Birnin Kudu: History
=== Prehistory ===
In 1955, archaeologist Bernard Fagg reported the existence of a number of cave paintings in Birnin Kudu. The paintings had always been known to the locals but only appeared in official reports in response to an appeal for notes of local historical interest for publication in a vernacular newspaper. Fagg attributed their survival to a combination of their protection from rain water by overhanging rocks and low humidity, with "[rains that fall] in violent outbursts followed by bright sunshine." However, the surviving paintings probably represent a very small proportion of those originally painted.
The subjects of the Birnin Kudu paintings were long-horned and short-horned humpless cattle. The former probably represents the so-called Hamitic Long-horn cattle, whose direct descendants are now exclusively found in the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea. The latter almost certainly depicts the West African Short-horn cattle (locally known as muturu in Hausa). Fagg tentatively dates the cave paintings to at least 2,000 years ago.
A number of rock gongs were also reported at Birnin Kudu in 1955. These are believed to have been in continuous ceremonial use since at least 940 A.D., back to the town of Baud'a, which preceded the establishment of Birnin Kudu.
Birnin Kudu was founded as a chiefdom in the 10th century, some decades before Kano. Over the following centuries, it likely grew to occupy most of the present district of Birnin Kudu and included some territory in present day Bauchi State. The capital was surrounded by walls stretching over three miles in length with twelve fortified gates. Much of its inhabitants, including its chiefs, were Hausa.
Between 1768 and 1786, the ruler of the nearby kingdom of Kano Babba Zaki led a campaign of conquest in the region around Birnin Kudu. From his stronghold at Takai, about 25 miles northwest of Birnin Kudu, Sarkin Kano Zaki launched an invasion of the independent chiefdom of Burumburum, an expedition remembered for its brutality. Later, during Muhammadu Alwali's reign, the chief of Birnin Kudu made voluntary submission (cafka) to Alwali, and the chiefdom absorbed into Kano "as an internally autonomous substate." Zaki's aggressive actions, along with nearby Takai being garrisoned by a senior military slave official, likely drove Birnin Kudu's decision to submit peacefully.
With this, Birnin Kudu came to form the entire southeastern corner of Kano. Prior to its incorporation, the chiefdom is believed to have known 37 years of independent rule since its founding. Birnin Kudu was thus the last of several ancient chiefdoms to be absorbed by Kano during the era of Hausa rule.
In the early 19th century, the Sokoto jihad swept through Hausaland, driving Sarkin Kano Alwali from his kingdom in 1807. Birnin Kudu held out against the newly established Kano Emirate until 1819, when Emir Ibrahim Dabo marched his army against it, forcing its chief, Dan Guri, to flee with many of his people. In his place as ruler, Emir Dabo installed Suleiman, a Fulani whose family originated from Borno. Two years later, Suleiman faced a revolt among the Hausa inhabitants, and was able to reassert his authority only with help from the ruler of Dutse.
To its south, Birnin Kudu faced occasional raids from Ningi, who were locked in a prolonged conflict with Kano for much of the 19th century. Birnin Kudu was also involved in the Sokoto Caliphate's war against the rebel Buhari of Hadejia.