SARKIN ZAZZAU MUHAMMADU LAWAL {KWASAU}

Sarkin Zazzau Muhammadu Lawal. Popularly called Kwasau was born in 1855 at Birnin Yero. Where he began his early life before his parent return to Zaria. His mother was Aminatu and his father was Sarkin Zazzau Usman Yero. The son of Sarkin Zazzau Abdullahi. The son of sarkin Zazzau Hammada. Who was the son of the first Fulata – Borno Amir of Zazzaun Yamusa. Sarkin Zazzau Yamusa was the son of Alhaji Ibrahim. The son of Mal. Umar. the son of Mal Usman the son of Mal. Muhammadu Yero, Mal. Yero was the son of Mal. Muhammadu Dibbu the son of Ibn Umar.

            Kwasau. A nickname that still remains obscured with many people urging to know the real meaning have many explanations. Because of the suffering inflicted on the British invaders. The Colonial protagonist portrayed Kwasau as treacherous and cruel ruler to the extent of M. G. Smith describing him as Mal. Kogin janni it is this propaganda against the personality of Kwasau as revealed by Shehu {2011} Zazzan emirate. However. The explanation that seems to carry much weight is the one provided in the work of Suleiman {2009}. According to him Kwasau is derived from the word Kwashewa which literary means to amass or accumulate. It further

Explained that Muhammadu Lawal was highly intelligent with very sharp brain and memory right from childhood-When it came to teaming. Kwasau was always quick to grasp and retain whatever he learnt. It is this power of amassing and retention of Knowledge of Muhammada Lawal that led to nicknaming him kwasau. This explanation is collaborated by Shehu {2011} who interpreted it to indicate his intellectual prowess and quality and argued further that his later life has proven this in the number and quality of books he authored. Including his excellent rendition of poems. The fact  that Kwasau himself referred to this nickname in his masterpiece poem Nuzhatul Al-asir laisa bi la’ab shows that the nickname can notes good and not bad as portrayed by the British invaders, otherwise he would have associate the nickname to himself.

Kwasau’s childhood and adolescence was characterized with pursuit of knowledge in the Islamic science and Arabic philology, and was deeply knowledgeable in all of these areas. Kwasau studied under the well-known shuyuk of his time; notable among them were Sheikh Iyal-Salanke, at Unguwar Kakaki and Sheikh Ishak. Kwasau however continued to seek for knowledge even when it was certain that he attained the position of Malam himself: as he was teaching others. kwasau was also pursuing higher knowledge .in addition to teaching, kwasau was also made Alkali (Qadi)

Kwasau continuing doing these two jobs that are only reserved for learned people until 1890 when he was made Madakin Zazzau, a title only conferred to senior sons of emirs. In 1897 Kwasau became  the Emir of Zazzau, at the age of 42 years, succeeding his father Mal. Usman Yaro. Kwasau competed with three other title holders; Mal Lawal Sambo from Kastinawa ruling dynasty, Mal Muhammadu from Mallawa ruling dynasty and Galadima Salmanu. Although Kwasau ruled for only five years, he was able within this short period to bring development in all human endevour in the emirate. He, according to Shehu (2012) restored the lost glory and prestige of the emirate, which has heavily devastated by the constant raids of Ningawa from the North East and Maradawa from the North West. The educational sector no doubt receive the highest attention, which led  welcoming accommodating and supporting both local and foreign Malams and their student. Similarly, he tried to re-strategize the ways knowledge was being imparted, especially in the areas of commentaries of the holy Qur’an and Arabic language, where he also specialized.

Despite being one of the politically complex emirate to administer, using different strategies, Kwasau was able to provide good and effective governance. The re-organization of the emirate administrative system and re-introduction of previous title, such as Dallatu, Iya, Makama Karami and Turaki Karami and the creation of new ones also went a long way in making important landmarks in the history of Zazzau.

Sarkin Zazzau Kwasau was indeed a great leader of many folds, whose life was very eventful and momentous. This is why he was variously referred to as renowned and devout scholar, famous and astute administrator. Accommodative and patient; his compound was always full of people, warmly liberal, highly compassionate, cheerful, intelligent and master of quiet diplomacy. He was also known for his brevity, which earned him the famous “Gwamachi’’ (The Destroyer) Warrior. The life of Kwasau was certainly eventful and momentous, as pointed out by Shehu{2012} , the events surrounding his personality are of historical significance to the Zazzau emirate and will therefore shade more light on some important landmarks and will provide solid facts for the reconstruction of the history of Zazzau particularly at the closing of the 20th century.

