [[Muslim]] foes for a number of pagan peoples [[Middle Belt|to their south]].<ref>Elizabeth Allo Isichei. A History of African Societies to 1870. Cambridge University Press, (1997) {{ISBN|0-521-45599-5}}</ref>
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Regardless, a spiritually important pagan Jukun priest-kingship at [[Wukari]] appears to have been the centre of Kwararafa power, but in the 17th century, this may have spread much farther. [[Leo Africanus]] records a Bornu raid into Kwararafa territory at the end of the 15th century, and the resistance of Kwararafa horsemen. The Kano Chronicles among other Hausa sources record successful invasions of Hausaland by the Kwararafa, specifically against [[Kano]] around 1600, again mid century, and another in 1671.<ref name=fisher1975 /> In the 1670s the Kwararafa assaulted [[Katsina]], sacked [[Zaria]] and launched an invasion of Bornu. Bornu sources recount Kwararafa striking towards the capital of [[Ngasargamu]] and being turned aside in a great battle by ''Mai'' [[Ali II of Bornu|Ali bin Umar]]. Katsina chronicler Dan Marina recounts the Mai Ali killing wounding and capturing many Kwararafa, and sending three captives back to their leader, with their ears severed and hung around their necks.<ref name=fisher1975 />


Regardless of the brutality of the relations, there seems to have been a long period of respect between states. During the 18th century, communities of each apparently lived in the cities of the other, and a tradition of [[Muslim]] emissaries served the Kwararafa. Hausa communities too were found in the Kwararafa territory. Despite this, the state apparently was resolutely pagan, and remained so past its decline in the 18th century. By the end of that century, Kwararafa paid tribute to Bornu. By the 19th century they were reduced to small towns resisting for a period the [[Fulani Jihad]] of the [[Sokoto Caliphate]].<ref name=fisher1975 />
Regardless, a spiritually important pagan Jukun priest-kingship at [[Wukari]] appears to have been the centre of Kwararafa power, but in the 17th century, that may have spread much farther. [[Leo Africanus]] records a Bornu raid into Kwararafa territory at the end of the 15th century and the resistance of Kwararafa horsemen. They practiced a bureaucratic state of rule and was headed by the Aku whose powers were greatly limited.

⚫
The successor state, the [[Wukari Federation]], was established around 1840 and remains as a [[Nigerian traditional state]].<ref>{{cite web
⚫
The Kano Chronicles among other Hausa sources record successful invasions of Hausaland by the Kwararafa, specifically against [[Kano (city)|Kano]] around 1600, again in the middle of the century, and another in 1671.<ref name=fisher1975 /> In the 1670s the Kwararafa assaulted [[Katsina]], sacked [[Zaria]] and launched an invasion of Bornu. Bornu sources recount Kwararafa striking towards the capital of [[Ngasargamu]] and being turned aside in a great battle by ''Mai'' [[Ali II of Bornu|Ali bin Umar]]. Katsina chronicler [[Dan Marina]] recounts the Mai Ali killing, wounding and capturing many Kwararafa and sending three captives back to their leader, with their ears severed and hung around their necks.<ref name=fisher1975 />

Regardless of the brutality of the relations, there seems to have been a long period of respect between states. During the 18th century, communities of each apparently lived in the cities of the other, and a tradition of [[Muslim]] emissaries served the Kwararafa.

Hausa communities too were found in the Kwararafa territory. Still, the state apparently was resolutely pagan and remained so past its decline in the 18th century. By the end of that century, Kwararafa paid tribute to Bornu. By the 19th century they were reduced to small towns, resisting, for a period, the [[Fulani Jihad]] of the [[Sokoto Caliphate]].<ref name=fisher1975 />

⚫
The [[successor state]], the [[Wukari Federation]], was established around 1840 and remains as a [[Nigerian traditional state]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol2no9/2.9_Indigeneship_and_Citizenship_in_Nigeria.pdf
|url=http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol2no9/2.9_Indigeneship_and_Citizenship_in_Nigeria.pdf
|title=Indigeneship and Citizenship in Nigeria: Myth and Reality
|title=Indigeneship and Citizenship in Nigeria: Myth and Reality
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
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*''The Times Atlas of World History''. (Maplewood: Hammond, 1989) p. 137
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*''The DK Atlas of World History''. Map of "African Trade and the Spread of Islam, 500-1500 AD". (Dorling Kindersley Publishing Book, 2000) p. 162


