ABSTRACT
This topic "A history of Makarfi area C. 1779-1902," is a study of the

Makarfi area. This covers the origin, socio-cultural, political and

economic development in the area in one hundred and twenty three

years (C. 1779-1902).

The area has been one of the districts of Zazzau Emirate located at the

extreme North. It has several towns and villages most of which predated

the 19th century Jihad (in the area). Some of these towns and

villages became vassals of the Emirate immediately after the Jihad. This

indicated the status of the area especially after the Jihad where those

vassals, especially, contributed their quota politically and economically

to the development of the Emirate.

Makarfi have undergone a process of being transferred from one

political system or polity to another. Although, this development had a

great impact on the economy and administration of the area, the sociocultural

set up, remained not much affected by the changes.

The period chosen for this study C. 1779 to 1902 covers the years when

most of the settlements evolved and assumed the status of full scale

settlements, to the period when Makarfi and indeed the Zazzau Emirate

fell under British Colonial domination.

Within the period, the area enjoyed a limited autonomy for a very short

period, C1779 to 1792, when it fell under the tutelage of Zazzau

kingdom.

The whole of the pre-Jihad Zazzau had undergone a general

transformation, that is, with the Jihad and the assumption of Islamic

system from the traditional, which change even its status from kingdom

to Emirate. This affected the general administration, economic and even

the socio-cultural activities of the state not only within the Zaria

metropolis but also at the vassal town and village levels in the state,

Makarfi area inclusive. The Emirate and Islamic system lasted for about

ninety-eight years when the British overthrew the Emirate of Zazzau in

1902 and replaced it with the colonial indirect rule system.