Ibrahim Dabo (pronunciation^ⓘ) was the leader of the Fulani Sullubawa in Kano and founder of the eponymous Dabo dynasty. His progeny has lasted over two centuries reigning as Muslim rulers of the ancient city-state of Kano. The dynasty has become synonymous with the ancient city-state in affectionate sayings as "Kano ta Dabo Cigari". They have independently ruled the Kano Emirate from 1819 until the Battle of Kano in 1903 which as a result of British colonisation transformed into the Kano Emirate Council.

Dabo reigned as Emir of Kano from 1819 to 1846. He embarked upon policies to centralize the administration and raise revenue.^[1] During his reign he was responsible for establishing several ribats, including Fanisau and Waceni.^[2] His centralization saw the revival of old royal slave titles which he exploited to consolidate his power.^[1] Dabo invaded the Ningi chiefdom but was defeated by Gwarsum at Basshe.^[3]

In order to re-establish his authority and independence, Dabo re-introduced the elaborate court and regalia of the Bagauda dynasty after the Kano Emirate was invaded by Muhammad al-Kanemi of Bornu who was looking to seize the city-state as a buffer zone between the Bornu Empire and the Sokoto Caliphate, his army was subsequently annihilated by the Emir of Bauchi after having failed to breach the ancient Kano city walls.

Dabo was a pious Islamic scholar and one-time student of Emir Suleimanu, one of Dabo's works Kaff al-Ikhwani has been recovered and was later published.^[4] He was known to have written out the Qur'an and had three daughters and several sons.^[5]

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations. In the Royal House of Kano, descent is traced back patrilineally to Ibrahim Dabo.

1. Usman I Maje Ringim dan Dabo (ruled 1846-1855)
2. Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1855-1883)
3. Muhammadu Bello dan Dabo (ruled 1883-1893)
4. Muhammadu Tukur dan Bello dan Dabo (ruled 1893-1894)
5. Aliyu Babba dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1894-1903)
6. Muhammad Abbass dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1903-1919)
7. Usman II dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1919-1926)
8. Abdullahi Bayero dan Abbas dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1926-1953)
9. Muhammadu Sanusi I dan Abdullahi Bayero dan Abass dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1954-1963)
10. Muhammad Inuwa dan Abbas dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1963 - he served for 3 months only)
11. Ado dan Abdullahi Bayero dan Abbas dan Abdullahi Maje Karofi dan Dabo (ruled 1963-2014)
12. Muhammadu Sanusi II dan Chiroman Kano Aminu dan Muhammadu Sanusi I dan Abdullahi Bayero (ruled 2014-2020)
13. Aminu dan Ado dan Abdullahi Bayero (2020–present)

Ibrahim Dabo was the father of Osumanu (Usman I) (ruled 1846-1855), Abdullahi (ruled 1855-1883), and Muhammad Bello (ruled 1883-1892).^[6]

Below is a full biography of Ibrahim Dabo from Palmer's 1908 English translation of the Kano Chronicle.^[6]

The 45th Sarki was the pious and learned Ibrahim Dabo, son of Mohammadu, protector of the orphan and the poor, a mighty conqueror—a Fulani.

His mother’s name was Halimatu.

When he became Sarki he entered the Giddan Rimfa. Dabo made Sani Galadima. He, however, immediately tried to raise a revolt and incite all the towns to disaffection. The country Sarkis assembled and became “Tawayi,” from Ngogu to Damberta, from Jirima to Sankara, and from Dussi to Birnin Kudu and Karayi.

Dabo said, “I will conquer them, if Allah wills.” He entered his house and remained there 40 days praying to Allah for victory. Allah heard his prayers. He went out to hasten his preparations for war, and made a camp on Dalla Hill. Because of this he got the name of “The man who encamped on Dalla.” He spent many days on Dalla, and then returned, home.

He sent Sarkin Dawaki Manu Maituta to fight with Karayi. When the Sarkin Dawaki reached Karayi he sacked the town and returned to Dabo. Dabo said, “Praise be to God,” and prepared himself to go out to war. He went to Jirima and sacked that town and afterwards sacked Gasokoli and Jijita. Hence he was known as “Dabo, the sacker of towns.”

After he returned home he kept on sending out men to raid towns. He went in person to attack Dan Tunku and found him at Yan Yahiya. They fought. The Yerimawa ran away, and deserted Dan Tunku, who fled to Damberta, and thence, with Dabo following him, to Kazauri. When the Sarki reached the Koremma in pursuit he stopped, turned round again, and went back to Damberta, where he wrecked Dan Tunku’s house. Dabo then returned home.

Dabo was celebrated in the song:

“The sacker of towns has come:

Kano is your land,

Bull Elephant, Dabo,

sacker of towns.”

When he went to war the trumpets played:

“The sacker of towns is mounting.”

He made war on Birnin Sankara and Birnin Rano, took the town of Rano, and lived in the house of Sarkin Rano. After this exploit he shaved his head. He never shaved his head except he sacked a town.

When the Kano towns saw that Dabo would not leave any town unconquered, they all submitted to him, and his power exceeded all other Sarkis.

He had a friend whose name was Ango. When the Galadima Sani died, he made Ango Galadima, and as Galadima the latter reached great power through his pleasant manner and his persuasiveness.

In Dabo’s time there was no foreign war and people had food in plenty.

Dabo conquered and spoiled Yasko. He had many war captains, a few among whom may be mentioned as: Berde, Kano Buggali, Sarkin Dawaki Manu, Sarkin Jarumai Dumma, Sulimanu Gerkwarn Karifi (he it was who killed Tunari, the son of Sarkin Sankara), Juli Kuda, Lifidi, Maidawakin Gawo and many others. These warriors of Dabo’s time had no fear in war. When Dabo mounted to go to war no such dust was ever seen, so many were his horses. The dust was like the Harmattan.

Dabo was called “Majeka Hazo.” His was a wonderful and brilliant reign, but we will not say any more for fear of “Balazi.”

He ruled Kano 27 years and 3 months and 9 days, his reign ending on the 9th of Safar.

— Kano Chronicle