Unity, Brotherhood & Development

The Alkali Ahmadu Hambali Clan has its roots traced deen into Islamic Education. And with the advent of Western education, the system was warmly embraced by the clan. This allowed members of the clan to contribute in various walks of life, from the pre-jihad era through the pre-colonial era, the Colonial era to date, not only in the Katsina Kingdom, province, or State, but also in Nigeria as a whole.

The Beginning

The history of Hambalawa could be traced to Muhammadu Shumo, who came to Nigeria from Futa-Jaloo and first settled at Sifawa in the present Sokoto State of Nigeria before finally settling at Makurda in Batagarawa Local Government of Katsina State at around the year 1750. This marked the beginning of Alkalanci (Judgeship) by members of this great family as Muhammadu Shumo was appointed judge by the then Emir of Katsina, Tsagarana, to adjudicate according to the Shari’ah (Islamic Legal System). Thus, Alkalanci in this family had preceded the Jihad of Sheikh Othman ibn Fodio.

In 1804, the Sokoto Caliphate was established, which at its peak extended from the former Songai Empire in the West to the present day Cameroon in the East. Emirates were established in these territories based on a system of justice founded on the Islamic Shari’ah and the concept of scholarship and fairness. Law and order were maintained based on Islamic principles. Indeed, Hambali family members were among the supporters of the Jihad and had participated actively in the establishment of the Caliphate.

Post-Jihad Era

Soon after the Jihad campaigns, Shehu Usman Danfodio proceeded to appoint judges and other scribes for the established emirates. Malam Muhammadu Zakin Makurda, son of Abu Muhammad son of Muhammadu Shumo, was appointed the first Alkalin Katsina, post Jihad, and tasked to work with the Amir (Emir) of Katsina, Malam Ummarun Dallaje, about the year 1811. He had earlier served as the Chairman of the Council of Ulama (learned) constituted by Sultan Muhammadu Bello to advise the Emir of Katsina on administration and religious issues.The Hambalawa maintained the tradition of scholarship to the extent that for quite a long time, most of the judges and some Chief Imams of Katsina were from their progeny. Recent count showed that the family had produced over fifty Judicial Officers that served at various capacities in the State and Federal Courts including the pre-independence Courts. This number included the President Court of Appeal, the pioneer Chief Judge of Katsina State, a Deputy/Acting Grand Qadi of defunct Northern Nigeria, four Grand Qadis, High Court Judges and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Similarly, the family had produced two Chief Imams of Katsina. It was on record that the second Chief Imam, Sambo, had not missed leading Jumu’ah prayers for forty years. It was after the death of Liman Sambo that the father of the current Chief Imam of Katsina, who was not from the family, was appointed.

Alkali Abubakar Dankanda was the first Chief Alkali to leave Makurda village on the advice of the then Emir of Katsina and settled in Katsina metropolis at a place that was later named Unguwar Alkali, meaning Judge’s Quarters.

The History of the "Mallamawa" Title

One of the legacies of the Sokoto Caliphate for Katsina was the apportionment of villages in trust to some learned men in Katsina which were made autonomous of the Emir’s authority. However, with advent of colonialism in Nigeria, the colonial authority decided that some of these villages should be merged forming a new district with headquarters at Dandagoro in the present Batagarawa Local Government of Katsina State. A Chiefdom was thus created and the title of Mallamawan Katsina was given to its ruler, who is currently a member of the family. It should be noted that the title was held by three people before Ibrahim Jamu, a member of Hambali family was appointed in 1923 and with the merger of Batagarawa village into the district in 1928, the headquarters of the district was moved there. The title of Mallamawan Katsina has settled amongst his progeny after him.

Contributions & Achievements

Hambali family has made tremendous contributions in the development of Katsina Emirate and Katsina State in particular and Nigeria in general. The family has contributed human capital in various disciplines including medicine, engineering, natural and social sciences, military and paramilitary, education and scholarship, politics, finance, and entrepreneurship. There is hardly any human endeavour that at least a family member has not undertaken. This no doubt was the result of the favours that Allah (SWT) has bestowed on the family and the legacy of discipline and commitment to duty enshrined into the family by its forefathers. Traditional titles are not new to the family as many family members were at one time or the other conferred with traditional titles particularly in Katsina Emirate. The titles of Wazirin Ayyukan Katsina, Sarkin Fulotin Katsina, Muftin Katsina and Riyojin Katsina were all held by family members. Similarly, the titles of Ajiyan Katsina and Muftin Katsina as well as Durbin Yauri are currently being occupied by family members.

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