Surame City: 600 years after Kanta

The about 19 square kilometres vast area of land lying in silence between Binji and Silame local government areas of Sokoto State was once the booming political headquarters of Kabi Kingdom in the 15 century. It is known as Surame City and is situated at one of the busiest Trans-Saharan routes along the bank of […]

The about 19 square kilometres vast area of land lying in silence between Binji and Silame local government areas of Sokoto State was once the booming political headquarters of Kabi Kingdom in the 15 century. It is known as Surame City and is situated at one of the busiest Trans-Saharan routes along the bank of River Rima, now in Sokoto.  Its first king was a great warrior called Muhammad Kanta. According to historical accounts he died on his way from a war campaign in the Kanem Bornu Empire. 
Because of the uniqueness of the stone arrangement at Surame city, Kanta was regarded as the Pharaoh of the Western-Sudan. The son of Usman Dan Fodio, Muhammed Bello, during his visit to the Kabawa city in the 19th century was amazed to see how the stone walls were built at the kingdom. He was reported to have said “I have never seen this type of city wall in any part of this area, except that of Ngazargamu of the Kanem Bornu Empire”.
P. K Darling, a British archaeologist in one of his works also described it as the “Largest ancient built stone walls in the whole of Africa.” It was believed that Surame and the associated site of Gungu, are the biggest stone cities with great potentials in archaeological value covering over 28 square kilometres between Binji and Silame local government areas.
There were 14 gates to Surame City. These gates were categorized as seven great gates and seven smaller gates. The great gates connected the city with the outside world, while the seven smaller gates connected different sections of the city. Six hundred years after it was destroyed some of the gates are still standing at the site. One of the standing gates is referred to as Dashe tree gate. It was named after the Dashe tree that was standing there before the gate was created in the 15th century. The stone arrangement of the city gates, security posts, the narrow paths leading into the city through the gates, the two concentric stone walls, rectangular palace walls and the enclosures built to fortify it against external attacks, are some of the awesome features that still exist at the site till today.
The Kanta palace was trapezium in shape. It used to be the seat of power and authority of  the Kabi Kingdom where King Kanta resided in the 15th century. It was said to be several metres high. Even though it has collapsed, rubbles of its foundation within the rectangular walls that surrounded the palace, still serve  as evidence of what Kanta’s  palace looked  like in those days. The palace has many historical features which include the ancient well believed to be over 500 years old, circular foundations of the houses built for the wives of the king and his disciples. Though the palace is in ruins and the houses at Surame city are gone their foundations remain intact till the present day.
The Baobab tree that symbolized the king’s power and authority when Kabi Kingdom was flourishing still stands at the centre of his palace. The tree, according to historical evidence, is believed to be over 500 years. In those days the city was in the form of a stratified society. There were sections of the city made for the ruling class, and there were areas made for the spiritual class like the Islamic scholars and traditional spiritual leaders. The residences of these classes of people were situated around the king’s palace. They were usually consulted by the king on spiritual matters and they often assisted in foreseeing the plots of enemies  against the kingdom before they were hatched.  Before the kingdom embarked on warfare the spiritualists were often consulted to determine the outcome. There were also areas for the kingdom’s army. The military were normally quartered around the outer part of the city in case of external aggression. Interestingly, there are still features at the site to confirm all these historical claims about the city.
The ancient city stone architecture is unique. It was believed that Surame and its associated site at Gungu are the largest stone cities in Africa with great potentials in archeological value. The two cities are regarded as stone cities because their entire landscape is stone rich in iron content. It is being speculated that Kanta possibly situated his kingdom at Surame, because of the iron materials he needed to make weapons to execute his war of conquest.
At Surame, there are many other features like the graves where ruling class personalities and commoners were buried. There are also wells that used to supply water to the city and the king’s palace. Due to neglect of several years these wells had been filled with sediments. Also, there are watchtowers and  security outposts. There is also a particular spot called ‘Heavenly Bridge’ at the site (Wuta- Da- Aljanah). It was said to be the place where evil doers or those who committed offences in the city in those days, were tried and punished. Offenders were usually thrown into a fire prepared to burn for 24 hours in a ditch. The other side of it was where the king was said to have prepared to honour good people in the kingdom.
