Emir of Kano, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Muhammadu Sanusi II), is set to take his fourth wife. The bridal candidate is a 17-year-old beautiful daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa.

Sanusi, an accomplished banker, who became the 14th Emir of Kano last June, is a respected Islamic Scholar, and his decision to take a new wife is in line with Islamic injunction which prescribes a maximum of four wives for those who can treat all of them equally. Already, Sanusi has three beautiful wives – Sadiya, Maryam and Rakiya.

Like in ancient times when bonds between empires were deepened by marriages among royals and nobles across boundaries, the betrothal of the Adamawa princess to Emir Sanusi II may also be a move to deepen royal bond between Adamawa and Kano. Historically, both emirates have similar origins in the 19 century Usman dan Fodio’s jihad.

The Adamawa Emirate headquartered in Yola, founded by Modibo Adama, one of the commanders of Usman dan Fodio, during the Fulani Jihad of 1809, was traditionally located in Fombina, which covers present Adamawa and Taraba states and previously stretched as far as northern provinces of Cameroon, minor parts of Western Chad and the Central African Republic before becoming an emirate of the caliphate.

Kano, which was formerly a sultanate, at the end of the eighteenth century, was the richest and most populous of the Hausa states and its capital was perhaps the greatest city in the whole Sudan. As a centre of trade, its reputation stretched far and near. The wave of the 19th century Fulani Jihad of Sheikh Usman dan Fodio defeated the last sultan of Kano by the Jobe Clan of the Fulani, thus making Kano an emirate of the caliphate.

•Excerpted from a THISDAY report. Photo shows Emir Sanusi II.