22 Facts About Alhassan Dantata

Alhassan Dantata was a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist.

Alhassan Dantata is the great-grandfather of Aliko Dangote, the wealthiest person in Nigeria and Africa.

Alhassan Dantata soon became a wealthy merchant through trading textiles, cattle, and slaves for kolanuts from the Akan forests in modern-day Ghana.

Alhassan Dantata likely died in 1885 and was buried at his Bebeji residence.

Alhassan Dantata's mother was a "trader of no small consequence in the area".

Alhassan Dantata eventually moved to Accra, at the time an important trading center in the British Gold Coast, leaving her children in the care of an old slave woman named Tata.

Alhassan Dantata was encouraged to save much of his money by Tata, even buying him an asusu, which is still in possession of the Dantata family today.

On Thursdays and Fridays, Alhassan Dantata worked for money, of which he gave a significant portion to his Mallam.

Alhassan Dantata was in Bebeji when the Kano Civil War broke out in 1893 and lasted until 1895.

In 1914, by the order of the judicial council of Emir Muhammad Abbas, Alhassan Dantata was able to reclaim his father's seized house in Bebeji.

Alhassan Dantata was in Bebeji when British troops invaded the Kano Emirate on February 1,1903, conquering the town after its sarki was killed.

Alhassan Dantata remained there until the roads were safe for travel.

Alhassan Dantata soon became the Niger Company's largest supplier and, by 1922, one of the wealthiest men in Kano.

From 1926, Alhassan Dantata utilised the newly established railway to promote cattle trade with Lagos and revitalized the kolanut trade with Western Nigeria.

Alhassan Dantata became involved in transporting, direct importing, real estate, and the construction industry, working directly with the Native Administration.

Alhassan Dantata made a pilgrimage to Mecca via boat in the 1920s.

Alhassan Dantata continued this practice throughout his life and encouraged his children to carry on the tradition.

Alhassan Dantata was known to slaughter a herd of cattle for the poor each year during Eid al-Kabir.

Alhassan Dantata told them that his days were nearing their end and advised them to live together.

Alhassan Dantata asked them to continue marrying within the family as much as possible and urged them to avoid clashes with other wealthy Kano merchants.

Alhassan Dantata told them to take care of their relatives, especially the poor among them.

Alhassan Dantata was buried in his house in the Sarari ward.