However, due to internal and external wrangling at Surame after the death of Kanta, the Kabawa left the city in 17th century and settled in Birnin Kebbi. After 100 years, they left and settled at Argungu in 1831 under their first ruler, Ismaila Nabame. In 1991 Dr Leseigang and Gerhard carried out archeological research at the site of the ancient kingdom. It was discovered that three civilizations had lived at Surame before Kanta arrived there.
In the 1950’s, the then Sokoto Native Authority declared it a reserved forest. In 1964 the Federal Government declared it a national monument. After a careful study carried out at the site where the Kabawa of Argungu once lived, the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) in 2009 decided to prepare it for enlistment in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Malam Garba Hassan Mahadi who is the Site Manager of Surame city and Curator of Kanta National Museum in Argungu, Kebbi State spoke on the efforts by NCMM and other institutions to ensure the site is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. “Yusuf Abdallah Usman, Director General of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) has done a lot on this. We have carried out some researches on the archeological value of the stone city walls and the floral value of its landscape. At various times archaeological discoveries  were made at Surame. In 2012 the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria carried out excavation work to determine whether the city walls were built within one period.  It was discovered they were done in phases between 16th-17th centuries. NCMM also carried out excavation work at the king’s palace and a feature believed to be  a furnace was discovered.
“The Department of Biological Science of the Usman Dan Fodio University in Sokoto has also carried out research work at the site to ascertain its floral value. They discovered 56 angio Sperms species of plants that are highly medicinal at the site. One of them, Geza is said to be good for the treatment of childlessness in women. The commission has also embarked on a five year management plan of the site. We are to design the heritage trail – the routes that will lead tourists to the features at the site. We will also create fatigue breakers- (resting places), visitors orientation centre, car park and refreshment centre. Until we have done these we cannot package Surame city for the UNESCO Tentative list. The NCMM has done a great job in terms of archaeological excavation, field research, stone conservation and documentation, but more still needs to be done.  Kebbi and Sokoto State governments must partner with the NCMM to actualize this effort of listing it in the World Heritage site. The beneficiaries of the site are Kebbi and Sokoto states. Kebbi holds the intangible, while Sokoto holds the tangible heritage of Surame city. If they come together we can get the site listed in the UNESCO list within one or two years.
“Surame site is a goldmine waiting to be tapped. It would bring a lot of revenue to government, especially now that our oil revenue has fallen. If the site is well packaged it will be a great source of revenue. There are only two World heritage sites in Nigeria, Osun Oshogbo and Sukur cultural landscape in Adamawa State. Surame is bordered by Binji and Silame, the two councils are responsible for provisions of the 12 security guards that are watching over the site. Given the vastness of its 19 square kilometres we need more security men at the site ,at least about 30 of them and other professionals to assist the site manager in ensuring that the place is well conserved and preserved for UNESCO enlistment”. Kanta resided in the 15th century. It was said to be several metres high. Even though it has collapsed, rubbles of its foundation within the rectangular walls that surrounded the palace, still serve  as evidence of what Kanta’s  palace looked  like in those days. The palace has many historical features which include the ancient well believed to be over 500 years old, circular foundations of the houses built for the wives of the king and his disciples. Though the palace is in ruins and the houses at Surame city are gone their foundations remain intact till the present day.
The Baobab tree that symbolized the king’s power and authority when Kabi Kingdom was flourishing still stands at the centre of his palace. The tree, according to historical evidence, is believed to be over 500 years. In those days the city was in the form of a stratified society. There were sections of the city made for the ruling class, and there were areas made for the spiritual class like the Islamic scholars and traditional spiritual leaders. The residences of these classes of people were situated around the king’s palace. They were usually consulted by the king on spiritual matters and they often assisted in foreseeing the plots of enemies  against the kingdom before they were hatched.  Before the kingdom embarked on warfare the spiritualists were often consulted to determine the outcome. There were also areas for the kingdom’s army. The military were normally quartered around the outer part of the city in case of external aggression. Interestingly, there are still features at the site to confirm all these historical claims about the city.
