On the rich history of the Zazzau Emirate

For years, the Fulani have been in Hausaland without much prominence, until the year 1804 when Uthman Dan Fodio (a scholar whose reputed sanctity  earned him great influence among the Muslims and even over the pagans of Gobir) defeated Yunfa, the king of Gobir. Following this defeat, the heads of various Fulani clans flocked to […]

For years, the Fulani have been in Hausaland without much prominence, until the year 1804 when Uthman Dan Fodio (a scholar whose reputed sanctity  earned him great influence among the Muslims and even over the pagans of Gobir) defeated Yunfa, the king of Gobir. Following this defeat, the heads of various Fulani clans flocked to the  Sheikh whom they recognised as  Amirul Muminin (Commander of the faithful) asking his blessing to extend the Jihad to their areas.
Thereafter, the Jihad commenced in earnest across Hausaland as the Shehu distributed fourteen flags to twelve eminent people, of which Malam Musa was assigned authority to  confront the then Habe rulers of Zazzau with their headquarters in Zaria. As the History professor Murray Last recalled, the following Emirs: Umar Dallaje, Gwani Mukhtar, Ibrahim Zaki, Modibbo Adama, Suleiman and Malam Musa were scholars of note before they were saddled with emirship by the  Shehu himself.
And according to Alan Burns, a British historian,  these Fulani rulers including Malam Musa of Zazzau administered the country for some time with ability and justice. The Fulani of Zaria were however divided into a number of lineages such as the Mallawa, Barebari,  Katsinawa and the Sullubawa. History characteristically rewrote itself last weekend when Mohammed Sani Sha’aban, a Malle, was crowned Danburam by His Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.
Though from the Mallawa dynasty – a direct descendant of Malam Musa – Sha’aban nevertheless enjoys a double advantage; a maternal affinity with the Katsinawa dynasty which has been ruling Zazzau for 41 years now. The making of history came weeks before the coronation proper when the ancient town of Zaria turned a big attraction. The actual coronation on Saturday saw a colourful ceremony at the Emir of Zazzau’s palace which was filled to capacity even as early as 7.00 am.
In his royal address after the turbaning, His Highness the Emir of Zazzau who spoke through the Waziri of Zazzau explained that the decision to make Sha’aban the  Danburam Zazzau was in recognition of his selfless contribution to the development of and genuine concern for the people of the entire emirate.
Sha’aban, according to the Emir, is as an illustrious son, and a worthy ambassador of the emirate whose immense  contributions to the community over the years are invaluable.
Celebrations and festivities continued late into the evening at the residence of the Danburam where guests and well-wishers were entertained. Saturday’s event was preceded by a gala night on Friday, March 4th 2016  at the Zaria Polo Club where guests were entertained to performances by local artists.
An African-American medical practitioner, Dr. Paul Pen, came all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States and had this to say: “I came purposely to be part of this monumental occasion, to celebrate with my brother and also to deliver a letter of proclamation from the congress of Georgia to the celebrant that Friday March 4, 2016 was declared Sani Sha’aban Day in Atlanta in order to identify and celebrate with this enigma whose philanthropic gestures go beyond the shores of Africa up to the United States. That is why I am here because we are now family.”
Dr. Pen said he was at a loss for words to describe the occasion. “I was thrilled and excited by the passion, the traditions and the royal grandeurs that were displayed throughout the occasion. I am highly elated. This memory will linger on me for many years to come,” he said, even as the teeming people of Zaria – and beyond – appear to be in agreement.
Musa wrote in from Abuja.