Uhola: When Zuru Went Agog
Zuru town was agog with festivities. The town was full to the brim. The people of Azugru known as Zuru Emirate consider it a major seasonal rite, to after the harvest, show gratitude to Almighty God for a His bountiful mercies and protection against evil forces in the area. Uhola is the most celebrated cultural […]
Zuru town was agog with festivities. The town was full to the brim. The people of Azugru known as Zuru Emirate consider it a major seasonal rite, to after the harvest, show gratitude to Almighty God for a His bountiful mercies and protection against evil forces in the area.
Uhola is the most celebrated cultural festival in Zuru Emirate. In the language of Lel’na, the word “Uhola” means “he has prevented or protected”. Invariably, it is an occasion in which the people rejoice and pay tribute to Almighty God for protecting them against evils and calamities in the outgoing year.
A preliminary celebration of “Dibiti” is also observed by the people of Zuru when crops are fully grown, but not harvested. The aim is to pray to God for bountiful rain and bumper harvest.
During the Uhola, every indigene of the community is expected to come to the ancient settlement of “Ile”, for the purpose of this festival. In the spirit of merriment characterized by dance, music and sports. Individuals respond to the call of community elders through songs which extol the cherished virtues of bravery and camaraderie.
Filled with pomp and pageantry, the Uhola, a thanksgiving festival to shower praises on Almighty God for a bumper harvest, and prayers for prosperity and good health to the people, is normally observed after harvest in the month of December through March. But due to the Kebbi governorship re-run elections, the cultural fiesta was postponed till this April.
The central elements of the Uhola include merry making, music, songs, dance, wrestling, and exchange of gifts. The significance of the festival is that it marks the end of the planting season and the beginning of a new year. As the people of the area are known to be brave and hardworking farmers, the agricultural show dominates the first two days of festivities, and climaxing with other spectacular events such as the Yadato dance, wrestling competition, Gulmo Race, the bicycle race and archery competition.
The Zuru Emirate added more glamour to the Uhola in 1993 when it intervened in the organisation of the festival which was until then celebrated at the clan levels. In the case of events such as archery, Gulmo dance and bicycle race, a committee was set up to supervise and choose the best from the clans who will come and complete. It is from there that the best in the emirate will be chosen.
The Emir of Zuru, retired General Muhammad Sani Sami, said that the emirate pays attention to Uhola because of respect they have for the primacy of culture.
“Zuru culture and tradition teach the importance of hard work, craft, art, medicine/healing, respect for elders and humanity.
“Uhola would therefore continue to be promoted because of the significant number of people that celebrate it as their festival and being part of Lelna culture. Besides, it is an aspect of the promotion of culture which is an important segment of tourism,” he said.
The Chairman of Uhola Committee and Chief of Dabai, Alhaji Isa Sani Sami, explained that the celebration is as old as the people themselves.
He said that the period is also one during which C’lela boy or girl is made to undergo rites of passage from childhood to adulthood. After such performance of the rites a boy is admitted into Golmo –the age-grade stage preparatory to marriage. He said a boy who wants to marry is made to serve his in-laws for a period of time.
“When it comes to the issue of Uhola, one will dress up in a Gulmo. Comes a Gulmo gentleman used to come out has traditional attire without shoes, and wears skin to cover all parts of the body. He will be made to trek from a distance of 10 kilometres to wherever he is going to stort farming, he has to run to beat time,” he said.
On the day of the festival, both boys and girls accompanied by a long procession of singers, drummers and well-wishers make for the principal village of each community, called “Ile”. During the procession, from the farms “C’bela” to the traditional city, incantations are chanted, usually in poetic depicting rythms valour and good behaviour.
At the town square, after the invocation of the gods for successful fiesta by the chief priest, each male performer goes out first to pay homage to the chief. Afterwards, performers show their skills in the Gulmo race competition.
Wrestling contests also take place at the festival where contestants from each community come to display their talents. Traditionally, Zuru community locks horns with Pani; Rumu versus Dabai/Rikoto; Rikoto against Dabai; Shenchi versus Ushe and Ribah squaring up against Chonoko.
The maidens too are not left out as they participate in Yadato, the final dance before marriage. A male is qualified to begin Golmo after reaching puberty. This is also the time a K’lela youth is initiated into M’gilla- manhood stage.
In the distant past, girls were demanded to dance almost naked to prove their virginity. It was then believed that any girl who could not do the Yadato dance during Uhola, was either deflowered or struck by venereal disease.
The ceremonies begin from the residence of the boy or girl who is qualified for “Yadato”. Each celebrant selects his drummer known as “wane”, who will extol his or her virtues and good character. In addition, the C’canga, S’geta, hev’sgomgomno are dancing competitions which put emphasis on body motion and dexterity, blended with music, songs and rhythms.
conspiciously, hunters partake in the dancing competition, which is mainly mimes or a dance drama, showing how hunters operate in the bush to catch a prey. Similarly, archery has been entrenched as an essential part of Uhola, to determine the best hunter that can aim at an object from a very far distance.
Another eye-catching event is wrestling where celebrating communities participate in traditional wrestling contests. A winner in every contest is declared when a contestant knocks down his opponent by pinning his back to the ground.
As the festival is celebrated after the harvest, the “Lelna” people do not forget to demonstrate farming skills. Threshing Dance (D’bii) is usually carried out by able bodied men mainly from Kyabo in Danko Chiefdom. The dance drama is made up of songs which praise hard work, strength and skills in agricultural production.
The event has tremendous socio-economic impact on the lives of the Zuru communities. Part of the efforts to improve the cultural festival is the inclusion of other tourist attraction sites like Isgogo Slave Market, the Girmache Shrine, Tar’d Wawanta in Rumu, the Zwin-Gorge Valley, Sem’d Gyozdne, the ancient town of Ukulu, Dombo Gomp Spring and Karishin Hills among others.
While the people of Zuru remain resolute and ready to exhibit their culture for the world to see and appreciate, authorities in the tourism sector may look into the possibility of providing a festival village and other needed facilities, for the upgrading of the event to an International one.
The chairman of the festival who describes the Uhola as a unifying factor said the ultimate goal of the organizers is to see it becomes an international affairs.
“That is the ultimate goal. We hope that everywhere you are in the world; you will hear that people are talking about coming to Zuru for the Uhola festival. That is the aim,” he said.
Many sons and daughters of Zuru Emirate, including civil servants, politicians, military and non-military officers graced the occasion.
Chairman of the occasion, Abdullahi Dan Alkali and member representing Zuru, Fakai, Danko-Wasagu Sakaba Constituency in the National Assembly, called for the provision of development facilities in the area, for the promotion of Uhola cultural festival as an attractive tourist destination in Nigeria.
Major General Muhammad Isah Danhanne, who attended this year’s Uhola, said the celebration encourages tourism, which will in turn boost the economy, and advocated the use of improved costumes. He urged the government to repair the Sokoto-Kontagora roads to provide easy access to Zuru town.
As the state government promised to upgrade the festival to an international one, Kebbi State Deputy Governor, alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu said the festival must be supported.
“I hope and pray that the festival will grow from strength to strength, not just as a unifying factor, but above all as a tourism destination that brings in a source of additional revenue for the development of the state”.
“Kebbi State Government has continued to provide support in cash and in kind for successful sustenance of the festival. We are looking into the possibility of expanding the festival, similar to the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival. There is no doubt that these two festivals are foremost tourism events in Kebbi State, which need and must be supported,” he emphasised.