Abu Ja

king of Zazzau

Also known as: Jatau

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Abu Ja, also known as Jatau, was the brother and successor of Muhamman Makau, the sarkin (king) of Zazzau. After the Fulani jihad captured Zaria (the capital of Zazzau) around 1804, Muhamman Makau led many Hausa nobles to Zuba. Abu Ja then founded the town of Abuja in 1828 and began constructing its wall the following year, proclaiming himself the first emir of Abuja. The Abuja emirate successfully withstood attacks from Zaria and served as an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with neighboring Fulani emirates was established during his successor's reign. The city of Zaria itself was likely founded around 1536 and later became the capital of the Hausa state of Zazzau, named after Queen Zaria.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Suleja
Abu Ja (Jatau), his brother and successor as sarkin Zazzau, founded Abuja town in 1828, began construction of its wall a year later, and proclaimed himself the first emir of Abuja. Withstanding Zaria attacks, the Abuja emirate remained an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with the…
Read More
Abu Ja (Jatau), his brother and successor as sarkin Zazzau, founded Abuja town in 1828, began construction of its wall a year later, and proclaimed himself the first emir of Abuja. Withstanding Zaria attacks, the Abuja emirate remained an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with the…
Read More