The internet has been awash recently with the story of a woman who gave birth to a horse-like creature in Tudun Wada, Zaria of Kaduna state on Thursday, 24th March 29, 2022.
But how accurate is the story?
Here are the Facts.
The Woman in Zaria Who ‘Gave Birth’ to a Horse
The woman in question is named Murja and lives in Layin Lemu, Tudun Wada Zaria, with her husband, Abdulsalam. She is a local food vendor. Since birth, she has been ‘pregnant’ for two years with her last child, Maimunatu.
The Facts
According to an interview conducted in Hausa with Murja, she claims to be pregnant for two years. She visited Al’umma Specialist Hospital, commonly called Dr.Umar, located in Bako Zuntu Magume Road, Zaria.
She carried out two scans, and both were negative. Her difficulties only worsened after that. Her stomach got more prominent, with the complications not even allowing her to work. Initially, she thought it was Typhoid, but all the drugs proved ineffective.
This was when she met with a woman whose name is unknown. The woman claimed that she had been ‘afflicted with the strange creature.’ She then prayed for Murja and recited some verses of the Qur’an along with Islamic chemist drugs. Murja was then relieved of the creature, which was said to live in her stomach.
When asked how the animal came out, she responded with ‘through my side.’
Verdict
While many people have claimed that Murja actually gave birth to the strange animal, it might not be entirely accurate. The fact that she responded that the animal came out from her’ side’ also means that the animal didn’t come out of her.
The lady in question who prayed for her also appears to be anonymous, and no one has heard anything about her or the mechanisms she used in delivering the said creature.
According to a resident of Tudun Wada in Zaria who wanted to remain anonymous, he claims there is no way such will happen.
“People don’t know the fact of the story, yet they have already reached a conclusion. Where is the woman who delivered her? What did she use? Where did the creature come from?” he said. “This might be a case of black magic or sorcery but certainly not of a strange creature’s birth,” he concluded.
The incident may have spread like wildfire, with many people believing it. But until these essential questions are answered and medical experts to determine if the woman has given birth, the story stands to be suspicious at best and untrue at worst.
…As social media users accuse the Channel of” cultural & religious insensitivity.”
The 7th Season of the hit TV series is set to debut on the 1st Day of Ramadan by 8 pm
… Channel back down to repeat the show by 9–10 pm after airing 8-9
The popular TV station in northern Nigeria, AREWA 24, has been accused of being ‘a US agent’ for deciding to air its TV show Kwana Casa’in on the first day of Ramadan. The show has so far proven to be popular, with many viewers.
However, the decision to air the new season on the first day of Ramadan when Night prayers (Taraweeh are conducted) has attracted a lot of negative comments from the TV station. People believe it is not a coincidence. Remember, Ramadan is starting on 3rd April.
One BabaMangaJr on Twitter said;
“The fact that it’s our own people; people that we share commonality with are the ones contributing towards the deteriorating of our morality is indeed belligerent.”
For Danjauro_ on Twitter, he accused the station of being a US agent, saying;
“The controversial US state department funded channel “Arewa 24″ whose broadcast targets predominant Muslim population in 9ja is set to air new Season in Ramadan Critics say this piles to allegations of cultural & religious insensitivity the station has exhibited since inception”
The controversial US state department funded channel “Arewa 24” whose broadcast targets predominant muslim population in 9ja is set to air new season in Ramadan
Critics say this piles to allegations of cultural & religious insensitivity the station has exhibited since inception https://t.co/qfiJX7rgER
Tierres begged to disagree, saying there is nothing wrong with what the TV station is doing.
“Looooooooooool the people complaining about this have problems. Go and do your sallah, who’s stopping you?”
This and many other comments have forced the Channel to make an adjustment. It has now promised to repeat the show by 9–10 pm after airing it the first time between 8-9 to give worshippers the chance to watch the hit show.
Sakamakon zuwan wata mai alfarma na Ramadan, tashar AREWA24 za ta dinga maimaita muku #KwanaCasa’in daga karfe 9:00 zuwa karfe 10:00 na dare, bayan an nuna da misalin karfe 8:00 zuwa 9:00 na dare a kowacce ranar Lahadi. pic.twitter.com/f8jAB0VIAu
Northern Nigeria is blessed with many Emirs and chiefs. Emirs are believed to be the fathers of the nation and very important pillars of society. While all Chiefs and Emirs are highly regarded by their people, some stand out above the rest. So who are the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria? What is the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria, and what are their rankings? This is the focus of this article.
Join me as I explore the top ten Emirs in northern Nigeria.
Top 10 Emirs in Northern Nigeria
10. The Emir of Ilorin
While most people don’t regard Ilorin as part of the ‘core north,’ it is an important town in Northern Nigeria. With a strong concentration of Yoruba and Baruba in the region, the Emirate still became an important part of the Islamic Jihad of 1804 when Abdusalami dan Salih Alimi, a local Fulani, became the Emir in 1824.
