Kube cap is amongst the several fashions adopted by northern Nigerians. This costume serves several functions, from protecting the wearer from the scorching sun to a display of wealth and affluence. Kube caps are among the most crucial regalia for men to beautify themselves and stand out amongst their peers due to their variety of colours and mixture of uniquely embroidered designs.
These caps play an essential role in society as maturity and responsibility are well ascribed to the wearers of the cap.
History of Kube caps
To date, no data shows the specific period when the Kube cap came to being, but it is said that the concept of the Kube caps evolved. It is believed that what we know today as Kube came from the Kanuri people of present-day Borno state. The tradition of the Kanuri people wearing long bulky garments with caps has taken a different form due to their association with several other practices over time.
The history of the Kanuri people is traced back to the El-kanemi empire of Borno, and the empire is said to be traced to Sudan and eventually to Islamic Arabia. It is a well-documented history of the Arabs and their affiliation to caps, so it is said to be how caps came to be in Nigeria, with Bama – Borno state as the Kube cap central.
In the early days, an individual is seen to be unruly and wayward should they not be seen with their caps on, to the extent that one’s marriage proposal could be rejected, as such a person doesn’t dress responsibly. It becomes a thing of mockery to dress without a cap on.
During that time, enslaved people and servants of the Shehu of Borno and other Emirates weren’t allowed to put on caps as their social standing wasn’t like others, and in recent times, only when they came close to the Shehu were they to remove the caps.
How Kube Cap is Made
Because of the multilayered nature of the Kube cap, it takes an average of two weeks to be completed. A lot of creativity is applied during the making of the caps, as it requires a seamless symmetry and superb colour combination to stand out. Each cap begins with a design pattern mark-off, usually sketched by hand, which is the most complex and technical part of the job, using a ruler and coloured markers.
How kube cap is made
Before any other thing, using a pen and a ruler, one must initially conceptualize the cap one has in mind to weave on the bakta. This eventually depicts the accuracy in the patterns, strikes, and lines. “The art of design is a specialty of its own. With these, the embroidery works on the bakta is carried out.”
The size of the bakta determines the size the cap would be, whether it be short, tall, big, or small; furthermore, the standard of the thread and level of expertise would determine the quality and beauty of the cap to be made. The sewing of the cap’s base starts as soon as the intended pattern is gotten. The white centerpiece on the top goes on last. Concerning the number of layers in the design, a cap-making process can take about two to five weeks to sew.
In yesteryears, the cap-making process used to be done by hand nowadays; however, there are computer-based designs in which a machine does almost the entire process. However, these types of caps are not very much patronized as those solely done with hands.
Types of Kube Caps
There are different types of Kube caps; including Zanna, Bangwal, Bama and Tangaran, with Tangaran cap being the grandest and most expensive of all.
Kube caps are named after notable people who wor them such as; Zanna Bukar (First Republic Minister), Ex-Head of State Abacha, Muhammadu Buhari, Sir Kashim etc.
Caps are an integral part of the northern dressing style. The various types include; Zanna Bukar (named after First Republic Politician), Bangwal, Damanga/ Mu hadu a banki and Tangaran, which is the grandest of all. Which do you prefer? pic.twitter.com/ZhWHUsdsVP
Once the caps are made, the following process is for the caps to be washed and undergo several other procedures before being ready for market usage. The first thing to be done is to secure clean water, where the caps would be soaked for a certain time without detergent and are scrubbed.
After a while, detergent is added, and then the caps would be scrubbed again to displace any dirt that might have been on the white and colourless part of the cap during the sewing-making process before other parts would be equally scrubbed. This process would be repeated twice.
Clean water is then used to rinse the caps, and they’ll be kept for the next step. Starch or gum arabic is then soaked in water to get to a soluble condition, where the caps are placed into it and stirred.
Afterward, the white part of the caps is rinsed to avoid it staining, and then the whole caps are strained and then laid out to dry. Once they’re dried up, they are then dampened and put into a polyethylene bag for about 20 minutes.
