Zazzau Emirate, ensconced in the North West of Nigeria, is replete with rich cultural heritage that would be of interest to students of History and tourists alike. In this Special Report, MOHAMMED BELLO HABIB takes the readers an exploratory journey into the origin and evolution of what is today known as Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna state.
Zazzau Emirate is one of the oldest and largest Emirates in northern Nigeria. One account has it that it came into being way back in the 16th century and that it was founded by Queen Amina of Zaria. Various traditional accounts also indicated that Zazzau initially emerged during the early days of primitive communities like Kufena much earlier before the manifestation of a figure known as Gunguma as a ruler of Zazzau. It was also said that the ruler of Kufena under Danzau was said to have crafted a mighty sword from a mighty iron found at the Kufena rock. This sword was subsequently named Zazzau before the arrival of Gunguma. The weapon served as a symbol of power and authority of the rulers of Kufena and was the first prerogative of royalty in Zazzau Kingdom, a legacy still maintained till date.
In another narrative, a historian in the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Dr. Salihu Zubairu Mustapha, said the kingdom now referred to as Zazzau Emirate was a major power bloc among the ancient Hausa Kingdoms. He said that over the centuries, this Emirate was ruled by various dynasties which included the Hausas, Fulanis and British colonial administrators. “Today, the Emirate remains a significant cultural and traditional institution in northern Nigeria.”
Dr. Mustapha said because of the unique endowments and tourist attractions of the Emirate, it boasts of cultural and historical monuments like the ancient Zaria City Wall and Gate, the Emir’s Palace, a blend of traditional and modern architectural grandeur, the Zaria City Central Mosque which showcases the Emirate’s history and the famous Zazzau Durbar, a colourful festival that showcases traditional horse-riding and various cultural displays.
In furthering the narrative, Dr. Mustapha said, “Additionally, the current 19th Fulani Emir of Zazzau, Mallam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, in his transformation agenda, built the first museum and library which attract visitors, tourists and other people from within and outside the country.
“The palace is also fenced with four gates unlike before where it was opened. The gates were named after various past Emirs from different dynasties, for instance, Mallam Musa from Mallawa Dynasty, Mallam Yamusa Bare from Bare Dynasty, Mallam Abdulkarim from Katsinawa Dynasty and Lastly Mallam Abdulsalam from Sullubawa Dynasty.”
The academician further explained that another transformation by the incumbent Emir is the introduction of what is referred to as Hawan Mai Babba Daki in addition to Hawan Sallah, Hawan Bariki and Hawan Daushe. These colourful cultural festivals attract many people from different walks of life within and outside Nigeria. There are lots of attractive sites such an Kufena, Madarkachi Hills and others sites.
Royalty and traditional institutions
The royalty associated with traditional institutions like Zazzau Emirate is rooted in the cultural and historical context of the Hausa people. The Emir as the traditional ruler is a symbol of unity, cultural heritage and continuity. The institution of royalty is also closely tied to Islamic tradition and the concept of leadership in Islam.****************************
Culture, tradition, origin and migration
According to Dr. Mustapha, the people of Zazzau Emirate are predominantly Hausa with rich cultural heritage influenced by Islam. Traditional African practices and external factors like trade and Islamic education have influenced the kingdom. Oral tradition had it that these Hausa people migrated from the Middle East and North Africa to the Savannah region of West Africa. From there, they established various city-states including Zazzau. People came and settled in Zazzau due to so many factors which included trade, warfare and the search for Islamic education.
These could also be attributed to other factors like the fertile soil which supported agricultural activities. The people of the Emirate usually referred to as Zagezagis are very accommodating. Even the name of Unguwanni is associated with inhabitants such as Unguwan Nufawa and the like.
Cultural exchanges and alliances
Zazzau Emirate has cultural exchange programmes and alliances with other traditional institutions in Nigeria and beyond. Those exchanges promote cultural understanding, foster goodwill and facilitate sharing of knowledge. Examples of such alliances with other traditional institutions or Emirate included that of Kano-Zazzau relationship, Keffi Emirate was also a vassal of Zazzau Emirate, Suleja Emirate and others rely on Zazzau Emirate.
Zazzau Emirate, like other traditional institutions, plays a vital role in molding morality in the society as custodians of cultural heritage and traditional values. Emirs and other traditional rulers provide guidance on moral issues, promote cultural and social norms, encourage community service and volunteerism as well foster a sense of community and social cohesion.
Challenges between state gov’ts and traditional institutions
While giving as insight into the nature of the relationship between traditional institutions and state governors, the ABU historian said in Nigeria such is often complex and influenced by various factors which include politics, economics and cultural differences. He said some state governments, for instance, may view traditional institutions as rivals or obstacles to their authority thereby leading to tension and conflicts. Additionally, the cohesion of traditional institutions’ powers and influence over time had contributed to those changes which ought not to be. In Zazzau Emirate, he said such rivalry rarely exists because the norms are clear.
He noted further that the 1976 Local Governments reforms which was headed by late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki was the last stroke that broke the camel’s back because that reform, according to Dr. Mustapha, transferred all the powers of traditional rulers to local government authorities which rendered traditional institutions powerless.
“It was to the extent that a Sultan or any First Class Emir had to seek permission from a local government chairman before he could travel out of his domain. This is to mention but few damages caused to traditional institutions that reduced traditional rulers to mere advisers,” he argued.
Alternative revenue streams for traditional institutions
The don stated that, “In the absence of government financial allocation, traditional institutions like Zazzau Emirate normally explore alternative revenue streams such as investment in agriculture.
“Allah has blessed Zazzau Emirate with arable land thus making agriculture the mainstay of Zazzau’s economy. Real estate and other business ventures such as cultural tourism and heritage management, partnership with NGOs, CSOs and private organisations also contribute to the mix,” Dr. Mustapha disclosed.