The ancient city stone architecture is unique. It was believed that Surame and its associated site at Gungu are the largest stone cities in Africa with great potentials in archeological value. The two cities are regarded as stone cities because their entire landscape is stone rich in iron content. It is being speculated that Kanta possibly situated his kingdom at Surame, because of the iron materials he needed to make weapons to execute his war of conquest.
At Surame, there are many other features like the graves where ruling class personalities and commoners were buried. There are also wells that used to supply water to the city and the king’s palace. Due to neglect of several years these wells had been filled with sediments. Also, there are watchtowers and  security outposts. There is also a particular spot called ‘Heavenly Bridge’ at the site (Wuta- Da- Aljanah). It was said to be the place where evil doers or those who committed offences in the city in those days, were tried and punished. Offenders were usually thrown into a fire prepared to burn for 24 hours in a ditch. The other side of it was where the king was said to have prepared to honour good people in the kingdom.
However, due to internal and external wrangling at Surame after the death of Kanta, the Kabawa left the city in 17th century and settled in Birnin Kebbi. After 100 years, they left and settled at Argungu in 1831 under their first ruler, Ismaila Nabame. In 1991 Dr Leseigang and Gerhard carried out archeological research at the site of the ancient kingdom. It was discovered that three civilizations had lived at Surame before Kanta arrived there.
In the 1950’s, the then Sokoto Native Authority declared it a reserved forest. In 1964 the Federal Government declared it a national monument. After a careful study carried out at the site where the Kabawa of Argungu once lived, the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) in 2009 decided to prepare it for enlistment in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Malam Garba Hassan Mahadi who is the Site Manager of Surame city and Curator of Kanta National Museum in Argungu, Kebbi State spoke on the efforts by NCMM and other institutions to ensure the site is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. “Yusuf Abdallah Usman, Director General of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) has done a lot on this. We have carried out some researches on the archeological value of the stone city walls and the floral value of its landscape. At various times archaeological discoveries  were made at Surame. In 2012 the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria carried out excavation work to determine whether the city walls were built within one period.  It was discovered they were done in phases between 16th-17th centuries. NCMM also carried out excavation work at the king’s palace and a feature believed to be  a furnace was discovered.
“The Department of Biological Science of the Usman Dan Fodio University in Sokoto has also carried out research work at the site to ascertain its floral value. They discovered 56 angio Sperms species of plants that are highly medicinal at the site. One of them, Geza is said to be good for the treatment of childlessness in women. The commission has also embarked on a five year management plan of the site. We are to design the heritage trail – the routes that will lead tourists to the features at the site. We will also create fatigue breakers- (resting places), visitors orientation centre, car park and refreshment centre. Until we have done these we cannot package Surame city for the UNESCO Tentative list. The NCMM has done a great job in terms of archaeological excavation, field research, stone conservation and documentation, but more still needs to be done.  Kebbi and Sokoto State governments must partner with the NCMM to actualize this effort of listing it in the World Heritage site. The beneficiaries of the site are Kebbi and Sokoto states. Kebbi holds the intangible, while Sokoto holds the tangible heritage of Surame city. If they come together we can get the site listed in the UNESCO list within one or two years.
“Surame site is a goldmine waiting to be tapped. It would bring a lot of revenue to government, especially now that our oil revenue has fallen. If the site is well packaged it will be a great source of revenue. There are only two World heritage sites in Nigeria, Osun Oshogbo and Sukur cultural landscape in Adamawa State. Surame is bordered by Binji and Silame, the two councils are responsible for provisions of the 12 security guards that are watching over the site. Given the vastness of its 19 square kilometres we need more security men at the site ,at least about 30 of them and other professionals to assist the site manager in ensuring that the place is well conserved and preserved for UNESCO enlistment”.