THE EMERGENCE OF SHEIKH MUHAMMAD EL-AMIN EL-KANEMI AND THE INVOLVEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF SHUWA ARABS IN STATE AFFAIRS 1808-1837

Abstract

The emergence of Sheikh Muhammad al-amin El-Kanemi in the politics of Borno was at the instance of the Saifawa rulers who invited El-Kanemi to assist in the fight with the Fulani ‘jihadists’ in the opening years of the 19^th Century.  El-Kanemi, in carrying out this difficult-task, appealed to the Shuwa Arabs and Kanembu leaders to join him in the fighting which they did satisfactorily.  El-Kanemi became influencial, a power behind the throne and established his own council and found a new capital Kukawa in 1814.  His supporters the Shuwa Arabs and the Kanembu were rewarded.  They were appointed Executive Councillors, their names became institutionalised titles and the office of the Waziri i.e. Prime Minister rotated among the three Shuwa Arabs leaders, Mallam Tirab, Ahmed Gonimi and Ibrahim Wadaima thus bringing the Shuwa Arab leaders into the mainstream of administration in Borno in the 19^th Century.