When the British came, they regarded the Emir of Ilorin as one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria, a ranking that the Emirate still retains today.
The current Emir of Ilorin is Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, a well respected Jurist Nigerian lawyer, and monarch appointed in 1995 as the 11th Emir of the Ilorin Emirate in Kwara State from Fulani rulings house and chairman of Kwara State Traditional Councils. He is one of the top ten Emirs from northern Nigeria.
9. Etsu Nupe
Etsu is a Nupe word for ‘King’, meaning the Etsu Nupe is the king of all Nupe people, with headquarters in Bida. Hence, in the ranking of Emirs in northern Nigeria, the Emir of Bida is the 9th on the list.
After the fall of the predecessor Nupe Kingdom, Bida Emirate came under the jurisdiction of Gwandu Emirate, the administrative capital of Sokoto Sultanate. Usman Zaki dan Malam Dendo, a local Fulani, became the first Emir of the Nupe Emirate in 1835.
The current Etsu Nupe is Alhaji (Dr) (Brig. Gen) Yahaya Abubakar rtd GCFR, a retired soldier, elder statesman, and Chairman of Niger State Traditional Council of Chiefs, making him one of the most respected Emirs in northern Nigeria.
8. Emir of Bauchi
Before the Islamic Jihad of 1804, The region of Bauchi was ruled by small independent tribes. This changed when in 1805, Yakubu I dan Dadi, one of the students of Shehu Dan Fodio himself, became the first Emir of Bauchi, then titled Lamido. This is why the Emirate is now known as ‘Bauchin Yakubu’, after the founder.
The Emirate remains one of the top 10 emirs in Northern Nigeria, a feat it has achieved since the coming of the British.
The Emir, Dr. Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, is the son of the former Emir, Sulaiman Adamu, who died in 2010 after ruling for 28 years. The Emir is the Chairman of the Bauchi State Council of Traditional Rulers, which is no easy feat considering there are other historic Emirates in the state; like that of Katagum, Jama’are, who is one of the longest-serving Emirs in northern Nigeria
7. Emir of Zazzau
Zazzau is one of the Original Hausa Bakwai States founded by Bayajidda and ruled by his sons. The Emirate is an important one with a rich history. Zazzau Emirate has some of the most historical rulers, such as Queen Amina, the female warrior queen, Sarki Makau, Sarki Jatau, etc.
The Emirate, apart from being one of the top 10 emirates in northern Nigeria, has a complex history, with the Emir of Zazzau emerging from one of the four ruling Houses; Katsinawa, Mallawa, Bare-bari, and Sullubawa. The current Emir, Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, is from the Mallawa ruling clan, the first in 100 years.
The Emirate is among the top in the rankings of top Emirs in the region. Being situated in the Capital of then Northern Nigeria accorded the Emir much prestige. The Emir of Zazzau then, Ja’afaru Dan Isiyaku, was even a member of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs and a minister without a portfolio, a testament to his ranking among Emirs in the north.
6. Emir of Katsina
The Emirate of Katsina is one of the ancient emirates in northern Nigeria, with the Emir being one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria.
The emirate became part of the Sokoto Sultanate when Ummarun Dallaje, the patriarch of the Dallazawa Dynasty, was handed the flag by Shehu Usman Danfodio. The current Emir is from the ruling Sullubawa dynasty, founded when Muhammadu Dikko became the ninth Fulani emir in 1906.
In the hierarchy of northern Nigeria Emirs, the Emir of Katsina ranks high. He is also the Chairman of the State Traditional Council of Chiefs and the Emir, who controls the most District Heads in Nigeria.
5. Lamido of Adamawa
In the history of rankings of Emirs in Northern Nigeria, the Lamido of Adamawa stands tall. The Adamawa Emirate was formerly located in the Fombina area, currently in Adamawa, Parts of Taraba, Some areas of Cameroon, and Chad. It was one of the vastest Emirates back then.
The Emirate was founded by Modibo Adama in 1809, a disciple of Shehu Dan Fodio when he defeated the Mandara Kingdom. He reigned for almost 40 years and was succeeded by his offspring, a practice that continues today.
His influence made the Lamido one of the top 10 Emirs in northern Nigeria, even amongst his peers. The most iconic Lamido, Aliyu Mustafa Barkindo, ruled for 57 years and died in 2010, aged 88. His funeral attracted over 20 state governors and countless other VIPs. His son, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, succeeded him, the 12th Lamidon Adamawa. He is the Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs.
4. Emir of Kano
The current Emirate of Kano was founded in 1805 during the Islamic Jihad. Before then, Kano, one of the original Hausa states, had existed since 999, when Bagauda became the first King of Kano. The Kano emirate also defeated the British in three battles until it fell in 1903, and the then Emir Aliyu Babba was sent into exile.
