Background Sokoto Caliphate

the sokoto-rima river system

the region between niger river , lake chad largely populated hausa, fulani, , other ethnic groups had immigrated area. of hausa population had settled in cities throughout region. fulani, in contrast, had largely remained pastoral community, herding cattle, goats , sheep, , populating grasslands between towns throughout region. increasing trade, number of fulani settled in towns, forming distinct minority.

much of population had converted islam in centuries before; however, nationalist , pagan beliefs persisted in many areas. in end of 1700s, increase in islamic preaching occurred throughout hausa kingdoms. number of preachers linked in shared tariqa of islamic study.