Power, honour and shame: The ideology of royal slavery in the Sokoto Caliphate

This article takes issue with ahistorical typologies that depict all slaves as 'dishonoured' persons. It demonstrates that royal slaves in Kano emirat e of the Sokoto Caliphate were initially valuable to the elite because they were indeed dishonoured outsiders. But, over time, slaves tried to limit t heir exploitation by developing their own systems of honour and status. The article traces when, where and how royal slaves in Kano acquired and attem pted to acquire 'honour' as officials, kin and members of a broader social world. However, it concludes that, although slaves did indeed develop syste ms of honour, their ability to acquire an honourable identity was nonethele ss limited by their status as slaves, which they remained despite their pow er and position.