Muhammadu Rumfa is the twentieth king in the lineage of Kano's rulers. He was installed as the Makaman Kano when he was just six years old, an event that occurred after a remarkable incident involving him. His original name was Muhammadu Mansur.
Sarki Muhammadu Rumfa is among the Hausa kings who ruled Kano. He moved the king's residence from near Dala Hill to the Gidan Makama due to the overcrowding that had begun in the area at the time, as well as his effort to enhance security for the king.
It was Sarki Rumfa who built the current Emir's Palace in Kano, and he introduced numerous changes to the administration of the Kano emirate. It was during his reign that the king began to sit motionless on a throne (karaga), and he was also the first to adopt the sunke—a practice where the king used the edge of his royal robe to cover his mouth, so that people could no longer see when the king spoke.
Muhammad Dan Yakubu, widely known as Muhammad Rumfa, was the King of Kano from 1463 to 1499. His reign was marked by immense wealth and prosperity, reflecting the dominance of the Sarki's kingdom over regional trade. Under the guidance of the renowned Berber scholar, Muhammad Al-Maghili, he also advanced the spread of Islam in Kano.
In summary, in Kano's history, Muhammadu Rumfa introduced twelve well-known reforms during his rule over Kano. These included: expanding the city walls, constructing a magnificent palace (Gidan Rumfa), building the central Friday mosque in the city of Kano, appointing slaves to positions in the emirate, and establishing the Kurmi Market.
The reforms made by Rumfa also solidified his legacy as the cornerstone who led Kano to the peak of its political development.
Due to the fame of Sarki Muhammad Rumfa, even the Fulani rulers are hailed with the praise epithet "successor of Rumfa."
Rumfa ascended to the throne in 1463. His reign witnessed unprecedented economic growth, numerous administrative reforms, and infrastructure development. Rumfa fostered an economy that attracted merchants to Kano, most of whom were Arabs, Kanuris, Berbers, and Fulas.
The War with Katsina
The war Rumfa fought against Katsina was the first military conflict between the two states. It lasted eleven years without any decisive victory. During this war, it is said that Sarki Muhammadu Rumfa was the first king in history to use the "Dawakan Zagi" (a type of cavalry or tactical unit).
Legacy
Rumfa is widely regarded as the greatest king of Kano. Some of the buildings he constructed and the governance reforms he implemented are still in use in Kano today. The Emir's palace is named Gidan Rumfa, and the renowned Rumfa College in Kano also bears his name.
He was a virtuous, just, and exemplary leader. None could surpass his greatness, from the time Kano was founded to the furthest reaches of the land... Indeed, there is no king more famous than Rumfa.