adama came from a respected but humble family; his father, hassana, was a well regarded scholar of islam and minor nobleman from ba'ajo. adama travelled to bornu for his education, where he stayed for some time under the tutelage of mallam kiari. he continued his studies in hausaland (modern northern nigeria), where legend says his teacher was the fulani shehu usman dan fodio in degel. adama proved a bright scholar and a pious muslim, and he earned the title "modibo", "lettered one". after several years away, he returned home to guringa around 1804. there, the news was grim. adama's father had died in 1803 fighting the bata.