Intellectual Discourse in the Early Sokoto Caliphate: The Dan Fodios' Debate on Ransoming

The Sokoto Caliphate was the largest state in nineteenth-century sub-Saharan Africa. It was founded in 1804 on an agenda of socio-political and economic reform and served as an inspiration for later 19^th century reform movements in West and parts of north-east Africa.   While ‘Uthmān dan Fodio was the acknowledged leader of the reform movement, the movement and the later Caliphate, was founded, not by an individual, but by a group of intellectuals.   While these scholars shared many of the same core values and goals, they also disagreed on issues of policy and strategy. This paper will explore these cleavages through the study of one area of disagreement on the status and treatment of war prisoners held by Sokoto forces, between ‘Uthmān dan Fodio and his brother ‘Abdullāhi dan Fodio. While the brothers agreed on the importance of regaining the freedom of captured Sokoto forces, by ransoming if necessary, they disagreed on granting the same opportunity to enemy forces. A study of this debate highlights their interpretation and application of Islamic law, and the freedom for political discourse and open disagreement in the Caliphate.