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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Challenges to the Hegemony of the Sokoto Caliphate: A Preliminary Examination
Author:Chafe, Kabiru Sulaiman
Year:1994
Periodical:Paideuma
Volume:40
Pages:99-109
Language:English
Geographic terms:Nigeria
Northern Nigeria
Subjects:Sokoto polity
history
traditional polities
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Religion and Witchcraft
History and Exploration
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/40341678
Abstract:Historians of the Sokoto Caliphate (Northern Nigeria) have dealt almost exclusively with the 'successes' of the jihad. Virtually nothing has been written about the 'failures' of the caliphal system or how far the achievements of the caliphal leaders fell short of their aspirations. An investigation of the political economy of the Caliphate demonstrates that it was already in decline when the European invasion began. This decline can be understood in terms of the inability of the Caliphate to evolve a social formation which embodied the ideals of the jihad. Frequent territorial and succession disputes in various parts of the Caliphate demonstrate its failure to transcend the political culture of the pre-jihad Hausa State system. Thus, by the middle of the 19th century, internal challenges were already undermining the State and setting in motion a process of decline which was to become 'intrinsic' by the time of the British invasion. Because of these interal problems, Caliphate forces were not able to mount any substantial resistance to the European invasion. Bibliogr., ref.
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