| Birth Date: | Unknown |
| Death Date: | 1846 |
| Death Place: | Kano, Kano Emirate, Sokoto Caliphate |
| Burial Place: | Tomb of Ibrahim Dabo, Kano, Kano Emirate |
| Issue: | See below |
| Father: | Mahmud |
| Mother: | Halimatu |
| Religion: | Sunni Islam |
| Succession2: | 2nd Emir of Kano |
| Reign2: | 1819–1846 |
| Predecessor2: | Suleiman |
| Successor2: | Usman I |
Ibrahim Dabo was the leader of the Fulani Sullubawa in Kano and founder of the eponymous Dabo dynasty. His progeny has lasted over two centuries reigning as Muslim rulers of the ancient city-state of Kano. The dynasty has become synonymous with the ancient city-state in affectionate sayings as "Kano ta Dabo Cigari". They have independently ruled the Kano Emirate from 1819 until the Battle of Kano in 1903 which as a result of British colonisation transformed into the Kano Emirate Council.
Dabo reigned as Emir of Kano from 1819 to 1846. He embarked upon policies to centralize the administration and raise revenue.[1] During his reign he was responsible for establishing several ribats, including Fanisau and Waceni.[2] His centralization saw the revival of old royal slave titles which he exploited to consolidate his power. Dabo invaded the Ningi chiefdom but was defeated by Gwarsum at Basshe.[3]
In order to re-establish his authority and independence, Dabo re-introduced the elaborate court and regalia of the Bagauda dynasty after the Kano Emirate was invaded by Muhammad al-Kanemi of Bornu who was looking to seize the city-state as a buffer zone between the Bornu Empire and the Sokoto Caliphate, his army was subsequently annihilated by the Emir of Bauchi after having failed to breach the ancient Kano city walls.
Dabo was a pious Islamic scholar and one-time student of Emir Suleimanu, one of Dabo's works Kaff al-Ikhwani has been recovered and was later published.[4] He was known to have written out the Qur'an and had three daughters and several sons.[5]
He was appointed Emir of Kano on 23/24 Dhul Qa’ada 1234 AH (21 September 1819) by Sultan Muhammad Bello fulfilling the wish of Emir Suleiman.
He died on Friday 9th Safar 1262 AH (9 February 1846) and was succeeded by his elder son Usman I. (Ado-Kurawa 1989: 53 and Last 1966: 468-9).
Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations. In the Royal House of Kano, descent is traced back patrilineally to Ibrahim Dabo.
Ibrahim Dabo was the father of Osumanu (Usman I) (ruled 1846-1855), Abdullahi (ruled 1855-1883), and Muhammad Bello (ruled 1883-1892).
Below is a full biography of Ibrahim Dabo from Palmer's 1908 English translation of the Kano Chronicle.[6]