You should know that the Hausa rulers were the ones who turned the land of Kano into a major center of trade and pure Islamic administration in West Africa over 587 years ago (1438–1452).
For thousands of years, the Hausa have been expert traders, dealing in various crafts and countless professions.
In other words, if you observe, almost every ethnic group you know has one particular craft they are known for. But Hausa civilization surpassed that centuries ago.
Today, we should reflect on a certain Hausa King of Kano named Abdullahi, son of Kanajeji, better known as Abdullahi Burja.
He was the 16th king in the line of Hausa rulers of Kano.
Sultan Burja was a skilled trade expert, a brave warrior, resolute, and a man of his word. His justice, compassion, and trustworthiness helped develop Kano commercially within West Africa.
By forging alliances with neighboring nations and opening various trade routes, Abdullahi Burja transformed the governance of Kano, shifting revenue sources toward trade and boosting manufactured goods—what Kano and the Hausa are famous for today.
Because of his deep love for developing Hausaland, he was the first Hausa king to undertake a trade mission to the land of Bornu.
There, he successfully negotiated an agreement with the Bornu Empire that allowed the opening of a trade route from Gonja to Borno.
Furthermore, he was the first king renowned for owning camels in Hausaland.
This effort by the Hausa leader meant that by the end of the 15th century, Kano had become one of the greatest commercial centers in Hausaland and all of West Africa.
Through this trade, the Hausa language, Islam, and the fine customs of the Hausa spread across the region via Hausa scholars and merchants.
That's the Hausa for you. You know wherever a Hausa person goes, people adopt some of their customs—because of the pure trustworthiness the Hausa possess, their skill and good traditions, their love of peace and coexistence without tribalism, and their absolute honesty, attested to even before the advent of Islam.
Sultan Abdullahi, through the trade he opened between Hausaland and Gonja, caused Hausa scholars to join caravans traveling to various parts of Africa, increasing their knowledge and teaching others.
As a result, they achieved great success in converting many people in Gonja to Islam, due to the good character they displayed and the people's acceptance of the Hausa's proven trust and truthfulness.
Abdullahi Burja's mother's name was Takida. He was the third son of King Kanajeji to rule in Kano.
According to a narration quoted in the Kano Chronicle, his reign coincided with the late rule of the famous Hausa queen buried among the Hausa of Zazzau—Queen Amina.
He reigned from 1438 to 1452.
Through one of his Galadimas, Sultan Abdullahi Burja built twenty-one new towns along the trade route to ensure the safety and security of people coming to trade in Kano.
This assurance of safety and stability attracted people, and trade in Kano began shifting toward large-scale goods.
During his time, it is reported that all skilled Hausa youths in Kano were trained as expert military soldiers, ready to protect incoming traders—only the elderly remained in the city.
Kano's King Abdullahi Burja enacted a new law concerning male and female slave traders: they should stop parading slaves around causing them distress and should stop beating them while advertising sales in the city.
The king said they should go outside the city, south of the old Mandawari ward, where there were large shady trees everywhere, and sit there buying and selling slaves under those trees instead of tormenting fellow human beings.
Historical records all confirm the great generosity of this Hausa ruler, King Abdullahi Burja.
He was also world-famous for his charitable nature.
In the Kano Chronicle, King Abdullahi Burja is described as a generous and charitable man.
He is among the famous Hausa figures history will never forget.
Because he demonstrated the profound skill of his Hausa ancestors in trade and governance to advance the nation, showing expertise in making trade agreements to develop the country and benefit future generations.
He is the great-grandfather of the greatest and most famous Kano king in history, Muhammadu Rumfa.
Once I heard he was the grandfather of King Muhammad Rumfa, I said, truly, water doesn't turn sour for no reason.
— Ibrahim Gamji
Sources
1. "Kano Chronicle" (Tarikh Arbab Hadha al-Bilad) – Translated by H.R. Palmer (1908)
2. "Government in Kano" (1350-1950) by M.G. Smith
3. "Studies in the History of Kano" (edited papers, Bayero University Kano)
4. "The Complete History of Kano" (999-1903) by Isaac Samuel
5. Kano in the Second Millennium: Selected Papers (Kano Millennium Conference papers)