After that, the caps are then taken and ironed with starchy water or gum arabic, till a glossy shine and symmetry are gotten on the cap, where the cap becomes market-ready.
Prices of Kube caps
Kube caps are amongst the most expensive caps in the market. However, there are some of these caps that aren’t very expensive.
The average amount of Kube caps is from between seven thousand Naira to as much as two hundred thousand Naira.
Kube As a sign of Unity
It is no argument that almost all Nigerians are associated with one form or the other of the Kube cap. This goes to show how a piece of fashion can go a long way in showing us our shared interest in certain aspects of life and those could be the things that unite us as Nigeria.
Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Tiv, and hundreds of ethnicities enjoy putting on the caps, which is not part of their tribal regalia. It could also be worn with royal attire as a symbol of royalty.
FAQs
1. How much does a Kube cap cost?
Kube caps vary significantly in their pricing, ranging from 6,000 Naira to over 100,000 Naira.
2. When occasions do one put on a Kube cap?
Kube cap goes with almost any occasion, from Marriages to meetings. It is professionally as well as casually accepted.
3. Where do you buy a Kube cap?
There are a thousand and one places to buy a Kube cap, and one of the easiest places to get them are Borno fashion houses/stores. Some of the best Kube caps can be gotten there.
4. What are Kube caps made of?
Kube cap is composed of 10 pieces of plain-woven cotton. The outer layer of the cap is solidly embroidered.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, popularly known as the Sardauna of Sokoto is arguably one if not the most politically powerful man to have walked the northern Hemisphere of Nigeria. The Sardauna of Sokoto was a reputable statesman, a focused politician, and a well-admired and loved diplomat.
Every Nigerian, and all human being are created equal, endowed by God with rights among which are life, liberty, equal opportunity, blessings and the legitimate pursuit of happiness.
Ahmadu Bello is a descendant of the famous Islamic Cleric and Jihadist, Usman Dan Fodio who founded the Sokoto Caliphate.
Early Life of The Sardauna
Ahmadu Ibrahim Bello was born in the city of Rabah, on June 12 1910 to the family of Mallam Ibrahim Bello. His father held the title of Sarkin (king of) Rabah. He was from the early age of four Islamically educated at home, where he learned the Qur’an, Islamic jurisprudence, and the Prophetic traditions which were expected as a descendant of the great Sheikh Muhammad Bello, son of Dan Fodio.
He graduated in 1931 and subsequently became (appointed by the sultan) the English teacher in Sokoto Middle School. Like the majority of other northern royals, he is an accomplished horseman.
Early political Activities
In 1934, the Sardauna was made the District Head of Rabah by the then Sultan, Hassan dan Mu’azu, who succeeded his brother. In 1938, Ahmadu Bello was promoted to the position of the Divisional Head of Gusau (present Zamfara State capital), thus, making him a well-standing member of the Sultan’s council.
At a very young age of 28, in the year 1938, After the demise of Sultan Hassan dan Mu’azu, he attempted to become the Sultan of Sokoto but was not successful, losing to Sir Siddiq Abubakar III (his first cousin) who reigned till his death in 1988.
As Sir Siddiq Abubakar III, the new Sultan assumed the seat of power, he immediately made Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna (Crown Prince) of Sokoto, a chieftaincy title, and promoted him to the Sokoto Native Authority Council, noticing he commanded a high morality and intellectuality. These titles by default made him the Chief Political Adviser of the Sultan.
The Sardauna of Sokoto was eventually put in charge of the Sokoto Province to oversee its 47 districts and by the year 1944, he had returned to the Sultan’s Palace to work as the Chief Secretary of the State Native Administration, which meant he held the traditional Islamic title of Sardauna as well as a British Colonial Office. This appointment was in line with the British Policy of indirect rule.
Involvement with The Northern People’s Congress
In the 1940s, sir Ahmadu Bello joined the Jam’iyya Mutanen Arewa party, which later became the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in 1951. After his appointment as the Chief Secretary of Native Administration, he traveled to England on a government scholarship to study Local Government Administration, which broadened his understanding and knowledge of the western form of governance.
