Kazaure, town and traditional emirate in Jigawa state, northern Nigeria. The town has been the emirate’s headquarters since 1819. It was founded by Dan Tunku, a Fulani warrior who was one of the 14 flag bearers for the Fulani jihad (holy war) leader Usman dan Fodio. Dan Tunku arrived from the nearby town of Dambatta (Dambarta) at a stockaded village that he named Kazaure and established an emirate that was carved from the adjoining Kano, Katsina, and Daura emirates.
During the reign (1824–57) of Emir Dambo, Dan Tunku’s son and successor, the emirate was enlarged (partially at the expense of the adjacent state of Damagaram), and Kazaure town’s surrounding wall and palace were constructed. Wars with Damagaram continued until the Kazaure victory in 1889. Kazaure town was occupied by the British in 1906, and the emirate was incorporated into Kano province. In 1968 it became part of Kano state and in 1991 part of newly formed Jigawa state.
The town is now a collecting point for peanuts (groundnuts), which are transshipped to Kano city, 45 miles (72 km) south-southeast, for export. Kazaure is also the area’s chief market centre for millet, sorghum, onions, peanuts, cotton, cattle, goats, sheep, guinea fowl, donkeys, hides, and skins. It is served by an agricultural-training institute. Pop. (2006) local government area, 161,494.