Konni, Niger
Encyclopedia
Konni is a traditional Hausa
state in what is today south central Maradi Region Niger
and north Sokoto State
Nigeria
. It continues to exist as a ceremonial polity centered on the Nigerien city of Birni-N'Konni
.
A small independennt Hausa
state in the medieval period, Konni was conquered by its larger neighbor Gobir
around 1750. It remained, along with Gobir, a largely animist (locally called Azna
) stronghold. It was overrun and sacked by forces of the Sokoto Caliphate at the beginning of the 19th century, but had reverted to suzerainty of Azna states in modern Niger when French colonial forces
entered the area at the end of the century. Its capitol Birni-N'Konni (Hausa
for Citadel of Konni), was sacked by the French Voulet-Chanoine Mission
in the 1898, and later assimilated into French West Africa
. The traditional title of the ruler of Konni was retained by the French as an appointed "Canton chief", and continues as a ceremonial ruler.
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...
state in what is today south central Maradi Region Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and north Sokoto State
Sokoto State
Sokoto State is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2005 it has an estimated population of more than 4.2 million...
Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It continues to exist as a ceremonial polity centered on the Nigerien city of Birni-N'Konni
Birni-N'Konni
Birni-N'Konni is a town in Niger, lying on the border of Nigeria and the Kori River. It is an important market town and transport hub and the 2001 census had a population of 44,663. The town is the historic center of the small pre-colonial Hausa state of Konni...
.
A small independennt Hausa
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...
state in the medieval period, Konni was conquered by its larger neighbor Gobir
Gobir
Gobir was a city-state in what is now Nigeria. Founded by the Hausa in the eleventh century, Gobir was one of the seven original kingdoms of Hausaland, and continued under Hausa rule for nearly seven hundred years. Its capital was the city of Alkalawa...
around 1750. It remained, along with Gobir, a largely animist (locally called Azna
Azna
Azna is a city in and capital of Azna County, Lorestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 37,645, in 9,178 families.Azna is located in the Zagros Mountains.It currently serves as a refuge camp for the Faili Kurds....
) stronghold. It was overrun and sacked by forces of the Sokoto Caliphate at the beginning of the 19th century, but had reverted to suzerainty of Azna states in modern Niger when French colonial forces
French colonial empire
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
entered the area at the end of the century. Its capitol Birni-N'Konni (Hausa
Hausa language
Hausa is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 25 million people, and as a second language by about 18 million more, an approximate total of 43 million people...
for Citadel of Konni), was sacked by the French Voulet-Chanoine Mission
Voulet-Chanoine Mission
The Voulet–Chanoine Mission or Central African Mission was a French military expedition sent out from Senegal in 1898 to conquer the Chad Basin and unify all French territories in West Africa...
in the 1898, and later assimilated into French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
. The traditional title of the ruler of Konni was retained by the French as an appointed "Canton chief", and continues as a ceremonial ruler.