SOKOTO, a province of the British protectorate of Nigeria, West Africa; formerly an independent state. The province occu pies the north-west corner of the protectorate, and is bounded west and north by French territory; area 38,86o sq.m. Pop. (1926) 1,666,821. The southern part is fertile, with orchard bush. The northern part is more open and sandy merging into semi Saharan conditions towards the frontier. Running through the province in a south-westerly direction is the Gublin Kebbi or So koto river, which rises in high land—the Niger-Chad divide—along the eastern border of the province. The Sokoto river joins the Niger in N. 4° E. The Niger itself flows through the west corner of the province. The capital, also called Sokoto, is in the northern part of the province, on a tributary of the Sokoto river. The province is pastoral and agricultural. The people have large herds of cattle and the trade in hides and skins is important. Horses are numerous. Of food crops guinea corn, millet and rice are extensively grown. Crops for export are groundnuts, pro duced in large quantities, and cotton. The cultivation of cotton since the World War increased very greatly. In 1928 the province was put in railway communication with Lagos, by the opening of a line 107 miles long (specially built to serve a cotton area) from Zaria to Gasau. This line was extended in 5929 a further 3o m. to Kawra, a large town some Soo m. south-south-west of Sokoto.
History.—The Sokoto or Fula empire was founded at the be ginning of the 19th century. The country over which the Fula ruled has, however, a history going back to the middle ages. Be tween the Niger and Bornu (q.v.) the country was inhabited by various negro tribes, of whom the Hausa occupied the plains. Under the influence of Berber and Arab tribes, who embraced Mo hammedanism, the Hausa advanced in civilization, founded large cities, and developed a considerable trade, not only with the neighbouring countries, but, via the Sahara, with the Barbary states. The kingdoms which grew up round each large town had their own rulers, who from time to time fell under the sway of foreign powers. In the i 7th century a dynasty of the Habe,
a name now believed to be identical with Hausa, obtained power over a large area of what is now Northern Nigeria. The Hausa, whose conversion to Islam began in the 12th century, were still in the 58th century partly pagans, though their rulers were Mohammedans. These rulers built up an elaborate system of government which left a considerable share in the management of affairs to the body of the people.
Fula Empire Founded.—Dwelling among the Hausa were a number of Fula, mostly herdsmen, and these were devout Mo hammedans. One of the more cultivated teachers of this race, named Othman Dan Fodio, had been tutor to the king of Gobir (a district north of Sokoto). He incurred the wrath of that king, who ordered the massacre of every Fula in his dominions. The Fula flocked to Fodio's aid, and in the battle of Koto or Rugga Fakko (1804) the king of Gibir was utterly defeated. There upon Fodio unfurled the green banner of Mohammed and preached a jihad or religious war. In a few years the Fula had subdued most of the Hausa states, some, like Kano, yielding easily in order to preserve their trade, others, like Katsina, offering a stubborn resistance. Gobir and Kebbi (a small state south of Gibir) re mained unconquered, as did the pagan hill tribes. The Fula were also defeated in their attack on Bornu. In most places they con tinued the system of government which had grown up under the Habe, the chiefs or emirs of the various states being, however, tributary to Dan Fodio. That prince established himself at Sokoto and he and his successors are entitled sultans of Sokoto. Each also is known as Sarikin Muslimin (Commander of the Moham medans) as indicating his spiritual authority. In the time of Sultan Bello, Dan Fodio's son, Europeans found their way to Sokoto and were well treated by that monarch. Thereafter inter course with Europeans and Americans by way of the lower Niger grew. But Fula rule degenerated, and slave-raiding was on such a scale as to devastate and almost depopulate large areas, not only in Sokoto proper but in the neighbouring emirate of Gwandu (Gando).