Amadu's Jihad
Encyclopedia
Amadu's Jihad was a religious war or jihad
fought from 1810 to 1818 in what is now the Mopti Region
of Mali
.
Seku Amadu
(1775-1844), a Fula
ni Muslim
leader in West Africa
, overthrew the ruling Fulani dynasty of the Macina
region of what is now Mali and created a new theocratic state with its capital at Hamdallahi. Amadu was probably influenced by the teachings of the Islamic reformer Usman dan Fodio
and his jihad
in neighboring Hausaland
.
Initially, Amadu established an independent Muslim community where he gave expression to his fundamentalist Islamic views and preached in favor of a jihad of his own. Amadu's views brought him into conflict with his local, pagan Fulani chief, who called for help from his suzerain, the Bambara king of Segu
. The result was a general uprising under Amadou that established the Massina Empire
, a theocratic Muslim Fulani state throughout the Inner Niger Delta region and extending to both the ancient Muslim centers of Djenné
and Tombouctou
. Amadu's jihad was probably continuous from 1810 through 1818. However, some sources suggest two events, one in 1810 and another in 1818. One estimate suggests a total of 10,000 deaths resulting from this jihad. The rule of Amadou's family continued under his successors, Amadu Seku
and Amadu Amadu
, until the latter was captured and executed by al-Hajj 'Umar
's Toucouleur
army in 1862.
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
fought from 1810 to 1818 in what is now the Mopti Region
Mopti Region
Mopti is the fifth administrative region of Mali, covering 79,017 km². Its capital is the city of Mopti.-Geography:Mopti Region is bordered by Tombouctou Region to the north, Ségou Region to the southwest, and Burkina Faso to the southeast....
of Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
.
Seku Amadu
Seku Amadu
Seku Amadu was the founder of the Fula Massina Empire in what is now the Mopti Region of Mali...
(1775-1844), a Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
ni Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
leader in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, overthrew the ruling Fulani dynasty of the Macina
Macina
Macina may refer to:*Macina Empire , former state located in present-day Mali*Macina , the area in Mali once controlled by the empire*Macina, Mali-See also:*Masina *Messina...
region of what is now Mali and created a new theocratic state with its capital at Hamdallahi. Amadu was probably influenced by the teachings of the Islamic reformer Usman dan Fodio
Usman dan Fodio
Shaihu Usman dan Fodio , born Usuman ɓii Foduye, was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809, a religious teacher, writer and Islamic promoter. Dan Fodio was one of a class of urbanized ethnic Fulani living in the Hausa States in what is today northern Nigeria...
and his jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
in neighboring Hausaland
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
.
Initially, Amadu established an independent Muslim community where he gave expression to his fundamentalist Islamic views and preached in favor of a jihad of his own. Amadu's views brought him into conflict with his local, pagan Fulani chief, who called for help from his suzerain, the Bambara king of Segu
Segu
*Segu may refer to**Ségou, a city in south-central Mali, and former capital of the Bamana Empire**Sergi López Segú, a Spanish footballer**Segu , a novel by Maryse Condé...
. The result was a general uprising under Amadou that established the Massina Empire
Massina Empire
The Massina Empire was an early nineteenth-century Fulbe Jihad state centered in the Macina and Inner Niger Delta area of what is now the Mopti and Ségou Regions of Mali...
, a theocratic Muslim Fulani state throughout the Inner Niger Delta region and extending to both the ancient Muslim centers of Djenné
Djenné
Djenné is an Urban Commune and town in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 32,944. Administratively it is part of the Mopti Region....
and Tombouctou
Tombouctou
Tombouctou may be:* Tombouctou Region in northern Mali* The French name for the city of Timbuktu, which gives its name to the region...
. Amadu's jihad was probably continuous from 1810 through 1818. However, some sources suggest two events, one in 1810 and another in 1818. One estimate suggests a total of 10,000 deaths resulting from this jihad. The rule of Amadou's family continued under his successors, Amadu Seku
Amadu Seku
-External links:* *....
and Amadu Amadu
Amadu Amadu
Amadu Amadu was the last ruler of the Fula Massina Empire in what is now the Mopti Region of Mali...
, until the latter was captured and executed by al-Hajj 'Umar
Umar Tall
El Hadj Umar ibn Sa'id Tall , , born in what is now actual Senegal was a West African political leader, Islamic scholar, and Toucouleur military commander who founded a brief empire encompassing much of what is now Guinea, Senegal, and Mali.-Name:Umar Tall's name is spelled variously: in...
's Toucouleur
Toucouleur
The Toucouleurs are a Fula agricultural people who live primarily in West Africa: the north of Senegal in the Senegal River valley, Mauritania, and Mali.-History:...
army in 1862.
See also
- Massina EmpireMassina EmpireThe Massina Empire was an early nineteenth-century Fulbe Jihad state centered in the Macina and Inner Niger Delta area of what is now the Mopti and Ségou Regions of Mali...
1818/1820-1862.- Seku AmaduSeku AmaduSeku Amadu was the founder of the Fula Massina Empire in what is now the Mopti Region of Mali...
(ruled 1818 to 1845). - Amadu SekuAmadu Seku-External links:* *....
(ruled 1845-1852). - Amadu AmaduAmadu AmaduAmadu Amadu was the last ruler of the Fula Massina Empire in what is now the Mopti Region of Mali...
(ruled 1852-1862).
- Seku Amadu