One thousand decorated horses and a herd of adorned camels were part of the spectacle as Kaduna marked its 100th anniversary.
It is a day of royalty, trumpets and decorated horses and camels. But the more Kaduna State residents witness the durbar the more they want to see it again. That was the case at the weekend when about 3,000 colourfully decorated horses and camels came out of the stables of 11 influential emirates in Northern Nigeria.
It was a grand ‘Durbar’ in honour of Kaduna city and its people on the occasion of its centenary celebration. Royalty and culture were on display to the amusement and delight of dignitaries and thousands who converged on the popular Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna for the occasion.
The durbar is a popular culture in Northern Nigeria dating back hundreds of years to the time when the Emirates (states) in the region used horses in warfare. It is a fiesta for special occasions in such Emirates as Katsina, Borno, Kano, Zazzau, Keffi, Bauchi and Bida, among others.
The last time a grand durbar like the one display at the weekend was seen was 40 years ago during the Festival of Arts and Culture, popularly known as (FESTAC) 77. On that occasion, Emirates from across the North participated in the traditional horse event. Elderly people like the present Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris who participated in the 1977 FESTAC Durbar can tell the story better.
Prior to the FESTAC 77, durbar was a display of war strength with each town, district, and the nobility contributing a regiment to the defense of the Emirate. Once or twice a year, the Emirate’s military chiefs invited the various regiments for a durbar (military parade) for the Emir and his chiefs. During the parade, regiments would showcase their horsemanship, their preparedness for war, and their loyalty to the Emirate.
Today, Durbar has become a festival in honour of visiting heads of state and even event to commemorate the two great Muslim festivals, Eid-el Fitri at the end of the holy month of Ramadan and Eid-el Kabir.
The centenary event saw traditional rulers of Borno, Kano, Zazzau, Katsina, Gombe, Bida, Zazzau, Bauchi, Hadejia, Misau and Keffi among others leading teams of horse riding warriors and displaying their different cultures.
The traditional music played with drums and trumpets to accompany the durbar was rythymical, with gunshots in the air.
The colourful centenary celebrations, according to Kaduna State government, was to showcase the rich history of the city, as the capital city of the Northern Nigeria, the rich cultural heritage of the North and to open up sources of revenue for all the state governments through promotion of tourism and boost the economy of the Northern states.
Kaduna became the capital of the northern protectorate in 1914, when the colonial Governor General, Lord Fredrick Lugard relocated the capital from Zungeru, Niger State, to Kaduna.
The city served as the capital of the northern region before the creation of states and has remained the political capital of the north even with the creation of states.
Governor Nasir el-Rufai said, “Kaduna is a Borno city because the state’s first indigenous governor was Shettima Kashim Ibrahim who was also a title holder in Borno State.
“And we chose the present Shehu of Borno to lead today’s durbar because coincidentally, his grandfather led the first durbar in 1956 while his father led the FESTAC durbar in 1977. Also, the incumbent Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, rode on the 1977 FESTAC durbar when he was much a younger Emir. This history was related to us by our royal Father, the Emir of Zazzau”, the Governor said.
Aside the Emirs who led Durbar, other important personalities like the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno, Governor Aminu Bello Masari, Deputy Governors of Zamfara, Bauchi, Plateau as well as Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and a host of others, captain of industries graced the occasion, while President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alh Muhammad Bello.
The President said Kaduna is the melting point of Nigeria’s politics, saying it had played a significant role in the region as well as Nigeria, adding that, the city was destined to play significant role in the development of Northern region and Nigeria at large.
Buhari stressed that, celebrating the 100 years of Kaduna’s existence as a political capital is by no means a child’s, thus his happiness that the celebration is happening under a progressive government .
He said, “I have noted with admiration that the state has achieved alot under Governor Nasir Ahmed Elrufai who is a progressive governor as he has started implementing the vision he wants to see the state attain in the next 100 years”.
The President reiterated the determination of his administration to solve the power problem bedevilling the nation, saying, once this is done, many industries in Kaduna that are in comatose will be back as well as other states in the country.
El-rufai remarked that the state occupies an important position in Nigeria, saying, apart from being one of the oldest cities in the country it was the pioneer administrative headquarters in the Northern Nigeria.
To this end, after 100 years of being a state it has become imperative to celebrate the greatness it had attained with the view of laying a solid foundation for the future.
According to the state governor, they have a duty to do so for posterity,pointing out, the centenary celebration will therefore showcase the rich history of Kaduna as well as showcase it’s rich cultural heritage of the region.
He said the event will promote tourism, boost the economy of the Northern states and promote unity.
“It is a great pleasure and honour to be hosting our guests to Kaduna’s Centenary Celebration. We know Kaduna can be better and we are determined to regain its glory,” he said.
“We pay tribute to those who made this city, and we honour the resilience of its residents. We must make the next century one of peace, harmony and prosperity.”
“Thus, we celebrate the first 100 years of Kaduna, not because they have been perfect. We celebrate, not because there have not been regrettable incidents in this city. We celebrate because the promise of Kaduna endures.
“We celebrate because its residents are resilient. We celebrate because there is a future, a chance to reclaim the glory, break new ground and make Kaduna an example of diversity and integration, a dynamo of progress and a model of development.
“We celebrate because the stains
and losses of the past are not our destiny. We celebrate because we know that we can be better, and Kaduna is ready to be great again”, he said.
