In roughly 1947 the Muslim Lamido (traditional chief) Idrissou came to power in Mokolo. Idrissou did not wish to manage the affaires of the animist Mafa populations. He appointed one of his subordinates, an Islamized Mafa named Mamoudou, to govern the animists. Mamoudou came to be accepted as the Lamido of the Mafa, and subordinate to Idrissou, who was recognized as Lamido to the Muslim Fulbé population. Eventually, the Mafa revolted against paying taxes to both the Lamibé (plural of Lamido). Seemingly under pressure of French colonialists living in the area, Idrissou was obliged to release Mamoudou from his subordinate position.