 Karamokho Alfa was constrained by the other eight ulama , each of whom ruled their own province , or diwal . The structure of the new Fulbe state had an almami at its head , Karamokho Alfa being the first , with his political capital at Timbo . However , some of the other <unk> had more secular power than Karamokho Alfa , who directly ruled only the diwal of Timbo . The religious capital was at <unk> , where the council of the <unk> sat . The council operated as a strong curb on the power of the almami , and the ulama retained much autonomy , so the new state was always a loose federation . 
