Gumel or Gumal (as the natives call it) is a city and traditional emirate in Jigawa State, Nigeria.
The emirate was founded about 1750 by Dan Juma and his followers from the Mangawa tribe. Shortly after he died in 1754, it became a tributary state of the Bornu kingdom. The emirate survived the Fulani attacks of Usman dan Fodio’s jihad in the early 19th century and never became part of the Fulani empire of Sokoto. The present-day location of Gumel is the result of an 1845 move from the city of Tumbi, located in what is now Niger. The emirate has frequently been at war with the nearby cities of Hadejia, Danzomo, Kano, and Zinder since 1828. The war with Hadejia continued until Gumel’s emir, Abdullahi, died in 1872. Before Emir Ahmadu accepted British rule in 1903, frequent slave raids from the town of Zinder were common. In 1976 Gumel became part of Kano State, and since 1991 it has been part of Jigawa State near Danzomo, Gagarawa, Sule Tankarkar, and Maigatari.
His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Sani II (CON) is the Current and 16th Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State. The Emir is a graduate of Political Science, Ohio State University United States of America. The Emir has been in office since 1980 The Emir’s Palace is accessible only to those invited there by the Emir, members of the Royal family, and officials of the Royal court
TRADE CULTURE AND TOURISM
Gumel is located 120 km northeast of Kano, and lies about 20 km south of Nigeria’s northern border with Niger. As of 2007 the estimated population of Gumel was 44,158. Gumel, also spelled Gummel, town and traditional emirate, northern Jigawa state, northern Nigeria. The emirate was founded about 1750 by Dan Juma of Kano city (75 miles [121 km] southwest) and his followers of the Manga (Mangawa) tribe. Shortly after his death in 1754, it became a tributary state of the Bornu kingdom. The emirate survived the Fulani attacks of Usman dan Fodio’s jihad (“holy war”) in the early 19th century and never became part of the Fulani empire of Sokoto. In 1845 Gumel’s capital was moved from Tumbi (20 miles north in present-day Niger) to the present site. Wars with nearby Hadejia, Kano, and Zinder (Damagaram) plagued the emirate from 1828; the war with Hadejia continued until Gumel’s emir, Abdullahi, was killed in battle in 1872. Slave raids toward the end of the century by Damagaram further depopulated Gumel. Emir Ahmadu submitted to the British in 1903, and the Gumel emirate was incorporated into Kano province. In 1976 it became part of Kano state, and since 1991 it has been part of Jigawa state.
Gumel town remains the area’s chief market centre—millet and sorghum are the staple foods—and serves as a collecting point for peanuts (groundnuts), which are trucked to Kano city for export by rail. Limestone and diatomaceous earth deposits are exploited locally in scattered areas. The town has a farm-training centre and an advanced teacher-training college. Gumel lies on a secondary highway linking it to Kano and Hadejia and is a hub for local roads serving northern Jigawa state. Pop. (2006) local government area,
Gumel acts as the region’s primary economic center. Sorghum, millet, and peanuts are collected here and trucked to Kano on a secondary highway where they are exported by rail
Gani Festival or Sallar Gani in Hausa Language, is an annual traditional festival celebrated in Gumel emirate. This festival holds in the same way as Durbar festival of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.[citation needed] The festival is held from the 12th of Rabi’al-Awwal every year in commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad. Emir in company of his councils ride horses decorated with ornaments around the city. Members of the community also dress up in a special way on this day and make special food to share with family and friends. Hausa traditional music, encomium songs praising the Prophet, and dances are performed during the celebration. After the Durba, the king returns to the palace where he would be discussing with his cabinet on issues related to public affairs. The festival attracts the attention of tourists because it exhibits the culture of Hausas, Northern Nigeria and Africa