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GREAT FEMALE SCHOLARS OF PRE-COLONIAL NORTHERN NIGERIA Mallam Fatuhu This is not an attempt to influence the outcome of the subcommittees of our recent greatwomen initiative, neither an attempt to preempt their findings. I just think we need to start exposing women contributions in our history. It is not news, that, our brother in the other half of Nigeria, are looking down at our women in particular as backward, retrogressive and have nothing to show in history. Evidence abounds that, even Maulawiyya cannot boost of great women scholars more than us. Our women contribution in scholarship is usually relegated, neglected and most often reduce to footnote in most of intellectual history I came across. ADH Vibar and Mervin Hiskett, whose works in the 60s 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 and Hamid Bobboyi work; Arabic Literary Tradition in Northern Nigeria, gave us a little glimpse of some great female scholars. This is an attempt to write a short note on ten great women scholars, of Precolonial Northern Nigeria. But, that does not mean, my list is absolute, anyone can come up with his own list. 1) Fatima Dukku; she was among the entourage of Wangarawa who arrived in Kano, during the reign of Muhammad Rumfa in 15 Century circa. Dukku (sometime Tukku) was said to be a great scholar and a suffist. Some sources said she was a saint (waliyya). For more on her vide; some notes on Wangarawa coming to Kano, by Lovejoy. 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. 2) Ruqayya Fallatiya: Hunwick made mention of her as the author of the famous song; Ummul Yatim (aka; Alkarimun Yaqbal) some historian 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, probabbly the great grandfather, and Teacher of Alkashnawi and Muhammad Na wali) she might live in 16th century and died early 17th century. 3) Raliya; one of the few women who thrive in Yandoto school. She is said to 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. 4) Nana Asma'u bint Fodio; she is the most famous scholar among all the female scholars of central Sudan. She authored 38 works in her life time. Her works includes 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 program. Vide; One Woman Jihad by B Mark and Jean boyd. See also some collected works of Nana Asma'u, by B Marks. 5) Amina Bint Adeh; a great scholar and Sufist. She was said to be the liaison officer of Usman Danfodio in the spritual 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. 6) Goggo Zaituna; 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. 7)Maimunatu Binta Qadhi Bazarin; A jurist, Grammarian and Sufist. Born in Jibiya Katsina state, she diead 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 for teaching Children and women. 8) Sheikh al Qariyya; she was an Algerians, who resided in Kano, at the end of 19th Century. Qariyya's original name was Rakiyya, she was called Qarriyya, because it was believe; 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 Na tsugunne, the father of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, Malam Bako Sufi, and Malam Tijjani Zangon bare-bari. She later went to Medina and died there. 9) Hajiya Hassana Sufi; an educationist and Arabicist of her own right, who died last year. She was the head mistress of Hassana sufi women Islamiyya school in Kankarofi quaters, Kano. Hajiya Hassana was the author of many books. 10) Miriam bint al Sheikh; she is popularly known as Shekara, according to some histortians. She was the originator of Gidan Sarki Islamiyya school. A daughter of Usman Danfodio and wife of Ibrahim Dabo (2nd Fulani emir of Kano). Her famous works, which is still extent, is Wasiqa ila Amir Kano, min amr Mahdi. She seems to outlive most of her sisters. Waziri Bukhari made mentioned of her in his famous poem Wakar Buhari, as a Saint. Next time I will send a note on great women politicians and administrators of precolonial Northern Nigeria. Wish you will find it interesting. From: <mfatuhu313@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 1:59 AM Subject: {'Yan Arewa} Ten Great Female Scholars of Pre colonial Northern Nigeria. To: Raayiriga@yahoogroups.com, yanarewa@yahoogroups.com, "dandalinsiyasa@yahoogroups.com" <dandalinsiyasa@yahoogroups.com>