Kano Emirate has since been transformed into one of the most important emirates in Nigeria. While the Emir of Kano is one of the most known Emirs and ranks higher in the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria, he is not the most senior. The Emir pays homage to the Sultan of Sokoto, who remains the supreme leader. This, however, doesn’t mean the Emir isn’t one of the top 10 Emirs in Northern Nigeria.
Before the creation of 4 new Emirates in the state, Kano state is the only other state apart from Sokoto with a single Emirate. Now the state has 5 First class emirates. The Late Ado Bayero, The 13th Fulani Emir, was one of the longest-serving and most respected Emirs in Nigeria, and he ruled for 52 years.
3. Emir of Gwandu
This might seem surprising, but the Emir of Gwandu is one of northern Nigeria’s top 3 emirs. While this Emirate is lesser-known than others on the list, it is no less important. The emirate, located in present-day Gwandu, Kebbi state, is one of the two capitals of the Sokoto Emirate, the other being Sokoto itself.
After the Jihad, Dan Fodio divided the sultanate into two; between his son Muhammadu Bello and his brother Abdullahi. Gwandu was then the eastern capital, where several Emirs reported to and paid homage to.
While the state is the traditional headquarters and the Kingdom of Kebbi, it has lost much of its glory. Currently, the Emirate is embroiled in a legal tussle as to who becomes the Emir after the 19th Emir of Gwandu Alhaji Mustafa Haruna Jokolo was deposed in 2005. The Supreme Court will hear the final case in 2023.
2. Shehu of Borno
The Borno Emirate is the second among the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria. The Borno Emirate was founded at the start of the 20th century and succeeded the Bornu Empire, which has existed since 1000.
The current ruling dynasty, El-Kanemi, dates back to Muhammad El-Kanemi, the ruler between 1809 –1837. The Borno Empire has never been defeated in the Islamic Jihad. Islam came to the region in the 11th Century, and Borno has been a center of Islamic learning since the 17th century.
The current Shehu of Borno, as they are known, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanem, is a descendant of the founder of the Emirate, El-Kanemi. He has been on the throne since 2009 and is one of the highest-ranking emirs in northern Nigeria, second only to the Sultan himself. The Shehu is also the Deputy President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the highest Islamic Organization in Nigeria, and the deputy Chairman Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
1. Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto is the most important Emir in northern Nigeria, as well as the spiritual leader of the country’s almost 100 million Muslims, often referred to as “Sarkin Musulmi” This makes him the most influential Emir as well as the topmost in the hierarchy of Emirs in northern Nigeria. The Sultan is also the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam – JNI), and president-general of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) as well as the Chairman Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
The current Sultan, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, succeeded his brother, Muhammad Maccido, who died in a plane crash in 2006. He is the son of Abubakar Sadiq III, the 17th Sultan of Sokoto and the longest-reigning Sultan. They are the descendants of Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Sultanate.
The Sultan is the number one traditional ruler in northern Nigeria and Nigeria. All classes of society respect him.
Conclusion
As earlier stated, all the Emirs in northern Nigeria are influential and well respected in their respective localities. But by the rankings of the Emirs from northern Nigeria, these are the top 10. They are highly influential and well respected.
What do you think of the list? Tell me in the comments section.
Hausa people have a beautiful culture and traditions. They have their local foods, traditional titles and costumes. The traditional title holders among them have their own royal attire that makes them different from others. In this article, we will be looking at Hausa royal attire and their names in English.
In every country and ethnic group, the existence of traditional title holders is acknowledged. The titles assigned to these people are mostly passed down from one generation to another. A good example is the Emirs in northern Nigeria, who are succeeded by mostly their offsprings. Part of what makes them unique is the royal attires they put, which are mostly rare and expensive or in some certain cases forbidden to the general populace. The designs are so spectacular that they make people accord them with special respect.
Such clothing are mostly worn during festive occasions such as festivals and ceremonies like the durbar, Eid festival or welcoming guests or simply day to day activities. The Hausa royal attire is exquisite in every sense of the word.
Hausa Royal Attires
1. Babbar Riga: This is a set of three pices of highly embroided garments.
2. Alkyabba: This is refered to as a big cloak, and is also embroided.
3. Wando: A pair embroided trousers that narrow towards the ankles
4. Yar ciki: a long-sleeved shirt that is worn with a babbar riga
Do you know that the popular shirt ‘Dashiki’ is a corrupted version of the Hausa term ‘Danciki’ which is the inner garment worn under babbar riga. pic.twitter.com/ncqvUPq46V
Wanzami,(Wanzam or Wanzan) is a local barber, traditional healer, medicine man, circumciser and a physician in Hausaland. Wanzanci, as the occupation is called, is one of the oldest professions in Hausaland.
