Great Female Scholars

By Evelyn Osagie, *Northern women scholars in pre-colonial Nigeria*- The Nation - Matori, Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria; Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Northern women scholars in pre-colonial Nigeria

Many Nigerian women contributed to the socio-political and economic development of the country. Sadly, oftentimes, while celebrating achievers, these women are scarcely mentioned, women rights advocates have said.

They argue that historians and scholars must start exposing women contributions in our historical milieu.

One good way to go about it, according to them, is to bring to the fore the contributions of women, especially those from the north. A major northern women’s advocate is Mallam Futuhu. He urged historians to celebrate the achievement of women scholars in pre-colonial northern Nigeria.

His view on the issue, published online, are currently igniting debates at intellectual circles within and outside the country. According to him, evidences abound of great women scholars who have made historical strides.

Historians, he said, have not done justice to women from the northern part of the country, adding that they have been relegated in historical works.

Futuhu said: "Northern women’s contribution in scholarship is usually relegated, neglected and, oftentimes, reduced to footnote in most intellectual history I have come across. ADH Vibar and Mervin Hiskett, whose works in the 60s was on Northern Nigerian intellectual history, did not mention any great woman scholar, either in Yandoto, Gobarau, Danranko or Madabo schools, despite the fact that, there are many.

"It was only John Hunwick’s and Hamid Bobboyi’s work: Arabic literary tradition in Northern Nigeria, that gave us a little glimpse of some great female scholars."

To further explain his point, he named 10 great women scholars of pre-colonial Northern Nigeria whose works are notable among the northern scholars. However, he said, the list may not mean his list is absolute. "Anyone can come up with his own list," he said.

First on his list is Fatima Dukku. According to him, "She was among the entourage of Wangarawa who arrived in Kano, during the reign of Muhammad Rumfa in 15th Century circa."
Dukku (sometime Tukku) was said to be a great scholar. Some sources said she was a saint (waliyya). For more on her vide, there are some notes on Wangarawa coming to Kano, by Love and Joy. Asl al Wangariyun, by M A Alhaj, Hausawa da Makwabtansu, by Dokaji Abubakar, and I'ilan bi Tarikh Kano, by Malam Adamu na Ma'aji," he wrote.

Next is Ruqayya Fallatiya. "Hunwick made mention of her as the author of the famous song; Ummul Yatim (aka; Alkarimun Yaqbal). Some historians also said she was the author of famous Qawa'idi. She was the wife of Muhammad Fodio al Akbar (not the father of Usman Danfodio, probably the great grandfather, and teacher of Alkashnawi and Muhammad Na wali). She may have lived in 16th Century and died in the early 17th Century," according to him.

Raliya, whose surname was not mentioned, is next on the list. According to him, "She is one of the few women who thrive in Yandoto School. She is said to have authored some poems and a book on epistemology. Her works are not extent; this might be as a result of conquest of Yandoto, by Muhammad Bello (Sultan), in the early 19th century."

Nana Asma'u bint Fodio, he noted, is the most famous scholar among all the female scholars of central Sudan. "She authored 38 works in her life time. Her works include poetry and prose, on grammar, syntax, spiritualism, wa'az, medicine, among others. Her outstanding contribution was on her Yantaru School initiative, where less privilege and slave women were educated.

Many illiterate women, benefited from her mass literacy programme. Vide; One Woman Jihad by B Mark and Jean boyd. See also Some collected works of Nana Asma'u, by B Marks," he stated.
Amina Bint Adeh, according to him, is a great scholar and Sufist. "She was said to be the liaison officer of Usman Danfodio in the spiritual palace of Sidi Abdulqadir Jelani. Nana Asma'u made mention of her in her Tawassali ga mata masu albarka. Hunwick also, in Arabic literary tradition.

Goggo Zaituna is next. He noted that she was born in Adamawa at the time of Lamido Zubayr. "She was said to be a great islamic jurist. In her time, she trained many reknown Qadhis in Adamawa."

Maimunatu Binta Qadhi Bazarin, according to him, was a jurist, grammarian and sufist. Born in Jibiya, Katsina State, she died in 1906, at the age of 80. "She authored some books, both in prose and poetry. She was the founder of famous Jibiya Islamiyya School, which is noted for teaching the children and women."

Sheikh al Qariyya, he observed, was an Algerian, who resided in Kano, at the end of the 19th Century. "Qariyya's original name was Rakiyya, she was called Qarriyya, because it was believed there is no door of the degree of Suffism that she did not knock and open. She was the teacher and initiator of many Kano Sufi scholars, including: al Qalansuwi (Shehu mai hula), Malam Ibrahim Natsugunne, the father of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, Malam Bako Sufi, and Malam Tijjani Zangon bare-bari. She later went to Medina and died there."

Fatuhu also named Hajiya Hassana Sufi, an educationist and Arabicist of her own right, who died last year, "she was the headmistress of Hassana sufi women Islamiyya School in Kankarofi quarters, Kano. Hajiya Hassana was the author of many books."

Miriam bint al Sheikh is last on the list. She is popularly known as Shekara, according to some historians. "She was the originator of Gidan Sarki Islamiyya School. A daughter of Usman Danfodio and wife of Ibrahim Dabo (second Fulani Emir of Kano). Her famous works, which is still Wasiqa ila Amir Kano, Min amr Mahdi. She seems to outlive most of her sisters. Waziri Bukhari made mention of her in his famous poem Wakar Buhari, as a Saint.