Biographical sketch of GIDAN ZAGEZAGI and their contributions to the development of Islam in ZAZZAU

Gidan Zagezagi is one of the old learning centers in Zazzau before the advent of shaykh Uthman dan fodiyo. This paper is an attempt to examine their contributions to the development of Islamic Scholarship in Zazzau and beyond. The biography of Gidan Zagezagi can be traced through the two different groups, the first group was for malam Abdullahi and the second group was for malam Uthman who were said to have come from the same lineage. It was that that they were Arabs from Fezzan, but originally scholars from Iraq, who left their country for political reason. They were Arab merchants who due to their commercial activities finally settled in Zaria around the fifteenth century. The paper highlights the tireless effort made by the scholars for imparting knowledge. The method used in this research is qualitative using historical and observatory research methods. The study found that not much is written on them despite the contributions given by them. The paper ends with contribution and recommendations.