The metamorphosis of Corn Stalk Durbar in Giginyu

What started as a simple fun event during Sallah festivities in Giginyu town has gradually metamorphosed into a perennial festival that attracts thousands of spectators. It is called the Corn Stalk Durbar. The durbar, which is a caricature of the real Kano heritage Hawan Nassarawa durbar, was initiated by the youths in Giginyu to replace […]

What started as a simple fun event during Sallah festivities in Giginyu town has gradually metamorphosed into a perennial festival that attracts thousands of spectators. It is called the Corn Stalk Durbar.

The durbar, which is a caricature of the real Kano heritage Hawan Nassarawa durbar, was initiated by the youths in Giginyu to replace the real durbar, as a result of the insecurity situation experienced few years back, which led to the cancellation of the Sallah durbar in Kano State. So no one thought that the alternative initiative will culminate into what it is today.

A few years ago, it was common sight to see young boys and girls in the early hours of first October heading towards the racecourse ground not far away from the town to witness the first October parades.  Everyone in the area looked forward to that period, just to be entertained by the performance of both military and paramilitary personnel.

However, it is apparent that Sallah festival celebration has always been a special moment for the people of Giginyu in Nassarawa Local Government Area (LGA). Hawan Nassarawa Durbar has been an event where the Emir of Kano pays homage to the state governor at the state government house. At that time, the young and old, male and female, gather along the roadside to pay homage to their Emir, as the ancient belief was that, whoever set eyes on the Emir during such festivity, lives longer. 

When the insecurity situation became tensed and festivities were cancelled, including the traditional Sallah durbar, the town became very dull during Sallah. It was in 2011 that a young man named Mubarak Idris Giginyu and some few youths in the area, initiated a caricature of Hawan Nassarawa Durbar, using a corn stalk instead of horses, to serve as replacement.

In the Corn Stalk Durbar, corn stalks are decorated to serve as horses. Surprisingly, what initially started as mere caricature of the festival, received accolades as both the young and old accepted the innovation and commended the initiators.

Mubarak Idris Alkadiri, who also poses as the Emir during the Corn Stalk Durbar and some group of youths, are the brains behind the creation of the durbar in Giginyu. According to him, organizing such an event wasn’t as easy as people thought, adding that what participants usually use during the durbar are mere imitations of what was obtained in the real durbar.

“The adorned regalia, the turbans and a lot of other items are beyond our reach and that is why we have tried to make use of things that look like the real ones. Since 2011, we have never missed a year and every year we try to come up with one or two modifications to make it worthwhile,” said the Corn Stalk Durbar Emir.

He continued: “What really distinguishes the real durbar from this stalk durbar is the absence of a live horse. The imitated royal regalia, the royal songs and the colourful arrangement of participants reflects a genuine scenario of a real durbar. However, what really got people’s attention is that ninety-five percent of the participants are youths and many of them were seen dressed in other attires of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria, to portray unity and prosperity.” 

It was gathered that the durbar has been getting support from traditional leaders, religious leaders, the security agencies and other ethnic groups. According to sources close to its organizing committee, there are plans to hold a special durbar session to mark the corn stalk anniversary. 

“It is not an easy task to keep organizing such event for about seven years. The durbar showcases the emir, the district heads, governor and government officials all in caricature form. It is all make-believe and a very colourful activity that witnessed hundreds of people in attendance,” said the source.

A historian, Malam Idris Bashir, the possibility that the Corn Stalk Durbar will continue to be an annual event in the area is very strong because what makes an initiation acceptable and sustainable is its consistency and conformity to a set community standard.