Muhammad Hamman Yaji

Muhammad Hamman Yaji (c. 1863 – 1929) was the Emir of Madagali, a town in present-day Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, and part of the Adamawa Emirate. He is best known for keeping a detailed personal diary that documents his daily life and activities as a Fulbe (Fulani) raider and slave trader from 1912 to 1927. His diary is a rare and valuable historical source offering insights into the dynamics of society and politics in early 20th-century sub-Saharan Africa during the period of British colonial rule.

Historical Context

Operating near the Nigeria–Cameroon border, particularly in Mayo-Tsanaga, Far North Region (Cameroon) and northern Adamawa, Hamman Yaji led numerous slave-raiding expeditions, often targeting rival villages. According to his diary, over a span of nine years, he:

• Carried out over 100 raids
• Captured approximately 2,016 slaves
• Killed at least 200 men, with 168 of them named or described
• Seized livestock and property from communities throughout the region

These raids took place even as colonial authorities—first German, then British—were officially working to abolish slavery.

The Diary

Yaji’s diary was written in Arabic and covers events from January 1912 to October 1927. It provides a rare indigenous account of life under colonial rule from the perspective of a local ruler. The diary is exceptional for its:

• Detail and consistency over 15 years
• Insight into slavery, war, trade, governance, and daily life in the Sahel
• Documentation of resistance to colonial anti-slavery policies
• Evidence of social and political organization among the Fulbe and other ethnic groups

His writings offer an alternative narrative to colonial records and help illuminate the persistence of slavery long after its formal abolition.

Further Reading

• Lovejoy, Paul E.; Hogendorn, Jan S. (1993). Slow Death fo