Abstract:
This study explores the historical migration of the Kanuri people from the Kanem-Borno Empire to Ilorin, the present-day capital of Kwara State in North-Central Nigeria, where they later became known as the Kannike. Although Ilorin shares linguistic ties with the Yoruba-speaking Southwest, it remains culturally and religiously part of Northern Nigeria, with strong Islamic foundations. The research investigates the religious motivations behind the Kanuri migration, emphasizing the role of Hijra, Islamic migration, undertaken for the preservation and propagation of faith. Significantly, the study also notes that Kanuri migrants who settled in other Yoruba-speaking regions such as Epe, Ibadan, Ilaro, Iseyin, and Iwo were similarly referred to as Kannike by the host communities, largely due to their shared language and visible proximity with Ilorin. Drawing on historical records, oral traditions, and secondary sources, the research examines how Islamic tradition influenced the Kanuri migration and how their settlement contributed to Islamic development in Ilorin. The findings reveal that this migration facilitated the spread of Islamic knowledge, leadership, and cultural influence, and that the term Kannike became a socioreligious identifier across several regions. This study contributes to broader understandings of Islamic migration in West Africa and the processes of identity preservation, adaptation, and religious continuity along with inter ethnic integration.