The family of the late Muhammad Bello Alkali, popularly known as Dan Masanin Kabi, has donated 40 copies of his book, A Kingdom in Crisis: Kabi in the Nineteenth Century, to Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS).
The book, authored by the late Alhaji Muhammad Bello Alkali, provides a detailed historical account of the pre-colonial Hausa Kingdom of Kabi and the conflicts, challenges and transformations it experienced in the face of two major historical developments: the Sokoto Jihad of 1804 and the subsequent colonial conquest of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Presenting the books on behalf of the family on August 31, 2026, at the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, a member of the family, Nuruddeen Bello Alkali, said the donation was intended to make the work accessible to students, researchers and other members of the University community.
He said the book would be particularly beneficial to students and scholars of history, as it provides valuable insights into the history of Kabi, one of the important pre-colonial kingdoms in the region.
According to him, the work is a carefully researched and crafted narrative that documents the experiences of the Kabi Kingdom during a critical period in its history, particularly its encounters with the Sokoto Jihad and later colonial expansion.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, expressed appreciation to the family for the generous donation and for preserving the intellectual and historical legacy of the late Muhammad Bello Alkali.
Prof. Bunza described books and other scholarly works as enduring repositories of knowledge, noting that the donation would enrich the University Library and provide students and researchers with additional materials for academic inquiry.
He said the University places great value on works that document the history, culture and experiences of societies in Northern Nigeria, stressing that such publications are important for promoting historical scholarship and ensuring that valuable aspects of the region’s heritage are preserved for future generations.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the Alkali family for making the book available to the University community and assured them that the institution would make good use of the donated copies for the benefit of students, lecturers and researchers.
Prof. Bunza also encouraged individuals, families and organisations with valuable scholarly works, historical documents and other educational materials to partner with the University in supporting teaching, learning and research.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the late author and thanked the family for sustaining his intellectual legacy through the donation.
