Has the colourful horse parade come to an end? For the second year running, activities of Boko Haram insurgents have halted the beloved Durbar in Kaduna, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE
Everyone looked forward to the captivating feast capping off the 30 days of Ramadan fast. Well-tended horses, bedecked in colourful costumes, galloped past the enthralled crowd. Their riders, even more dressed, displayed their equestrian craft, carrying with them a cherished tradition passed on from generation to generation.
There is more. In some cases, the feast did not just have the revered Emir in attendance, celebrated by courtiers and subjects alike, but also featured mounting the horse himself to great applause.
Such was the importance of the Durbar that hotels were named after it.
The sad part is that the beloved ancient festival has been put on hold, and not for the first time. Blame it on the terrorist activities of Boko Haram. The Zazzau Emirate Council in Zaria, Kaduna State has cancelled this year’s Durbar following the bomb attacks in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of the state, which claimed lives and wounded many. Last year, the feast was also put on hold after a terrorist attack on Gen (now President) Muhammadu Buhari, and Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.
Will the Durbar return?
From the olden days, Sallah celebrations such as Eid-el-Kabir and Eid-el-Fitr which mark the end of 30 days Ramadan fasting were not complete in major cities, towns and villages across the length of Northern Nigeria without the traditional horse parade.
The age-long tradition added colour to such festivals and attracted tourists from within and outside Africa.
The Nation gathered that the Durbar started from the use of horses in pre-colonial era as a military parade of soldiers, especially in defence of their leader, popularly known as Emir who then served as the general. His princes had entourages comprising regiments from various emirates.
But due to its widespread acceptance, the Durbar was adopted as part of activities to mark important occasions like Sallah celebrations. Also due to its colourful nature, Northern Nigeria became a global tourist destination during such festivities.
This was the reason why the Durbar became a very important event during the 1977 Festival of Art and Culture, popularly known as ‘FESTAC 77’. While most of other FESTAC events were held in Lagos, the Durbar was hosted in Kaduna. In fact, what was then the best hotel in Northern Nigeria, Durbar Hotel was built in the heart of Kaduna city, to serve the accommodation needs of the event.
In Zazzau Emirate, the council used to roll out three horse-riding groups, namely, ‘Hawan Sallah’ , ‘Hawan Bariki’ and ‘Hawan Daushe’ for the Durbar festival celebrations.
As part of efforts to ensure successful outings, the council had applied several measures, including the involvement of corporate organisations of interest in the sponsorship of the colourful and historic events.
During such events, all roads usually lead to the Emir’s Palace, as well as sons and daughters of the Emirate in other parts of Nigeria and the diaspora travel down home to catch glimpse of the Durban festival, which usually hold for three days after Sallah. Both old and young, male and female usually troop out en-mass on such day.
As for the three days set aside for the festival each programme (hawan) is rolled out on each day. In the Zazzau emirate, immediately after the Eid the Durban carried out by the Emir is the Hawan Sallah. After performing the Eid paryer (Sallah), the Emir ride on his well dressed horse to greet his people and say happy Sallah celebration to them.
The Nation gathered that, the following day is Hawan Bariki, where the Emir during the colonial period ride on his horse to pay homage on the white people at a place called Gelesu, where the white men settled those days in Zaria. So the Emir also take a ride on his horse to this area which is believed to be Government Reserved Areas (GRAs).
Hawan Daushe which is usually on the third day after the Eid was named after the demise of a man called Daushe. He (Daushe) was a man who rode on his horse to pay homage on the Emir in the palace. However, hawan Daushe which implies riding horse in memory of Daushe was introduced Daushe’s demise and the Emir felt they should continue with that tradition.
So it became a tradition in his (Daushe’s) memory. Hawan Daushe in hausa means riding on a horse in memory of the man called Daushe. So, instead of the man riding on a horse to pay homage on the Emir, it is the Emir that ride on a horse to greet the people in memory of Daushe. So that was how it started.
There is also a horse race at full gallop across the square designated place and ends in front of the Emirs palace. Then a procession of horsemen into the town with the last horseman to arrive being the emir adorned in all his majesty. At the end the Hakimi’s (District heads) come in group to pay homage to the Emir.
The glistering of swords, drums, dancing and singing, with a band of performers, add colour to the fanfare. Amidst this, owner of the horse with best regalia earns more respect and hailing in the Emirate.
The story is not different in Katsina Emirate. On Sallah day, the Emir leads a colourful horse procession from Kofar-Soro (in his palace) through Bakin-Kasuwa to Kofar-Guga and finally to the Eid prayer ground for the congregational prayer.
After the two raka’ats prayer, the Emirs would lead senior councillors, traditional title-holders, district heads and princes on a horse procession to his palace through Kofar-Yandaka to Katsina Prison and finally to the palace where he discharged other horse riders and retired home for the day. This marked the end of Hawan Sallah.
Sometime ago, it was introduced by the Emir of Katsina, Muhammadu Dikko, the great-grandfather of the present Emir that the Emir will have a stopover at Katsina Central Prison where he briefly preaches to the prison inmates before moving to his palace.
On arrival at his palace, the Emirs will stop at Kofar-Soro where he received the traditional homage known as Jafi from other horse riders, including traditional title-holders, district heads and princes, among others.
Shortly after the Jafi, the Emir’s mounted guards and local warriors, known as Yan’ Kwalkwali and Yan’ Sulke clad in full military regalia will take the centre staqe demonstrating their skills of horsemanship, before the emir delivers his annual Sallah message to the public.
Similarly, the following morning, the Emir usually lead another colourful horse procession known as Hawan Bariki to the Government House for a homage to the state governor.
Aside the fun of the tradition, Durbar provides the Emirs an opportunity to greet his people, see how they are faring and carry out factual sightseeing of his community to improve on the structure and social wellbeing of the community.
Other benefits attached to the Durbar tradition is that since it attracts tourists and other visitors from within the country, economy of the areas where the tradition is held is boosted in no small measure during the period.
It is also a profitable venture for horse rearers who give out horse for the occasion on rent and also provide other essential care services for the horses.
However, ever since the commencement of the tradition, the festival had continued to be celebrated in emirates like Bida, Zazzau, Kano, Katsina, Gwandu, Ilorin and Sokoto Caliphate among others, until in the last three years when the emirate councils have had to cancel the tradition due to insecurity in the region.