After Sardaunan Sokoto’s returned to Nigeria in 1952, in the first-ever held elections held in Northern Nigeria he secured a seat in the House of Assembly of the Northern region of the country, and when there was a new constitution that came into being, he was appointed as an Executive minister of Survey and Works.
He was also minister of Works, Local Government, and Community.
Political Activities in NPC
As a member of the house of assembly, he became a prominent voice for northern interests and adopted a style of consulting and consenting with the major representatives of the then northern emirates; Kano, Borno, and Sokoto. He was also selected to be a part of the committee that redrafted the Richards Constitution and he attended the general conference in Ibadan.
His participation in the assembly and the constitution drafting committee brought him much appreciation and admiration in the north and was asked to take on leadership positions within Jamiyya Mutanen Arewa.”
Two years after his appointment as minister, the Sardauna of Sokoto became the first and sadly the only Premier of the North, being the leader of the Northern People’s Congress, the ruling party at the time.
Sir Ahmadu Bello with the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi I
In 1959, during the independence elections, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello led the NPC to win the majority of the parliamentary seats. The NPC allied with the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, forming Nigeria’s first indigenous government which led to Nigeria gaining its independence from Britain.
During the formation of the 1960 independence government, Ahmadu Bello, the president of the NPC, was by default supposed to be the Prime minister of the newly formed government. But the Sardauna had other plans than leading the newly formed independent government, he chose to remain Premier of Northern Nigeria and redirected the position of Prime Minister of the Federation to his deputy of the NPC, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Achievements of Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna
Ahmadu Bello’s many political accomplishments include; establishing the Northern Regional Development Corporation (NRDC), which subsequently became the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC), the Bank of the North, the Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria (BCNN), and the Nigeria Citizen Newspapers.
The Sardauna saw the North as far less developed; structurally as well as economically than the South, and he argued that the North needed to catch up and a matchup with the South for the sake of national harmony hence his policy of Northernization.
His leadership characteristics were a mishmash of religious, traditional, and modern values and his obligation in colonial and post-independence Nigeria was performing these different roles in the northern region.
He made it a major priority of his that the North would be at par politically and economically with the Western and Eastern regions.
Sardauna’s Death and Assassination
On the 15th of January 1966, Sir Ahmadu Bello was assassinated by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu a Nigerian Army officer in a coup that toppled Nigeria’s post-independence government. Before the coup d’etat, he had received warnings from the Premier of the Western Region Samuel Akintola, and Brigadier Samuel Ademulegun.
He was still the premier of Northern Nigeria at the time.
This was the first coup in the history of Nigeria, which catapulted the rise of a series of military reigns and coups in the country’s politics. Also assassinated in the coup was his long-time friend and deputy, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa alongside many other notable political elites in the north and western region of the country.
Ahmadu Bello’s Legacy, Honours, and Awards
During his lifetime, he had received a lot of honours and awards, including honorary doctorate of Law from UNN (University of Nigeria Nsukka) in December 1961 and an honorary degree from the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo in 1962. He was made a Knight of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959 just before the colonial rule came to an end.
He established the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1962, the second largest University in Africa, which was named after him. He was the University’s first Chancellor. The 200 Nigerian naira carries his portrait.
Sir Ahmadu Bello during the groundbreaking ceremony of ABU, Zaria
Sir Ahmadu Bello also has several roads named after him in almost all states in northern Nigeria. The stadium in Kaduna is also named after him. His residence in Kaduna where he lived, is now a center of Research and Historical Documentations under Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The memory of Sardauna lives in the minds of millions of northern Nigerians.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, the first and only premier Northern Nigeria ever had, was a visionary leader who revolutionized ideas and plans for Northern Nigeria. Sir Ahmadu Bello was the leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), which meant he was the de facto Prime Minister by laws of the party. Still, he chose to become the premier of the North to ensure an adequate level of development reached his people. Despite having a different ideology from Sa’adu Zungur, he still wanted him to join the NPC for the collaborative development of Northern Nigeria. Nigeria still suffers from the loss of such an iconic legend. In his honor, here are some lesser-known facts about Ahmadu Bello.
