Mohammed Haruna Yusuf
8 September 2008
opinion
Daura, the historic base of the ancient seven Hausa States, Hausa Bakwai, and now part of Katsina State, is full of historic and social values. Since the beginning of its existence as the ancestral home of the Hausa Bakwai in the ancient times, at least in the political classification sense, this city, occupying a vantage position in the Western Sudan, has enjoyed substantial love and reverence in African and world history.
The pivot of its immense historical significance was built mainly by the foursome - the Kusugu well, the legendary snake it homed called Sarki, Sarauniya Daurama and the wayfarer from Baghdad, capital of present Iraq, called Bayajidda. The epoch-making activities of this foursome at an ancient point of time sculpted the historical significance and magnificent identity the Daura domain has been enjoying over the ages and which it is jealously guarding.
On the scale of its glorious position in history, how has Daura fared in sustaining its fame and name in the context of leadership of the Hausa Bakwai within the bowl of the historic Western Sudan? How much significance do the characters and activities which built its known history now hold? How much has it developed physically? How high has it attained socio-culturally and economically? How does it forge ahead? There are numerous more very interesting questions requiring answers for the proper positioning and possible necessary adjustment of this historic location of global repute called Daura.
How has Daura been over the ages since the beginning of its known existence? The foundation of Daura city and the state, it is platitudinous to say, is ascribed to a queen bearing the name, Daura or Daurama, according to the myth.
There is no written document to portray the people's way of life in the ancient times, especially before the killing of Sarki, which was said to be depriving the people of the city access to the well to fetch water, by Bayajidda (Abu Yazid) with a sword, which endeared this Arab wayfarer to the then Queen Daurama, who, consequently, married him. Much of what is known now about this ancient domain is based on speculations. The ancient people are termed Maguzawa because of their traditional form of worship. They practiced witchcrafts and other forms of archaic worship.
Few documents, whether contemporary or retrospective, make any reference to the history or organization of Daura before 19th century, according to historians. However, apart from the Hausawa called Maguzawa, this acclaimed oldest Hausa state also homed other African, but mainly Western Sudanese communities with varying sizes of population over the centuries, most especially the Fulani nomadic community, followed by the Kanuri and Bugaje.
The Daura domain now has five districts - Baure, Mai adua, Sandamu, Zango, and Daura. The logo of Daura is represented by a snake, sword and well which signify the tale of how the ancient city came about.
Daura's Maguzawa occupy discrete communities scattered widely across the territory at Ungwan Liman, Jatau, Kwarya Salla, Yanduna, Gugurdulu, Gugai, Mai 'aduwa, Garni, and Badaki, but they are native speakers who have not adopted Islam, their settlement is dispersed.
Although based primarily on agriculture, the mixed economy of Daura over the centuries up to the immediate pre-colonial times was diversified by the raising of cattle and other stock; by the gathering of sylvan produce, by the exploitation of mineral resources, particularly iron, by craft production and by long distance caravan trade (Fatauci).
Hitherto, according to historical records, the people used various mediums of exchange Maria Theresa Thales, cowries, cloth of special weave and size called Turkuda for units of larger value, slaves, cattle and horses, thick silver bracelets (Mundaye) and anklets (Kurdaye) locally manufactured by melting down imported Thales as currency.
Most farmers in Daura and the entire Hausa land, as is the case among most communities the world over, still combine farming with some non agricultural activity or sana'a (craft or trade) one inherited from their fathers and grandfathers. Hausa describe hereditary occupation as Karda or Gargajiya that is inherited or ascribed while new occupations and the individual that adopts them are described as Shigege or Katsiro.
The record of Daura history begins around 1800. Most of the history, historians hold, was obtained from the ruling stratum, whose lineages has long been identified with the central offices of the state and whose family histories together compose a large segment of the political history of Daura.
The city itself, its gates, wells, markets, mosques, ward divisions and official compounds, both under and before the Fulani regime, still preserve the form and spirit of their ancient models.
A historian of Daura kingdom, Nura Altine, bared his mind as regards the history of the ancient Hausa state, saying that the Kusugu well signifies a social bond, adding that the people up to this day value the well, and they will continue to value it, because it is their major source of identity. According to him, the history of Daura dates back to 5000 years according to a book called Girgam, which is presently in London since the colonialist's expedition of Daura.
Nura believes the historical significance of the Kusugu well as the main icon of the Daura domain is still, and will continue to be, upheld, as is case with world-class historic monuments and wonders of the ancient world such as the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal of India, the Liberty statue of America and the Pyramids of Egypt which are major artifacts that built the identity of these countries.
Abubakar Saminu Abukur, is of the view that it is amazing for a community to attribute its identity and history to a snake. According to him, the Daura domain still prides itself in the solid fact that it is the only location in history with this snake-and-well-built identity. The Daurawa uphold this identity as precious and well secure.
There is a guard of the historic Kusugu well in the employ of the Daura Emirate Council called Mallam Salisu Nakwari whose principal duty is to protect the well always and discharge other duties necessary for the maintenance of its vital historical features as assigned to him by the traditional administration.
Mallam Salisu Nakwari told Daily Trust that he was born 29 years ago in the ancient city of Daura. His father was a Buzu (the Buzaye are one of the main tribes of the neighbouring Niger Republic). He said he himself hails from neighbouring francophone country.
Nakwari said that the well has a long and interesting history because there have never been any repairs on it due to any dilapidation and it has never been dug deeper since any known point of time due to low water table. He also described the well as a wonder, especially because naturally all the wells in nearby villages have at various times been renovated and cleared due to low water table with many abandoned as a result of the water scarcity.
There is also the belief that any living thing that falls into the Kusugu well will die. Also, because of its historic value and importance, some families make use of the water to bathe their infants because they believe that the infants will acquire the braveness of Bayajjidda. Such is also for more spiritual purposes.
According to Musa Ahmed Mashi, a lecturer in the History Department of Katsina State University, the Kusugu well has a social and historical importance not only to the Daura community but the generality of the Katsina people.
This, he said, is due to the fact that the well has great tourism potentials because its strange history has continued to attract people from different parts of the country and the world to the state.
Malam Yahuza of Katsina State History and Culture Bureau said Daura has over the ages been able to sustain its historic significance and fame as the birth place of the seven Hausa states and their numerous attainments in global affairs, most especially in pre-colonial history. Leading many other speakers on the common view that Daura's significance has remained solid over the centuries, he said the surviving icon, the Kusugu well, and the fames of the historic Queen Daurama, the historic snake and the sword-wielding Bayajidda have all sustained their significant roles in the sustenance of the Daura ancient identity.
The history and culture official, like most commentators, also believed Daura has recorded high attainments socio-culturally and economically on the scale of the requirements of its history. He believed that the ancient domain still radiates the aura of socio-cultural integrity among the Hausa states and even in the larger section of the historic Western Sudan in spite of its comparatively negligible economic attainments in the modern times and its repsent level of development which does not seem commensurate with its significance. They all believe that the Hausa Bakwai still source a large percentage of their socio-cultural practices and pride from Daura.
Malam Yahuza said the Katsina State History and Culture Bureau has designed projects aimed at preserving the major monuments of historic and social importance of Daura as well as other historical sites, such as the Gobarau Minaret of Katsina city as part of a grand programme to boost tourism development.
Scholars and tourists have over the decades been visiting the state to hold important occasions such as conferences and workshops, and also witness turbaning ceremonies, Sallah festivals usually staged with pomp and pageantry in the city of Daura where they also see the historic Kusugu well.
He said the state government has time earmarked money and pulled it resources to develop and improve on the preservation of the Daura monuments.
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