Bama Emirate
Bama Emirate
Bama | |
|---|---|
  Bama Emirate | |
| Coordinates: 11°31′8″N 13°41′3″E / 11.51889°N 13.68417°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Borno State |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Seat | Bama |
| Government | |
| • Shehu | Umar Kyari ibn Umar el-Kanemi |
The Bama Emirate is a traditional state located in Borno State, Nigeria. The Bama Emirate was split from the Dikwa Emirate in 2010 and is governed by a branch of its ruling dynasty (the al-Kanemi dynasty). The emirate encompasses one Local Government Area, Bama itself, which previously served as the seat of the Dikwa Emirate.
Background
[edit]In 1942, the seat of the Dikwa Emirate was moved from Dikwa to Bama[1][2] at the request of the British colonial administration.[2] The Dikwa Emirate was a large territorial unit, encompassing four Local Government Areas (Dikwa, Ngala, Kala-Balge, and Bama).[3]
History
[edit]In 2009, it was decided that the Dikwa Emirate was to be divided in two: the larger Dikwa Emirate was to retain three LGAs (Dikwa, Ngala, and Kala-Balge) and a new (smaller) Bama Emirate was to be created to include the former fourth LGA (Bama).[3] In 2010, the incumbent ruler of the Dikwa Emirate, Kyari, was made ruler of the new Bama Emirate,[4] while the rest of his territory was carved away as territory of a new shehu of Dikwa, Abba Masta II. Abba Masta II was also given precedence over Kyari, despite Kyari having ruled since 1990.[5] Kyari was initially intended to continue to be styled as emir[4] but was ultimately also recognised as a shehu.[6]
The division of the Dikwa Emirate and the circumstances of Kyari's reduced position was controversial, especially since the Dikwa Emirate was given three out of the four LGAs. The state governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, was accused of corruption since he had relatives with influential titles in the emirates.[5] Controversy soon died down as the two shehus worked together in harmony.[5]
Due to the Boko Haram insurgency,[7] much of Kyari's reign was spent in exile in Maiduguri. He died in Maiduguri in 2020, reportedly after a period of illness.[8] It was widely speculated that Kyari died from COVID-19,[8][9] though this was denied by Nigerian officials.[9] Kyari's son Umar Kyari was swiftly appointed as his successor[10] but not formally invested and crowned in Bama until 11 February 2025.[6]
Rulers
[edit]The rulers of the Bama Emirate are styled as shehus, similar to the rulers of the more senior Borno and Dikwa emirates.[6]
| No. | Name | Tenure | Succession, notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyari ibn Umar el-Kanemi | 2010–2020[10] | Previously emir of the Dikwa Emirate.[5] |
| 2 | Umar Kyari ibn Umar el-Kanemi | 2025[6]–present | Son of Kyari.[10] Appointed in 2020[10] but not formally crowned until 2025.[6] |
References
[edit]- ^ Gronenborn, Detlef (2001). "Kanem-Borno: A Brief Summary of the History and Archaeology of an Empire of the Central bilad al-sudan". West Africa During the Atlantic Slave Trade: Archaeological Perspectives. Bloomsbury. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4742-9104-0.
- ^ a b Isa Umar Gusau (15 March 2010). "Sheriff Appoints Abba Tor As Emir of Dikwa". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ^ a b "Abba Tor Shehu Masta II: The Prince who waited". Daily Trust. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ^ a b Hiribarren, Vincent (2017). A History of Borno: Trans-Saharan African Empire to Failing Nigerian State. C. Hurst & Co. pp. 51, 105–106, 175. ISBN 9781849044745.
- ^ a b c d Dori, Gambo (17 February 2025). "The uniqueness of installations of Shehu of Dikwa, Bama". Daily Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "The Coronation of Alhaji (Dr) Umar Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi as the 2nd Shehu of Bama: A Historic and Grand Ceremony". Kanem Press. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ Haruna, Abdulkareem (10 February 2025). "Jubilation as Borno's Displaced Community Gets New Shehu Years After Insurgency". HumAngle. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ a b Abubakar, Uthman (3 May 2020). "Shehu of Bama: We've lost a rich library of wisdom – Borno elders". Daily Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ a b Haruna, Abdulkareem (27 April 2020). "Shehu of Bama is dead". Premium Times. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d Sawab, Ibrahim (4 May 2020). "Borno gov appoints new Shehu of Bama, asks monarch not to work from 'diaspora'". Daily Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2025.