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London. Ibadan. Nairobi: Oxford University Press. 1967. 312 p.
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H.A.S. Johnston.
The Fulani Empire of Sokoto
London. Ibadan. Nairobi: Oxford University Press. 1967. 312 p.
I wish, first of all, to acknowledge my debt to Alhaji Junaidu, the Waziri of Sokoto. Fifteen years ago, when 1 was the Resident of Sokoto Province, he used to accompany me on tour and so I have had the good fortune to visit with him almost every corner of the Sultanate which once constituted the core of the Fulani Empire. It was then that 1 first began to collect historical information and in this task he gave me invaluable help. Anyone who has ever sat down in Africa and tried to compile a coherent and accurate narrative out of the disjointed and discursive reminiscences of the old gentlemen who act as the repositories of local lore and legend will know that the well, at the bottom of which the truth is said to lie, can be many fathoms deep. Time and again in our sessions Alhaji Junaidu, with a timely word, was able to banish error, resolve contradictions, or fill gaps from his own compendious historical and genealogical knowledge. More recently he has been good enough to go through the whole book in manuscript in order to correct mistakes and clear up points that were still in doubt.
Next I wish to record my appreciation of the help that I have received from Mr. Mervyn Hiskett, who was once my colleague in Northern Nigeria and who is now on the academic staff of the School of Oriental and African Studies. He is the leading British authority on the Arabic manuscripts of the Fulani and the footnotes in this book will testify how frequently I have drawn upon his wide learning. He too has been good enough to read the manuscript of most of the first half of the book and his many constructive suggestions have helped me to remove blemishes and improve the general balance and perspective.
Among others who have assisted me, directly or indirectly, I wish to mention particularly the Emir of Yauri, the oral historians of the Kebbi ruling family, the Waziri of Kano, Mallam Nagwamatse, Mallam Muhammadu Bida, Mr. S. J. Moore, and Mr. Philip Mason.
Turning now from the text to the illustrations, I am obliged to Dr. J. C. Chartres for permission to reproduce here photograph No. II, dating from 1903, which was taken by his father, the late Lt.-Col. E. A. Chartres, F.R.C.S.I. For the rest of the photographs, apart 1967 from Nos. I (a), 3 (a), and 3 (b) which I took myself, I am indebted to the Northern Nigerian Ministry of Information.
To all those whom I have mentioned, as well as to others whom I have no space to name, I am most sincerely grateful.