Nigeria TV Info – The Legend of Bayajidda, Founder of the Hausa States

Bayajidda (Hausa with tone markings: Bàyā̀jiddà), whose real name was Abu Yazid, is celebrated in West African legend as the founder of the Hausa states before the 19th century.

According to most accounts, Bayajidda originated from Baghdad. His journey first took him to Borno, where he married one of the Mai’s daughters. Later, he settled for a time in Hausa land, where he married the Queen of Daura. As a reward for slaying "Sarki," a great snake that had denied her people access to water, the Queen also gave him a Gwari mistress.

From these unions, Bayajidda had several children. With the Queen of Daura, he had a son named Bawo. From the Borno princess, he had another son, Biram, and with his Gwari paramour, he had Karbagari. Bawo succeeded his father and fathered six sons who became rulers of Daura, Katsina, Zazzau, Gobir, Kano, and Rano. Along with Biram, these rulers formed the “Hausa Bakwai” or “Hausa Seven.”

Karbagari, the son of the Gwari mistress, also had seven sons who became rulers of Kebbi, Zamfara, Gwari, Jukun, Ilorin, Nupe, and Yauri. These are referred to in Hausa tradition as the “Banza Bakwai” or “Vain Seven.”