Muhammad Dan Abdullahi, known as Muhammad Kisoki, was the ruler of the Hausa Sultanate of Kano from 1509 until his death in 1565. His reign was during the Rumfawa era of the Bagauda Dynasty and is one of the longest in the State's history. Under Kisoki's leadership, the state reached its zenith, gaining suzerainty over all of Hausaland along with other Kingdoms in the Sahel which resulted in a Kanoan Empire. Kisoki ascended the throne during a period that saw internal strife ravage the Songhai and Bornu Empires, and the eventual death of the dreaded Kanta Kotal of Kebbi. While Hausa states were rarely belligerent towards non Hausa states, Kisoki launched a brief but successful expedition into Bornu and was able to decisively repel a reprisal attack by the Mai. In doing this, he dissolved the suzerainty that had been established decades earlier in the reign of Abdullahi Burja. He solidified his power in Kano by strategically promoting his kinsmen into powerful positions and was able to appropriate power from the Kano Council. His reign also saw the continuation of the influx of scholars from neighboring Kingdoms and the construction of multiple mosques and schools throughout Kano, further establishing the state as a learning center. Kisoki's death created a power vacuum that marked the beginning of the First Kanoan Civil War.
Early life
Kisoki was the son of Sultan Abdullahi Dan Rumfa and Lamis. He was the grandson of Muhammad Rumfa and through his grandmother Madaki Auwa, a great grandson of Askiya the Great. Kisoki was present in his grandfathers court and as a child and his precocious actions would earn Kisoki the admiration of the people who prayed that one day he would become Sultan.
Sultan
"Kisoki was an energetic Sarki, warlike and masterful." Muhammad Kisoki became the 22nd ruler of Kano after the death of his father. Building on the success of his father in conquering Zazzau and Katsina and the economic prosperity during his grandfathers reign, Kisoki was able to conquer most neighboring states resulting in the first Kanoan Empire. According to the Kano Chronicle, Kisoki's rule encompassed all of Hausaland "East and West, South and North". Historians have noted that Kisoki had "the strong blood of his grandfather in his veins".
Kisoki's Court
Though his grandfathers reign saw the introduction of the repressive "Kulle" practice, Kisoki's court had a very strong female presence. Two of the most powerful figures in his court were his mother, Iya Lamis and grandmother, Madaki Auwa. Kisoki expelled Barde, a military captain, and installed his brother, Dabkare Dan Iya into the Kano Council of Nine. The title "Dan Iya" became the most revered in the state. His granduncle, Guli also became very powerful during his reign and the counselor's title "Na'Guli" was named after him.
During his era, a number of notable islamic scholars came to Kano, bringing with them various islamic books. Shehu Tunus brought the book Eshifa with him. He urged the Sultan to build a mosque for the rumawa to which he obliged. Tubi came from Zazzau to learn from Tunus a year after he arrived and became his apprentice. Shehu Abdussalam also came from Bornu with the books Madawanna, Jam As-Saghir and Samarkandi. Three siblings, Shehu Karaski, Magumi and Kabi also came from Bornu. The Sultan became close with Karaski and asked him to become his Alkali, but Karaski suggested his brother Magumi Instead. Magumi accepted the position and built a portico at Kofan Fada. Other notable scholars who came during his reign include, Dan-Goron-Duma, Zaite, Koda, Buduru and Tamma, father of one of Kisoki's wives, Hausatu.
"Kisoki, physic of Bornu and the Chiratawa." During Kisoki's father, Sultan Abdullahi's reign, there was a conflict between the Sultan and the Dagachi. The Dagachi is believed to be a relative of the Mai of Bornu through Othman Kalnama who had migrated to Kano and was the first to take the title "Dagachi ". Dagachi had become very wealthy and powerful in Kano and tried to usurp the Sultan in his absence but was quashed by the influence of the Sultans mother, Madaki Auwa. The Mai of Bornu came to attack Kano soon after. Kisoki's father, took a delegation of scholars to the Mai and humbled himself before the Mai to avoid a war. Sultan Abdullahi then forced Dagachi to capitulate and stripped him of his position, bestowing the title "Dagachi" to one of his slaves. Muhammad Kisoki however waged war on Birnin Unguru because of a feud about Gaidam. The Sultan entered the town and sat underneath a Baobab tree at the gates of the city where assembled the people of Borno and "reduced them to terrified submission". He then told his army to leave the people alone but to seize the horses and textiles. After his campaign in Unguru, Sultan Kisoki retreated to the bush.The Mai sent a message to Kisoki to inquire what the purpose of his invasion was to which the Sultan replied ; "I do not know, but the cause of war is the ordinance of Allah.". The Sultan returned to Kano after one month. A year later, the Mai came to attack Kano, but his siege was repelled and his army mortified. Kano's victory was well celebrated. The victory against Bornu was indicative of how powerful Kano had become. Kisoki is the only Kano ruler in recorded history to have humbled their eastern neighbors.
Family and Marriages
The Kano Chronicle mentions two of Kisoki's sons who became rulers of Kano; Yakufu, son of Tunus, his immediate successor whose reign was ephemeral, and Muhammad Zaki, son of Hausatu.
Death and Aftermath
Muhammad Kisoki died in 1565. His son Yakufu's ascension was challenged by Guli, and a civil war broke out between Guli's faction and that of the Galadima, Sara Katunia, who was intent on returning Yakufu to the throne. The Galadima slew Guli after forty days of fighting but Yakufu abdicated his throne in favor of a life of piety. The civil war continued with the deposition and assassination of multiple subsequent Kings until another one of Kisoki's sons, Muhammad Zaki was installed in 1582.