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*''The Times Atlas of World History''. (Maplewood: Hammond, 1989) p.&nbsp;137
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[[Category:History of Nigeria]]
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*''The DK Atlas of World History''. Map of "African Trade and the Spread of Islam, 500-1500 AD". (Dorling Kindersley Publishing Book, 2000) p.&nbsp;162
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[[Category:States of Pre-Colonial Africa]]

[[lt:Kvararafa]]
[[Category:Nigerian traditional states]]
[[nl:Kwararafa]]
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[[Category:Countries in precolonial Africa]]
[[Category:Former countries in Africa]]
[[Category:15th-century establishments in Nigeria]]
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[[Category:1840s disestablishments in Nigeria]]
[[Category:Tribal confederacies]]

Latest revision as of 17:35, 5 September 2024

Kororofa
c. 1500–c. 1840
Location of Kwararafa
StatusTribal confederacy
CapitalWukari
Common languagesJukun Takum language
Tribal chief 
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
c. 1500
• Disestablished
c. 1840
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Nok culture
Wukari Federation

Kororofa (Kwararafa in Hausa) was a multiethnic state and/or confederacy centered along the Benue River valley in what is today central Nigeria. It was southwest of the Bornu Empire and south of the Hausa States. They rose to prominence before 1500, were in conflict with their more powerful neighbours in the 17th century, and reduced to a small tribute state by the 18th century.[1] It is believed that Kwararafa was either a confederacy conquest state, led by the modern Jukun people or perhaps a collective name given by their Muslim foes for a number of pagan peoples to their south.[2]

Regardless, a spiritually important pagan Jukun priest-kingship at Wukari appears to have been the centre of Kwararafa power, but in the 17th century, that may have spread much farther. Leo Africanus records a Bornu raid into Kwararafa territory at the end of the 15th century and the resistance of Kwararafa horsemen. They practiced a bureaucratic state of rule and was headed by the Aku whose powers were greatly limited.

The Kano Chronicles among other Hausa sources record successful invasions of Hausaland by the Kwararafa, specifically against Kano around 1600, again in the middle of the century, and another in 1671.[1] In the 1670s the Kwararafa assaulted Katsina, sacked Zaria and launched an invasion of Bornu. Bornu sources recount Kwararafa striking towards the capital of Ngasargamu and being turned aside in a great battle by Mai Ali bin Umar. Katsina chronicler Dan Marina recounts the Mai Ali killing, wounding and capturing many Kwararafa and sending three captives back to their leader, with their ears severed and hung around their necks.[1]

Regardless of the brutality of the relations, there seems to have been a long period of respect between states. During the 18th century, communities of each apparently lived in the cities of the other, and a tradition of Muslim emissaries served the Kwararafa.

Hausa communities too were found in the Kwararafa territory. Still, the state apparently was resolutely pagan and remained so past its decline in the 18th century. By the end of that century, Kwararafa paid tribute to Bornu. By the 19th century they were reduced to small towns, resisting, for a period, the Fulani Jihad of the Sokoto Caliphate.[1]

The successor state, the Wukari Federation, was established around 1840 and remains as a Nigerian traditional state.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d H. J. Fisher. The Sahara and Central Sudan. in The Cambridge History of Africa: From C 1600 to C 179. Richard Gray, J. D. Fage, Roland Anthony Oliver, eds. Cambridge University Press, (1975) ISBN 0-521-20413-5 pp. 134-136
  2. ^ Elizabeth Allo Isichei. A History of African Societies to 1870. Cambridge University Press, (1997) ISBN 0-521-45599-5
  3. ^ Abimbola O Adesoji and Akin Alao. "Indigeneship and Citizenship in Nigeria: Myth and Reality" (PDF). Obafemi Awolowo University. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  • The Times Atlas of World History. (Maplewood: Hammond, 1989) p. 137
  • The DK Atlas of World History. Map of "African Trade and the Spread of Islam, 500-1500 AD". (Dorling Kindersley Publishing Book, 2000) p. 162
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