Merchandising traditional stools to highest bidders
The academic opined that the practice of selling traditional stools to the highest bidders is a serious issue that undermines the integrity and legitimacy of traditional institutions. For him, to address the malady, the following measures need to be taken. First, he said there is a need to establish clear guidelines and regulations for the selection and appointment of traditional title holders. There is also a need to strengthen the role of kingmakers in the selection process and promote transparency and accountability in the management of traditional institutions. For all such errors, he said politicians should be blamed.
Polygamy in traditional institutions
In many traditional African societies including northern Nigeria, especially Zazzau Emirate, polygamy is culturally accepted. “Traditional rulers may take multiple wives as symbol of wealth, status and influence. However, this practice is not unique to traditional institutions and is also influenced by Islamic and cultural norms. Because Zazzau Kingdom is an eminent traditional institution in Nigeria especially in the north, it is not insulated from the practice,” he noted.
On the vexed issue of House of Chiefs, Dr Mustapha said, “The House of Chiefs established during the First and Second Republics played a vital role in promoting the interest of traditional institutions and providing a platform for dialogue between the traditional rulers and government officials. Revisiting this could help to strengthen the relationship between traditional institutions and government thereby promoting mutual understanding and cooperation.”
Feud between traditional rulers and governors
The Don observed that the relationship between traditional institutions, its occupants and governors should be built on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, as according to him, “Traditional chiefs should be recognised as custodians of cultural heritage and traditional values, while governors should acknowledge the importance of traditional institutions in promoting social cohesion and development. There should be no beef between the head of these two institutions because it affects governance.”
Erosion of traditional institutions’ influence
The historian attributed the erosion of traditional institutions’ influence in Nigeria to colonialism and imposition of Western values, decline of traditional authority and the rise of modern governance structures. Speaking like a voice for traditional institutions, Dr. Mustapha said, “Urbanisation and growth of modern cities are responsible for the decline of traditional communities.” He also noted that corruption and abuse of power, politicisation of the stool by some politicians equally erode public trust and confidence in the revered institutions.
Traditional institutions’ loss of influence
While traditional institutions in Nigeria still possess some influence, their ability to speak on certain matters with their words respected has been significantly eroded for many reasons. This is due to the combination of factors such as decline of traditional authority and the growing influence of other social and economic institutions. However, majority of traditional rulers in Nigeria still have considerable influence especially during Sallah period when their subjects listen to their admonitions. In Zazzau Emirate, this is the same.
Have traditional rulers lost supernatural powers?
This does not applies to any particular traditional institution, but due to the influence of modernity, a lot of such reservoir of supernatural influences are being eroded. According to Dr. Mustapha, “The perceived loss of supernatural powers by traditional rulers in Nigeria is essentially due to decline of traditional authority, the rise in modern governance structures, influence of Western education or civilization as well as the growing influence of other social and economic institutions that eroded traditional rulers’ monopoly on power and influence.”
Therefore, to maintain their revered position, he said, “Traditional rulers need to conduct themselves with integrity, honesty and reverence. They should insulate themselves from corrupt practices and abuse of power, engage in regular dialogues and consultations with their subjects and other stakeholders, promote the welfare and wellbeing of their subjects and respect the rule of law as well as the principles of modern governance,” he advised
Sense of royalty
The sense of royalty of traditional institutions in Nigeria is as deep as the sense of history, culture and tradition. It is a strong connection with the community and the land, commitment to upholding the values and principles of traditional authority, sense of responsibility and accountability to the subjects and the community.
According to the interviewee, “This is what Zazzau Kingdom does not lack. The beauty and aura that embody every aspect of the kingdom is a delight to behold and a source of attraction to the Emirate. No wonder, in moments of celebration like Sallah, tourists throng the Emirate to witness the colourful ceremony and the royalty that is attached to the throne.”
Another historian and a political scientist, Malam Usman Dalhatu who is a typical Bazazzagi by origin told Blueprint that the formation of Zazzau Kingdom and evolution of the seat of power, Birnin Zazzau (Zaria City) was associated with the Habe kingship era who were originally referred to by the Fulani as truly the Hausa speaking people;. However, their tribe and language are not precisely known.
“History has it that the formation of the kingdom was highly attributed to the first Habe ruler of Zazzau, Gunguma, who was popularly referred to in literature as Madau Zazzau which means the carrier holder of the sword named ‘Zazzau’.
“It was learnt that the earlier communities of Zazzau before the appearance of Gunguma witnessed several political upheavals and instabilities in the process of the state formation. At that initial stage of this socio-political turmoil, Habe communities alone, aside other tribes, witnessed a high level of stateless society with social fragmentation and crudity.”
Dalhatu stated further that it was the emergence of Gunguma that first led to the appearance of powerful political kingdom known as Zazzau which has continued to exist till today.
“It appeared, therefore, that during the formation of Zazzau state and the emergence of Gunguma, various ancient settlements that formed the nucleus state seemed to have existed in a number of places around the plain of Zazzau. The popular view among historians and traditionalists clearly shows that primitive ancient settlements existed at the early stone age within and outside the areas that later came to be known as Birnin Zari. Some of the widely recognized areas of these ancient settlements included Madarkachi, Kufena and Tukur-Tukur,” he noted.
The historian also pointed out from another narrative that the hunting communities of the late stone-age period were people of tremendous physical prowess who killed great wild animals with crude weapons. According to him, that development eventually led to the emergence of various occupational groups of which by the end of the first millennium, saw a gradual transformation of those ancient settlements that eventually brought them under a single ruler known as Maigari.
Zazzau Emirate is, indeed, replete with rich cultural and historical antecedents that historians, anthropologists and sociologists would continue to explore till the end of time.
