Origin of Koro tribe of Abuja (II)

As a result the Koro moved across the River Iku to be closer to Abuja for further protection. When later, the British conquered Abuja, the colonial government station was built near their homes. The Gwazunu Koro became uncomfortable living close to the Europeans, as a result they crossed the River Iku again back to their […]

As a result the Koro moved across the River Iku to be closer to Abuja for further protection. When later, the British conquered Abuja, the colonial government station was built near their homes. The Gwazunu Koro became uncomfortable living close to the Europeans, as a result they crossed the River Iku again back to their former site, where they are till date.
The Koro of Wuse came from Likoro near Zaria. They were led by Wambai of Likoro in the year 1715 first to Kagarko from there to Maitama. They settled in Maitama before the arrival of the Gwaris.
The name Maitama was derived from their activity of mining and smelting of iron. At a point in history, there was a landslide in the mining pit, and many people were buried alive. That disaster made them to further migrate and founded Wuse.
When Wambai became the Chief of Wuse he was installed by the Habe King of Zazzau, Zaria, who gave him a sword of office and a crown. The Wambai had two children, a male, Maliki and a female, Anya. A certain Babarbare migrated from Bornu to Zaria, married the daughter of the then Hausa King of Zazzau and got blessed with a male child, who was called Alhaji Sidi. Alhaji Sidi subsequently migrated to Wuse and married Anya. It was Alhaji Sidi that gave the town its present name of Wuse meaning “those who came out to get fresh air”. When Wambai died he was succeeded by his brother Kawu. Maliki the son of Wambai succeeded Kawu, and then Rabo the son of Alhaji Sidi with Anya succeeded Maliki.
 The Gwari of Maitama, Mabushi and Gwarinpa came to Wuse at the same time from Bauchi. It was the same Koro of Wuse that founded Karon Majigi (now, wrongly pronounced as Karmajiji) and Kuchigoro. The Gwari of Wuse, Kuchigoro, Kwakwaba, Burum and Takushara came from Bauchi State and settled in Wuse District.
It was during the reign of Sarkin Wuse, Shekarau that the Habe Zagezagi came to establish Abuja. It was during the reign of Sarkin Wuse Ali III that the British conquered Abuja. In 1927 the Wuse people migrated from their former place to a new site on the Keffi Road, where the FCT project met them. It was because of intermarriage with Gwandara that the people of Wuse now speak Gwandara.
 The Koro of Aso (Asokoro) also came from Likoro under their leader Dodonniya at about 1798. They traversed through Kwaya to Abuja and settled near a hill which was named Shishipe, from there to Galadimawa. It was named so because it was discovered by Galadima. When the village became too small for them they moved to Zumbo (gorgeous place).
The Gwarin Genge tribe came from Bauchi and settle with them. The Gwari lived in the forest called Kurunduma (kurmi is a Hausa word for forest). The Igbira came and settled near Kurunduma close to the Koro. During the reign of chief Agaba they discovered a more suitable place to migrate and called it Aso (meaning it will be liked). They came out to the present Asokoro site on mile 30 Abuja-Keffi Road and close to Wuse, during the reign of chief Rabo.
 The Koro of Kpau came from Doma under their leader Alhaji. They first settled in Zuba and then went to Izom. The approximate date of their arrival to Abuja was about 1790, because their arrival with that of the Hausa Zagizagi to establish the Abuja Kingdom was not long. They later settled in Wagu before coming to their present site. The people of Wagu were also from Doma, being of common language they have been intermarrying with those of Kpau.
Their masquerade is known as Dodon Wagu and is believed to be the most powerful of all the Koro masquerades. The Numbwa Kora are Koro Huntu, same as that of Shakoyi, they are from Zaria and first resided at Diko. Numbwa means place where they found a cobra. They believe that there is a stone at their place of origin that follow them to wherever they migrate, and is there now with them at Numbwa.
Derived from the collections of Alhaji Rabi’u Ishaq, Galadiman Zazzau, Suleja.