Amadou Lobbo initiates his jihad in the Fulani lands of Masina

Background. In the early 19th century, the Inner Niger Delta was controlled by Muslim Fulani vassals of the animist Bambara Empire. Seku Amadu, born around 1776, was inspired by the recent Muslim uprisings of Usman dan Fodio in nearby Hausaland. He began efforts to increase religious revivals in his homeland, intending to restore genuine Islam rather than the contemporaneous infusion of Islam with traditional beliefs.

Religious Authority. Shaykh Usman dan Fodio, who founded the Sokoto Caliphate, authorized Seku Amadu to carry out jihad in the region. Amadu may have served in the Sokoto jihad before returning to the Massina region. His movement was part of the broader series of Fula jihads that occurred across West Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries, led largely by the Muslim Fula people.

Political Context. The region's political structure involved alliances of Fulbe traders ruling towns like Djenné, while non-Muslim Bambara people controlled the river. The tension between the animist Bambara government and the Muslim Fulani vassals created a volatile environment. This context facilitated the rise of Seku Amadu, who interpreted his subsequent military successes as divine miracles, leading to the establishment of a theocratic state.