Muhammad Rumfa

Muhammad dan Yakubu, pronunciation^ⓘ known as Muhammad Rumfapronunciation^ⓘ was the sultan of Kano from 1463 until 1499. His reign was characterized by wealth and opulence and signaled the rise of the Kano's commercial dominance in the region.Under the guidance of famed Berber Scholar, Muhammad Al-Maghili, he was also responsible for much of the Islamization of Kano.

In total, the Kano Chronicle attributed twelve innovations to him, including; extending the city walls, building a large palace, the Gidan Rumfa, promoting slaves to governmental positions and establishing the Kurmi Market. The Great Mosque of Kano was also built during his reign. Rumfa’s reforms also proved to be the catalyst that would propel Kano to its political peak, resulting in the first Kanoan Empire under his grandson, Muhammad Kisoki..^[1]

He was the first Sarki (Hausa title for chief) who used "Dawakin Zaggi" in the war with Katsina Emirate. He was also the first sarki who practised "Kame". He appointed Durman to go round the dwellings of the Indabawa and take every first-born virgin for him. He was the first sarki to have a thousand wives. His era of oligarchs came to be eponymously known as the "Rumfawa", and would last until their replacement by the "Kutumbawa" in 1623. Muhammad Rumfa is considered by historians to be Kano's greatest ruler due to the reforms executed during his reign.^[2]