Origins Kebbi is traditionally considered to belong to the
Banza bakwai states of
Hausaland. According to the locally known
Hausa legend, the Kebbi kingdom was one of the
Banza Bakwai ("seven bastards") or seven "illegitimate" states. The rulers of these states were supposed to trace their lineage to a
concubine of the Hausa founding father, Bayajidda, hence the locally disdainful term
banza ("illegitimate"). The first historical references date to the time when the area came under
Songhay rule during the reign of
Sunni Ali (1464–1492). The earliest documented mention of a Kebbi ruler is to be found in
Al-Sa'di's Ta'rïkh al-Südän where it is related that in the year 1516-7 Kanta Kuta, ruler of Leka, revolted against the Dendi-fari ("governor of the eastern front"), a provincial governor of the
Songhay empire and established his independence which lasted until the downfall of the Songhay empire. The reason for Kebbi's break with Songhay was the refusal of the Dendi-fari to give the Kanta his share of the booty obtained in an expedition against the
Sultanate of Air. In the year 1517–8, an attempt was made by Songhay to re-establish its authority over Kebbi, but was unsuccessful. Kuta was succeeded, probably in 1523-4 by
Muhammad Kanta and it was under him that Kebbi emerged as a formidable power in the
Central Sudan. Sudan. During the reign of the Songhay
Askia Muhammad Bunkan, the Kanta was able to inflict a crushing defeat on Songhay, the Askia's army was scattered 'pell-mell' and Muhammad Bunkan was fortunate to get away with his life. During this period
Surame, of which the massive walls still survive, was the capital of the kingdom. Kebbi became a major power in the region, resisting
Songhay attacks, expanding into the
Yauri and
Nupe lands to the south and defeating attempts by the
Bornu Empire to invade and occupy the Hausa states. However, after Kanta's death in 1556 the Hausa states stopped paying tribute, and his son and successor Ahmadu did not attempt to force the issue. By the end of the sixteenth century Kebbi had become a minor kingdom. The
Sarkin Kebbi, Muhammadu Hodi, was driven from his capital and replaced by a puppet ruler,
Usuman Masa. However, the Kebbawa continued to resist, and Abdullahi was unable to complete the conquest. Muhammadu Hodi fought on in the
Zamfara Valley, and his successor Karari in Argungu and Zazzagawa. On Karari's death in 1831, his son
Yakubu Nabame surrendered, and for 16 years lived in exile in
Sokoto until Sultan Aliyu Babba allowed him to return to Argungu as a vassal of the Caliphate. When the British heard of Monteil's report, and then heard that the French had raised their flag in Argungu, they dispatched troops to Argungu in 1898, where they found no French presence. The British established a permanent force in Argungu in 1902 to provide protection to French caravans crossing the British zone by agreement, and then to protect the boundary commission that was delimiting the boundary between the French and British spheres. On hearing word that the Sultan of Sokoto was gathering his forces, this force and others were dispatched to Sokoto where after some fighting they achieved a decisive victory. Sarkin Sama had welcomed the British for political reasons, since under the British system of indirect rule he was able to regain and consolidate his power. By 1908, British power was unquestioned. At a
durbar held in 1908 for the colonial governor
Frederick Lugard, the emirs of Kebbi and Gwandu and the Sultan of Sokoto turned out in force, with a show of fifteen thousand horsemen and camels. The Emirs gave Lugard sixteen ponies as tribute, and prostrated themselves before him. The British established a system where the emirs were given large administrative authority subject to the direction of District Officers. The Argungu posting was not sought after. The mosquitoes were so bad that the D.O. had to sleep in a specially constructed mosquito cage. ==Emirate today==