Kebbi

historical kingdom, Africa

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June 17, 2026

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The Kebbi kingdom was a historical state in Africa, located in what is now northwestern Nigeria and southwestern Niger. It was one of the banza bakwai, or illegitimate Hausa states. The kingdom was founded by Muhammadu Kanta around 1516. Kebbi was known for its rivalry with other Hausa states over land and trade routes. The kingdom eventually fell to the Fulani jihad in 1805. Today, Kebbi is a state in northwestern Nigeria, with agriculture as its primary economic activity.123

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Yauri
Muhammadu Kanta, founder of the Kebbi kingdom to the north, conquered Yauri in the mid-16th century; and Yauri, although essentially independent after Kanta’s death (c. 1561), paid tribute to Kebbi until the mid-18th century. About 1810 King Albishir (Mohammadu dan Ayi), the Hausa ruler of Yauri, pledged allegiance to the…
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Muhammadu Kanta, founder of the Kebbi kingdom to the north, conquered Yauri in the mid-16th century; and Yauri, although essentially independent after Kanta’s death (c. 1561), paid tribute to Kebbi until the mid-18th century. About 1810 King Albishir (Mohammadu dan Ayi), the Hausa ruler of Yauri, pledged allegiance to the…
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Birnin Kebbi
…Muhammadu Kanta, founder of the Kebbi kingdom; subsequently, it was incorporated into Kebbi, one of the banza bakwai (the seven illegitimate Hausa states), which extended over what is now northwestern Nigeria and southwestern Niger. Internal dissension led Tomo, the king of Kebbi, to move his capital from Surame, 60 miles…
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…Muhammadu Kanta, founder of the Kebbi kingdom; subsequently, it was incorporated into Kebbi, one of the banza bakwai (the seven illegitimate Hausa states), which extended over what is now northwestern Nigeria and southwestern Niger. Internal dissension led Tomo, the king of Kebbi, to move his capital from Surame, 60 miles…
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