       Many reasons were advanced for the dethronement and deportation of Kwasau, however, the lack of cooperation and trouble caused to the British invaders; a fact recorded in the pages of history that the British invaders really suffered to be conducted under his instruction were the most significance reasons. He spearheaded the emirate Ulema in the anti-crusade of the British by preaching and reminding the Muslim ummah of what Allah {SWT} said in holy Quran about Yahudu and Nasara. However, when it became evident as a result of the passive reaction of the people and the conquest, and the advancement of British invaders with large army headed by  General Campbell toward Zaira, Kwasau fled and remained at large causing much trouble for more than a year before he was brilliantly captured by a small party of mounted infantry. His children, particularly Danmadami Ibrahim and Hayatu, mounted on their horse were following him until he reached the gate of Kofar Kuyanbana and instructed them to return. After his capture, Kwasau was first exiled to Wushishi for six months with the intention of restoring him after his remorse and apology. When he didn’t succumb, he was then transferred to Yola and finally to Lokoja where he met Emir of Kano Aliyu Babba also on exile. He spent the rest of his life , died and buried at Lokoja.

Zazzau emirate is reputed to have been one most prolific in the Sokoto Caliphate, perhaps second to Sokoto itself. The emirate scholars and most of its leadership, perhaps second to Sokoto itself. The emirate scholars and most of its leadership, including Kwasau  contributed to the large body of the Caliphate. Although Kwasau was involved to the large body of literature, which are of immense value and significant to the intellectual heritage of the caliphate. Although Kwasau was involved in intellectual pursuit before his becoming the Madaki and Emir and continued thereafter attaining the two positions, there is no any clear indication that Kwasau authored any book before his deposition to lokoja that provided him with ample opportunity not only to rekindle his intellectual quest but to start writing books and composing poems. Evidence indicated that Kwasau anthored many books poems in Arabic during his exile in Lokoja. The subject matters of the books and poems ranged from history to mysticism and theology. Including commentary of the Holy Qur;an. Prominent among the books and poems authored by Kwasau according to shehu {2011} include; Hibbat Allah Al-Rafiq fi bayan qissat Yusuf Al-Siddiq, as the title suggests, it highlighted the connotation of the story and life of Prophet Yusuf (AS) as told in the Holy Qur’an. There was also Ma-unat al-tullab fi Ma-rifat ma-fihi nasikh wa-man such, a simple work written to assist student understand the sciences of the Holy Qur’an, especially on the science of abrogation and the abrogated verses of the Holy Qur’an. Another work authored by him in the area of Tafsir, commentary of the Holy Qur’an was Qissat Nabiyyillah Musa and Qissat ashab al-kahf. It is interesting to note that Qissat Nabiyyllah Musa was studied and evaluated by Lawal  Sule Abdullahi and submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of Ph.D in the department of Arabic, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Other books authored by Kwasau included Ighathat al-lahfan binaylihi ‘awatif al-luftan fi bayan award Ahamad al-Tijjani, Iraqat al-ishaqa al-qasid (li-qasid?)al-ifaqa and Tashfi al-musfir fi bayan qasr al-muqasir.

However, of most significance among his writing is a poem compose in Arabic and titled Nuzhatul Al-asir fih innalati al-yasir (The Excursions of an Exiled Emir);it looks like this work was his masterpiece. Composed in 921 verse and divided into four chapters, the poem, using classic Arabic, firstly provided an insight and exposed the conspiracy of his deposition by the British. The second part of the poem had to do with Kwasau’’s rendition of how he took his removal as a souree of despair, misery, sorrow and grift. Kwasau took it in solace and saw it as an excursion from the burden of statecraft. Because of the importance of this work.

              Sarkin Zazzau Kwasau died in 1907 leaving behind 8 Children. 6 males and 2 females. The males were; Mai Bello, Mai Haliru, Galadima Hayatu, Sarkin Zazzau Ibrahim, Mai Abdillah {Maigari}, and Sarkin Ruwa Sambo, while the females were; Mal. Maimuna {Kilishi} and Maimuna {Gimbiyar rami}. According to available records,Mai. Haliru, Kilishi and Gimbiyar Rimi had no any child.Mai. Bello was blessed with 3.Galadiman Zazzau Hayatu 16, Sarkin Zazzau Ibrahim 14, Mai. Abdullahi {Maigari} 4 and Sarkin Ruwa Sambo 3 Children respectively.