Hassan A. Karofi
3 October 2008
Kano — Sallah celebrations in Kano always promises to be spectacular, attractive showcasing the rich culture of Hausaland and its people. This year's celebrations was not different. Perhaps, the difference was the unprecedented crowd, spectacular horse rides and a colorful rainbow of thousands of spectators who witnessed the festivities in the ancient city of Kano.
This more than any other previous years, added value to this internationally recognized festival of tradition and religion.
Unlike several other northern states, sallah celebrations in Kano is a seven-day affair with the Emir's entourage performing the Hawan sallah, Hawan Nassarawa, Panisau, etc. This year's festivities were therefore not different as the emir, along with his district heads, engaged in this long tradition of showcasing the rich cultural and heroic tradition of the Kano people.
What, however, differentiated this year's celebration with the rest was the new vista of enthusiasm, increased horse riders and colorful traditional carnival organized by the traditional institutions as a mark of honor for Governor Shekarau's recognition of this important institution.
His recent distribution of brand new Prado jeeps, has according to sources in some districts head offices, gingered the traditional leaders to organize one of the best durbars in honor of the state governor. "You can see that this years durbar was a little different because almost all the district heads including the emir himself recognised the respect accorded the institution by Governor Ibrahim Shekarau through his various enhancement of the institution including the recent car gifts," a traditional title holder confided in our reporter.
Muhammed Dan-Iya, a title holder, told Weekly Trust that the series of Sallah celebrations this year are far more unique in terms of organization, participation, colorfulness, mobilization and participation of so many artists because the traditional institution wants to appreciate the kind of leadership the governor is exhibiting in many facets of the state administration.
"The uniqueness can be seen from the massive mobilization so that as custodians of the people, that we could show the world more than what some people want to show. Our people believe in the government and appreciates what it is doing," he added.
This much was echoed by the emir himself when he described the car gifts as a commendable policy that will help enhance security and motivate the traditional rulers.
This unprecedented presence of Kano people on the streets of Kano hailing the entourage of the emir and Governor Ibrahim Shekarau came after rumuors that went round of a planned attack on the entourage. This rumour forced the security agents to increase their presence during the processions, but the peaceful manner of the procession as well as the show of love and care to the leaders who accompanied the celebration only dismissed the allegation of a planned attack on the procession.
A security chief at the state police headquarters told Weekly Trust on condition of anonymity that investigations have shown that the incident that occurred at the emir's palace was meant to scare people from attending the sallah festivities, "but we were overwhelmed by people to the extent that the whole city was jam-packed with an unprecedented crowd that gave us a headache to control," he said
The roaring crowd were everywhere in the city as the entourage moved along the streets of Kano. These sea of spectators hailed and greeted the Governor and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, throughout the days that the processions lasted.
Amidst the huge galloping horses estimated at about 5,000 and their different colorful regalia, Emir and Governor Ibrahim Shekarau received ovations.
Shortly after the procession reached the government house amidst shouts of 'Sai Ado, Sai Shekarau,' the huge gates of government house were widely opened for all spectators who followed the entourage from far and near. The unprecedented crowd and cheering that followed wherever the procession went was recognized by the emir when in his speech at the occasion where he hailed the people of the state for their love and harmonious co existence.
The Emir also commended the state government for their various popular programmes, especially for providing cars to traditional rulers in the state, describing the gesture as unprecedented and a pointer to the significance the government places on the institution. The emir also commended the government for several of its intervention programmes and called on it to enhance its activities in the health, water provision and social amenities.
He also called on the people of the state to assist the government in security through providing information on any individual and suspicious people who live in their midst. Dr Bayero also called on the federal government to support the initiative of the state government in security, economy and power.
The governor, Malam Shekarau, explained why his administration decided to purchase and distribute cars to the monarchs in the state. "Their significant contributions to the security, traditional and social wellbeing of the people cannot be equated with any amount that could be spent on them," he said.
"You see this unprecedented crowd that came into the Government House was a message of 'thank-you' to the governor for his several interventions especially the recent distribution of cars to the monarchs," according to Alhaji Sani Garba, a traditional title holder in Nassarawa. While some might have come to thank the governor for the car gifts, others say they were there to express their solidarity with Shekarau, who they called 'the people's governor'.
Shehu Babba Kofar-Na'isa who was at the government house during the Hawan Nassarawa with some placard carrying youths, said the decision to mobilise youths for the celebration was to register their support for the government and people of Kano State over the changes seen since the advent of the Shekarau administration.
Additionally, side attractions that included snake charmers, drummers, sword bearers, expert horse riders and many other skills added to the colorful celebrations that enlivened the ancient city for several days.
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