Fodio

Fodio most commonly refers to Usman dan Fodio (c. 1754–1817), a Fulani Islamic scholar, reformer, and leader who founded the Sokoto Caliphate in the region of present-day northern Nigeria. He was a prolific teacher and writer who promoted a purer form of Islam, Qur’anic literacy, and ethical reform among the Muslim communities of the Hausa-speaking areas.

Born in Gobir into a family of Islamic scholars, Usman dan Fodio pursued extensive study in Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and Arabic. He preached against religious laxity and political corruption among the ruling elites and called for a return to strict observance of Islamic law. His public critiques and reformist writings attracted followers across the Sahel region.

In the early 19th century, his movement expanded into a broader jihad against ruling powers perceived as unjust or insufficiently religious. The campaign culminated in the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate, a large Islamic state with its capital at Sokoto. After his victory, dan Fodio remained a spiritual and moral authority, while his successors—most notably his son Muhammad Bello—took on more formal political leadership.

Dan Fodio left a substantial body of writings in Arabic and Hausa, addressing theology, law, and social ethics. His ideas helped catalyze Islamic scholarship, education, and political organization across West Africa and influenced later reformist currents in the region. The Fodio surname remains associated with a lineage of scholars and rulers who continued to shape Islamic governance in the Sahel until colonial reorganization in the 19th and early 20th centuries.