The work a wanzami does is very vital in society. A wanzan is held in the same regards as a doctor back in the days. He is usually the first call when a baby is born, removal of tonsilitis or when there is a serious illness.
Always seen on the roadside or under the shade of a tree, the Wanzami also performs other services like cupping using a horn, treatment of Wicklow, carving out tribal marks and the rest.
How Wanzamci is Done
While everyone can learn to become s barber in other cultures, this is not the case in Hausa culture. Wanzanci is usually inherited and in most cases the speciality of certain families.
Wanzamai hardly ventures out of the occupation, with some spending up to 60 years in it.
Tools Needed by A Wanzami
Wanzamai can be seen walking around with their shiny leather bags. The Wanzami has all his tools in what is called a Zabira (toolkit). The main tool the wanzami uses for shaving the head is called the Aska ( local blade) The Askas are of various types, sizes and shapes depending on the nature of shaving to be done. Some can be small enough to trim the hairs in the nostrils.
Another tool Wanzami uses is the Kaho (horn), which is used for drawing blood and local cupping therapy. This is done to boost wellness as well as get rid of unwanted blood, increase blood circulation and blood flow as well as allow the creation of new blood cells. The wanzami also uses a small stone, soap for washing the hair before shaving, an aluminium cup, spirit, lighter, Makanna (manual clipper), cup, a stone, soap, spirit, lighter and many more peculiar items.
Other items used include the Yartsaga, a small razor used to make cuts, mawashi that is used to sharpen the blades. Cotton is also used, as well as a Jallo used to keep all hair. A matsefata is a small tool used to remove scars.
How Shaving is Done by The Wanzamai
Once a Wanzami sets out to shave, he first cleans the Aska using as well as use a lighter to kill germs just like when using clippers. The head of the person is then wetted with water, and the soap is rubbed all over.
The wanzan then gets to work, removing all hair in sight, depending on the nature of shave the person wants. After that, a small rag is used to clean the head.
The beards, moustache, sideburns and nostril hairs are also shaved depending on the customers’ preference.
How Kaho is Done
First, the horn is placed on a person’s body and blown. When it touches the skin, it is closed with the hands. After a while, the horn is then removed and a small razor is used to make a tiny incision. Once the sight is cleared, the horn is returned to draw out all the infected blood.
This is repeated several times until the wanzami is satisfied no infected blood is left. The spot is then cleaned with a ball of cotton wool and medicine is applied over it.
Medicine Given by The Wanzamai
Wanzamai have unique talents in identifying and giving out medicines. These drugs are in form of herbs, spices, ground plants or bark of trees. As wanzanci is inherited, no one truly knows the composition of most of these drugs except well-trained wanzamai.
Wanzamai give out medicine for tonsils, typhoid, rheumatism etc. They also help with cases of bedwetting.
How Does One Become a Wanzami?
A person intending to become a wanzan has to undergo rigorous training and gain experience. A typical training lasts between 6 months to two years. Those wishing to specialize in other fields like circumcision last even longer.
The training enables them to learn how to shave without shaking hands, how to prepare medicine, amongst others. This is important to avoid mistakes in the work, as a small cut can prove fatal.
Not everyone can become a wanzam however. Only those who have the wanzamai blood in them, or inherited from their ancestors can become. In most cases, they are sometimes ordained by the Sarkin Wanzamai, the king of wanzamai.
On average, N100-300 is charged per shave, depending on the location.
Special Skills of Wanzamai
More experienced wanzami also have an edge over amateur ones. For instance, an experienced wanzami can perform a bloodless circumcision or a long-distance one! Their services are more efficient too.
During their rituals and festivals, wasan aska where they showcase their talents and skills to the audience. A drummer and a singer are used to attract more audience.
Why the Wanzamci Occupation is Dying
While the Wanzami has mostly adapted to the use of modern technology, the risk of diseases makes people frequent them less. Diseases like Hepatitis, HIV and other communicable diseases can be picked up from a wanzam.
Even though most wanzamai now use razor blades instead of aska, and replace their manual clipper with a modern one, some unhygienic practices persist. The sterilizing of instruments and the use of individual clippers also helps.
Health experts warn that life-threatening ailments can be gotten, or cases of severe bleeding while circumcision. The drugs they administer are also not safe, as they are said to cause kidney failure.
These, however, does not deter the elderly, who are frequent visitors to the wanzamai. Many old people prefer a traditional clean shave from the wanzami than in a barbershop.
Conclusion
While wanzanci is an important traditional occupation in Hausaland and northern Nigeria, it is important to modernize the craft to go along with modern standards. Wanzamai should also be sensitized to the effects of some of the unhygienic practices. They should also be supported with the necessary tools and equipment to help them continue providing essential services, most especially to people in rural areas.
The wanzamai should not be allowed to get extinct.