20 Facts About Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardaunan Sokoto
1. At the very young age of 28, Sir Ahmadu Bello attempted to become the Sultan of Sokoto after the death of the then Sultan Hassan Dan Muazu in 1938. A bid he lost to his cousin, Sir Siddiq Abubakar III, one of the longest-serving Emirs who reigned till his end in 1988.
2. Not a very known fact about Ahmadu Bello is that he is a great grand descendant of Muhammadu Bello, the son of Sheikh Usman Danfodio. This was a title he cherished very much.
3. Despite losing the Sultan’s bid to his cousin, he was then made the Sardauna (Crown Prince) of Sokoto, a chieftaincy title. He was promoted to the Sokoto Native Authority Council because he espoused high morality and intellectuality. These titles, by default, made him Chief Political Adviser of the Sultan.
4. In 1943, Whilst serving as a Councillor in Gusau, present-day Zamfara, Ahmadu Bello was accused of misappropriating Jangali (Cattle tax). He was later exonerated after serving three months in Prison
5. Ahmadu Bello came from a royal family, as his father was the Head of Rabah, which didn’t hinder him from being highly educated in the Islamic tradition at the early age of four. He was mentored in Quran, Islamic Jurisprudence, and prophetic traditions. This was the common practice of descendants of the great Islamic Sheikhs, Muhammad Bello and his father, Usman Danfodio.
6. At a very young age, then known as Ahmadu Rabah, Sardauna attended Sokoto Provincial School and, afterward, the then Katsina Teacher’s Training College (now Barewa College, Zaria). He graduated in 1931 and took up a teaching profession at the Sokoto Provincial School.
Ahmadu Rabah (Sir Ahmadu Bello) standing 2nd from right with his classmates at the Teachers Training College, Katsina in 1931.
7. As is familiar with most royals, it is not a strange fact about Ahmadu Bello that he was a decorated and accomplished horse rider. He also loves other sports, including Fives.
Sardauna playing a game of Fives as Premier
8. Within a short period, Sardauna was put in charge of the Sokoto Province to oversee its 47 districts. By the year 1944, he was back at the Sultan’s Palace to work as the Chief Secretary of the State Native Administration, which meant he held the traditional Islamic title of Sardauna and a British Colonial Office. This appointment was in line with the British Policy of indirect rule.
9. In the 1940s, Sir Ahmadu joined the Jam’iyya Mutanen Arewa party, which later became the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in 1951, a name coined/translated to English by Sa’adu Zungur.
10. He traveled in 1948 to England. Four years after his appointment as Chief Secretary of Native Administration, he secured a study scholarship to England, where he studied Local Government Administration, which was a knowledge that gave him a better understanding of the workings of the western world.
11. In 1952, after his return from England, Sir Ahmadu contested and secured a seat in the House of Assembly of the country’s Northern region. When a new constitution came into being, he was appointed as an Executive minister of Survey and Works. He was also a minister of Works, Local Government, and Community.
12. A fantastic fact about Ahmadu Bello was that he adopted a style of rulership by consulting and seeking the consent of some of the significant representatives of the then Kano, Borno, and the Sokoto Emirates.
13. With a short period in the House of Assembly, Sardauna became identified as the voice of northern interests. He was chosen amongst the team that redrafted the Richards constitution, which skyrocketed his fame, as he was asked to take up leadership of the NPC.
14. Ahmadu Bello is credited with bringing forth a lot of developmental initiatives in the North. These include; the Northern Regional Development Corporation (NRDC), which subsequently became the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC), the Bank of the North, the Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria (BCNN), Hamdala Hotel, and more.
Ahmadu Bello admiring the plan for Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna
15. Sir Ahmadu Bello established the Ahmadu Bello, Zaria, in 1962, the second largest University in Africa, which was named after him. He is the University’s first Chancellor.
16. Ahmadu Bello has received many significant honors during his life, including honorary doctorates of Law from UNN (University of Nigeria Nsukka) in December 1961 and an honorary degree from the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo in 1962. Queen Elizabeth II made him a Knight of the British Empire (KBE) in 1959 before colonial rule ended.
