Early Years
Abu Bakr Atiku Muhammed Bello was born to the second wife of Usman dan Fodio in 1782. Similar to all his siblings, he was involved in studies directed by his father in Degel until the family and some followers were exiled in 1804. Like his brother Muhammed Bello and his sister Nana Asma’u, he dedicated significant part of his early years to study and wrote poetry, history, and on Islamic studies. Many of his works of history and poetry survive and are considered key texts of the era.
In 1815, when Usman dan Fodio died, he briefly contested his brother Mohammed Bello for control of the Sokoto Caliphate. The bloodless succession struggle ended with Bello the Sultan of the Caliphate and Atiku imprisoned for one year. When he was released, he became and adviser to Mohammed Bello for the remainder of Bello's life.
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