Battle of Tabkin Kwatto

Tabkin Kwatto (lit. 'Battle of Kwatto') was the first decisive battle in the Fulani War. Abdullahi Ibn Fodio and Umaru al Kammu engaged the numerically superior Gobir cavalry at Kwatto Lake near the Capital fort of Gobir; Alkalawa. The Fulani archers employed a square formation which they successfully defended against successive charges by the Gobir cavalry. After taking severe losses, the death of the commander of Gobir's Armoured Cavalry eventually sealed the fate of the Gobirawa.^[2]

Tabkin Kwatto
Part of Fulani War
Date 21 June 1804 Location Lake Kwatto, Gobir Result Decisive Sokoto victory
Belligerents
Gobir Kel Gress Tuaregs Sullubawa Fulanis	Sokoto Caliphate Agali and Adar Tuaregs
Commanders and leaders
Yunfa	Abdullahi dan Fodio Ali Jedo Muhammad Bello
Strength
8,000 Infantry, 2,000 Cavalry [1]	1,000 archers, 25 Cavalry [1]
Casualties and losses
3,000 Infantry, 1,500 Cavalry [1]	Unknown

Tabkin Kwatto is remembered as the turning point in the history of the Fulani War. The archer-foot lightly armed Fulani proved themselves effective against the well armed Hausa cavalry.

References

1. [Infaq al Maisur- Muhammad Bello]
2. Last, Murray (1967). The Sokoto Caliphate. Internet Archive. [New York] Humanities Press. pp. 30–40.

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