17. Sir Ahmadu Bello was assassinated by an Igbo soldier, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, at his residential home along with his most senior wife, Hafsatu, on 15 January.
18. Another fact about Sir Ahmadu is that as the Premier of northern Nigeria deposed the then Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi I. The deposing was said to be related to the fact that the Emir belonged to the Tijjaniyah Sufi order, while the Sardauna and the ruling Sokoto house belonged to the rival Qadiriyah sect. Sanusi was the grandfather of Muhammadu Sanusi, the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano and former Central Bank Governor.
Sir Ahmadu as the Premier of northern Nigeria deposed the then Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi I.
19. Sir Ahmadu believed in female education and as Premier, encouraged parents to allow their children to attend school.
Sir Ahmadu believed in female education
20. Another fact about sir Ahmadu Bello is that the information about the 1966 Coup reached him. Akintola, the Premier of the Western Region had approached Sardauna with the information, immediately after the Sardauna returned from Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage.
He instead refused to flee the country as his counterpart from the West suggested. They were both killed on Ramadan, 15th January 1966.
The general metamorphosis of Polo in Northern Nigeria is as fascinating as the sport itself. It started as a sport only the elite male royals partook in. Now, a mark that any member of society can decide to participate in really talks about how polo has evolved and how the masses have accepted it.
How did that happen? First, let’s trace the history of the sport in Nigeria.
History of Polo In Nigeria
Polo in northern Nigeria was introduced during the Colonial days by the British; it dates as far back as 1904, making it by default one of the oldest sports in Nigeria. The sport’s origin is traced to ancient Greece, and it was introduced to the country by the colonial masters – the British. Lagos was the first place where the game was introduced in 1914, and it quickly spread to the rest of the country.
The first grand polo games competition took place in 1914. Wilhelm Solf gave the trophy to be won between German-controlled Cameroon and Nigeria under British control on behalf of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The annual cup got named the Kaiser Wilhelm Cup, and in 1960, it was renamed the Independence Cup.
After the departure of the colonialists, the Military retained an interest in the game, with the new military academy built in Kaduna in 1964 having polo exercises for recruits.
The Role of Emir of Katsina Muhammadu Dikko in Promoting Polo in Northern Nigeria
Polo was once considered an exclusive sport reserved only for nobility. It was first played in northern Nigeria when Emir of Katsina Muhammadu Dikko visited England and became enthralled with the game. When he returned, he organized his sons to begin playing.
Sir Usman Nagoggo, one of the children who later became an Emir, began playing in 1939 and has competed internationally. He is the highest disabled Nigerian player to date, with a handicap of seven goals.
Sir Usman Nagoggo, one of the pioneer Polo players in Nigeria
But that was after his father, Muhammadu Dikko, had established the Nigeria Polo Federation in 1920, making him the country’s first polo player. The game developed widespread popularity in the area, particularly among the Princes of Kano and Zaria.
The Military maintained an interest in the game after the colonialists left, with polo exercises for recruits being held at the new military college in Kaduna in 1964.
How Polo is Played
Like any other game, so also polo, as a team is required to secure more points than its opponent, which would signify a game is won at the end of the stipulated time. On the other side of the pitch, each opposition tries to control and maintain the ball to secure a goal eventually. A team consists of 4 players; two are considered attackers, and the other two as defenders, though there isn’t a fixed role for any individual, so any player could play any wing depending on what the team needs at that very moment. Position one is set for the attack-offensive player. Their main aim is to hit the ball and score but they also play the role of defending and tackling the opposition’s position with three players.
Position two is set to play offensive. Their primary role is to back position one against their opposition and deflect the opposition’s opposition position three.
Position three roles are usually secured for the best team-mate, and they play the role of attack, with their main objective being to pass the ball to position one and two players. Position four plays the role of defense and protects the opposition from successfully scoring a goal. When position four-player intercepts the ball, they must quickly move towards the offensive players.
Rules of the Game
Polo has a basic scoring system, with a goal being scored when the ball is hit into the goal. Unlike many other sports, Polo teams shift field direction every time a goal is scored, rather than at regular intervals such as halftime. The game is played on a field three hundred yards long and two hundred yards wide.
