Pre-1500 — Ancient settlement#
Hausa-speaking Zamfarawa settle the Sokoto–Rima basin from c. 11th c.; Zamfara is sometimes counted among the Banza Bakwai (sometimes among the Hausa Bakwai).
1500 — 1804 — Pre-colonial polities#
Old Zamfara Kingdom (capital Birnin Zamfara) flourishes 14th–18th c. under the Zamfarawa Sarkis. Birnin Zamfara is sacked by Gobir under Babari (1764), who founds new Gobir at Alkalawa. Surviving Zamfarawa flee to Anka and Maradun.
1804 — 1903 — The long 19th century#
Sokoto jihad reaches Zamfara from 1804; the Zamfarawa initially ally with dan Fodio against Gobir. Anka becomes a jihadist emirate under Sokoto. British WAFF takes Sokoto 15 March 1903; Zamfara absorbed into Sokoto Province.
1900 — 1960 — Colonial provinces#
Sokoto Province within Northern Nigeria.
1960 — present — State creation chain#
- 1967 — North-Western State.
- 3 Feb 1976 — Sokoto State.
- 1 Oct 1996 — Abacha's Decree No. 36 creates Zamfara State (capital Gusau) from eastern Sokoto.Northern Abandonment Cycle
- 27 Oct 1999 — Governor Ahmad Sani Yerima declares the implementation of Sharia criminal law in Zamfara — the first Sharia state of the Fourth Republic; eleven other northern states follow (2000–01).Northern Abandonment Cycle