Ngazargamu
Archaeological site
Ngazargamu is located in Nigeria
Ngazargamu
Ngazargamu
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 13°05′N 12°22′E / 13.083°N 12.367°E / 13.083; 12.367
Country Nigeria
StateYobe State

Ngazargamu, Birni Ngazargamu, Birnin Gazargamu, Gazargamo or N'gazargamu, was the capital of the Bornu Empire from ca. 1460 to 1809. Situated 150 km (93 mi) west of Lake Chad in the Yobe State of modern Nigeria, the remains of the former capital city are still visible. The surrounding wall is 6.6 km (4.1 mi) long and in parts it is still up to 5 m (16 ft) high.

The capital city was built in c. 1488, during the reign of Mai Ali Gazi (1476–1503). It was located in the fork of the Komadugu Gana River and the Komadugu Yobe, near present-day Geidam.[1][2]

The city became Bornu's leading center for Islamic education under Idris Alooma.[1]: 504 

In 1808, Gazargamo was taken by the Fulani Jihad.[3][2]: 259 

Toponymy

The first segment of N'gazargamu, which is N'gasar, indicates that the earlier residents of the area were known as either N'gasar or N'gizim. The latter segment of the word, gamu or kumu, shares similarities with the initial portion of the name Gwombe and can signify either (i) a leader or monarch or (ii) a revered ancestral spirit.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Smith, Abdullahi (1972). Ajayi, J.F. Ade; Crowder, Michael (eds.). The early states of the Central Sudan, in History of West Africa, Volume One. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 182. ISBN 0231036280.
  2. 1 2 Palmer, Richmond (1936). The Bornu Sahara and Sudan. London: John Murray. p. 223.
  3. ↑ Shillington, Kevin (2012). History of Africa. Palgrave Macnikkan. p. 233. ISBN 9780230308473.
  4. ↑ H. R. Palmer (1926). History Of The First Twelve Years Of The Reign Of Mai Idris Alooma Of Bornu ( 1571 1583) ( Fartua, Ahmed Ibn). pp. 74–75.

Bibliography

  • Barth, Heinrich: Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa, 3 vols., New York 1857-8 (see vol. III, p. 29-31).
  • Louis Brenner: The Shehus of Kukawa, Oxford 1973 (p. 20, 32–34).
  • Lange, Dierk: A Sudanic Chronicle: the Borno Expeditions of Idrīs Alauma, Wiesbaden 1987 (p. 114-7).


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