The goalposts are 8 yards in width and open at the top, and each Polo match consists of 4 plays, all lasting 7 minutes. The game begins as soon as the umpire throws the ball between the two teams, which is also how the game resumes once a goal has been scored. Once a goal is scored, the teams switch sides, balancing any possible weather advantages or otherwise the team could have used in their favor.
Major Polo Clubs
Even though the sport started in the Southern part of the country, polo in northern Nigeria is played in most states, with the polo capital being Kaduna state.
Some notable players that have made the sport more widespread and accepted in Northern Nigeria include Usman Nagogo, Lawal Kaita, Ahmadu Yakubu, Idris Ibrahim, Hassan Katsina, and Bello Dahiru Bagiwa, Ibrahim Abba, Hamisu Buba.
Others include; the current Emir, HRH Alhaji Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, who started playing polo in the early 1980s, Lawal Kaita, former Governor of Kaduna state, and a Katsina prince, and Hassan Usman Katsina, and almost all the Emirs from northern Nigeria.
Aisha Suleiman, one of the female Polo players springing up from northern Nigeria
In a game once considered a male-only sport, Female players such as Aisha Suleiman have emerged in recent years, arrowing the end of the male-dominated elite match.
Polo Tournaments
In recent years, there has been an increase in the public acceptance of Polo in northern Nigeria. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of tournaments organized around the country. The Katsina international polo tournament, played everywhere, remains one of the most prestigious tournaments in the country.
Other tournaments such as General Hassan, Talba, and Commassie cups are equally on the rise. Other cups, such as the vice president, governor, Muhammadu Kabir, and Usman Nagogo Memorial Cup, are all springing up.
Tashe, translatable as wakeup-call or get up is a popular (but a dying) Hausa cultural practice that is mostly done during the holy month of Ramadan.
The word tashe is said to have gotten its origin from the act of waking people to take food at night known as sahur in order to fast for the day.
While most people engaged in the practice for how lucrative it was. As after the day’s fast is broken at dawn, young men and women with children alike all gather up in groups and match to several homes for the show.
How Tashe is Done
With rags and unfashionable clothes, the young generation of enthusiasts match around beating drums buckets as well as gallons to entertain the inhabitants of the region for a little token in return.
They usually sing songs of praise and enchant the households. In return, these individuals give them gifts of different proportions to show their appreciation for the craft being displayed.
Others engage in dramatic plays of some Islamic and Hausa morals and traditions. Sometimes, it is seen that women mostly dressed in men’s clothes partake in these dramas, where they act in a manner a wife is expected to behave towards her husband. Others depict how children should act to their parents.
But the practice differs from region to region as cultural predisposition plays a major role in determining how the practice would be. People also engaged in Tashe to tell a story of past events or express an emotional display for that event.
For example, after the civil war, in Kano state, they started a form of Tashe called “Ngozie uwar Ojuku” to shake off the tremor the war had caused.
The act isn’t done only by the young generation, the older generation also partakes in the tashe festivities.
Although theirs take a much different turn, particularly to wake young unmarried men, owning to the fact that they don’t have wives to wake them up for sahur.
Why the Practice is Slowly Dying
With modernity, the fast-growing rate of technology and urbanisation, the practice of tashe is slowly going extinct.
Most youngsters and children (male and female) being the major participants aren’t interested in such practices.
They’re mostly engaged with their smartphones and other technological gadgets such as video games, while others are hooked up to their televisions for the several TV shows available.
Also, with the increase of Sunni practices across the country, it has played a major role in the reduction of such tradition, as it has no prophetic history to it.
Furthermore, the rise of insecurity within Nigeria and the world at large has caused a drastic effect on the acceptability of Tashe. People are always sceptical about gatherings and strangers, and these have caused a great deepening to the already wounded festival.
Conclusion
No matter what the reason is, the festival of tashe is fastly becoming a thing of the past, more individual stories would need to be documented to preserve it. No one can brag about their history if they haven’t judiciously documented it.
