Sokoto Caliphate

Sokoto Caliphate was an empire in Lake Chad basin (North and West Africa) that lasted from 1804 to 1903 CE, about 99 years. Its people spoke Niger-Congo languages (Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu)).

Islamic state founded by the Fula scholar Usman dan Fodio, which united the Hausa cities under some thirty emirates. One of the largest African states of its age, it fell to British forces in 1903.

See Sokoto Caliphate on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1804 to 1903 CE

Duration

99 years

Type

Empire

Region

Lake Chad basin, North and West Africa

Language family

Niger-Congo

Capital

Sokoto

Came from

• Hausa city-states c. 1000 to 1808 CE

Became

• Northern Nigeria Protectorate 1900 to 1914 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

• 1804 Usman dan Fodio's jihad
• 1869 Suez Canal opens
• 1884 Berlin Conference
• 1896 Battle of Adwa

Neighbours in North and West Africa

• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE
• Kingdom of Benin c. 1180 to 1897 CE
• Bornu Empire c. 1387 to 1893 CE
• Oyo Empire c. 1400 to 1836 CE
• Funj Sultanate of Sennar 1504 to 1821 CE
• Regency of Algiers 1516 to 1830 CE
• Alaouite Sultanate of Morocco 1666 to 1912 CE
• Ashanti Empire 1701 to 1901 CE
• French Algeria 1830 to 1962 CE
• Muhammad Ali dynasty (Khedivate) 1805 to 1914 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America
• New Spain 1521 to 1821 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Viceroyalty of Peru 1542 to 1824 CE, South America
• Habsburg Monarchy 1526 to 1804 CE, Europe

Questions