How women stole the show at Zaria sallah durbar

Despite the reduction in the number of district heads in the Zazzau emirate, 118 title holders participated in this year’s Eid-el-Fitr durbar with women stealing the show. Daily Trust on Sunday reports   Before recent developments, women usually assumed the role of spectators during Sallah durbars in Zaria. However, lately women fully participate in the […]

Despite the reduction in the number of district heads in the Zazzau emirate, 118 title holders participated in this year’s Eid-el-Fitr durbar with women stealing the show. Daily Trust on Sunday reports

 

Before recent developments, women usually assumed the role of spectators during Sallah durbars in Zaria. However, lately women fully participate in the traditional fanfare. The spectacular display of skills while riding their horses added colour to the annual fiesta.

The women that snatched the show during the Hawan Daushe in Zaria were the ones led by Barbara Patricia Zingg. Fully attired in war regalia, with turbans all over their heads, as well as long anti-armament garment covering their bodies, while iron belts were tightened around their waists. Zingg and her entourage reminded residents of the bravery tales of the Queen Amina of Zazzau.

Another woman that electrified the venue of the traditional durbar was Hadiza Bala Usman, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). Although Hadiza did not engage in horse riding, but the privilege of being offered a seat close to the emir made women present to be jovial. As head of a major federal government parastatal, Hadiza was cheered with thunderous applause from the mammoth crow.

Aside of the women’s pageant, this year’s Eid-el-Fitr, like previous ones, came with exciting allures in the ancient city of Zaria. Usually, the major attraction to Sallah celebrations in Zaria is the traditional durbar. The emir, Alhaji Shehu Idris, and other princes of the Zazzau emirate through the durbar demonstrate the rich cultural heritage of the city.

As tradition demands, immediately after the Eid prayer at Kofar Doka, the emir rode on horseback to his palace. Soon after the emir took his seat in a special historic pavilion, Kafen Daudu, district heads on horsebacks paid their allegiance. They did this with demonstration of their horse riding skills. 

According to Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, Chief Protocol Officer of the Emir, 118 title holders took part in the two durbars that were staged in Zaria. One after the other, all the entourages openly asserted their loyalty to the emir in accordance to the tradition.

After the first durbar, Hawan Sallah, on Friday, June 15, Hawan Daushe, which is usually the last durbar in the ancient city, took place on Sunday, June 17. Hawan Daushe is a gathering that brings people from all walks of life in Nigeria and abroad to the Zazzau palace.

Many residents described Hawan Daushe as the “peak of all attractions” as far as Sallah durbar is concerned. A resident of Zaria, Dalladi Aliyu, said many residents usually reserve their new clothe till the day of Hawan Daushe. 

According to him, the event is regarded as the most important day, because it brings people from villages of Zaria to the city. It is a gathering, he said, that unites friends and families. Many residents make new friends on the day of Hawan Daushe, he added. 

He explained further; “in fact, some marriages have their root from Hawan Daushe. Young people have opportunity to appreciate their traditions and values. They know their history and where they come from through the Hawan Daushe durbar. Even foreigners are here and are being entertained by this rich culture.”

Traditionally, after the afternoon Muslims obligatory prayer of Asr, the emir, in company of his district heads, moves out from the palace on horseback to go round the ancient city. Hawan Daushe provides an opportunity for residents to meet the emir face-to-face.

After the traditional explore, the emir would go back to the palace and the princes would once again pay homage. During Hawan Daushe, the princes engage in a competition with each trying to outshine the other in horse riding skill and display of royal regalia. At the end, the best district head would be selected. Hawan Daushe durbar usually rounds off Sallah festivity in Zaria.   

Before the durbars, residents of Zaria took part in the two raka’at Eid prayer on Friday morning. Attired in their best clothe, male and female; young and old residents as early as 6:30am trooped to various Eid grounds. Alhaji Idris, the emir of Zazzau, observed the Eid prayer at the Kofar Doka Eid ground.

In his address, Alhaji Idris reemphasised his usual call for residents to continue to cooperate with security agencies for them to consolidate on the gain of maintaining law and order in the Zazzau emirate and the state in general.

He appealed to Nigerian farmers to embrace dry season farming in order to boost national food security. The Emir said the call became imperative in view of the importance of irrigation to the economy of the country.

He added; “I want to also use this medium to call on people to always provide security agencies with genuine information about drugs selling points in order to flush them out. Collective effort is required to ensure a drug-free society.

He urged the federal and state governments to buy excess farm produce from farmers to assist people in the event of scarcity.

Alhaji Idris said; “I want to use this opportunity to thank both the state and federal government for their efforts in reviving the economy of Kaduna State and Nigeria, as well as the developmental projects being executed. I want to plead with you all to continue praying for Allah to continue to guide our leaders aright and for peace to reign in all parts of Nigeria.”

Similarly, the Imam of the Chikaji, Zaria Eid ground, Sheikh Muhammad Sani Gumi, urged Muslims to always ponder on the essence of their creation by Allah. He said mankind was created in order to worship Allah and earn a palace in the paradise. He said this can only be achieved if people do good and avoid evil.

Gumi charged Muslims to continue to reflect in their lives the lessons learnt in the month of Ramadan by assisting the needy. 

One of the major highlights of the Sallah celebrations in Zaria was the tight security arrangement that was put in place by various agencies. This contributed immensely to peaceful celebrations.