Untold story of Chinese climb to Sukur hill

The Chinese delegations in company of some senior officials of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) came across the paved walkways for which the kingdom is famous, as well as the remarkable graveyards which are fenced with stone before they drew close to the unique fenced dwellings made of stone. Officially, Sukur is […]

The Chinese delegations in company of some senior officials of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) came across the paved walkways for which the kingdom is famous, as well as the remarkable graveyards which are fenced with stone before they drew close to the unique fenced dwellings made of stone.

Officially, Sukur is the only place in the whole world which presents the use of stone for building without the use of cement. It’s a unique science and no wonder the Sukur cultural landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Also known as Sukur Kingdom, this landscape was declared a WHS in 1999 by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) during a conference in the Moroccan resort town of Marrakech.

While leading the delegation, the Director General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi was emphatic that, “The traditional architecture at Sukur is amazing.

“The Sukur stone architecture is unique in Africa, and it is the best example that can be found in the world. With that type of construction a room is made warm when it is cold and cold when it is warm,” he noted.

At  the site, Mr Zhou Heping and the other tourists from China were given a deserving welcome by the Sukur community and this thrilled the vice minister who was  fascinated with the architectural outlook of the place. He was so amazed when he saw the people building a wall at the bottom of the footpath. Here the people work with stones, and in few hours the wall was up. It could remind them of similar scenes in Korea and South East Asia and other continents.

The minister said that the tour was another major diplomatic action taken by China in the context that the international situation was undergoing significant and profound changes, the China-Africa relations were resuming the momentum of growth, and the relationships between China and African countries and Nigeria in particular, were facing new opportunities. It was also an important external exchange event following the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, during which the leaders of China had in-depth discussions and exchanged views with the leaders of the other countries over bilateral, regional and international issues.

While commending Nigeria for the high protocol and warm hospitality accorded to them, Mr Heping said that the tour was characterized by a tight schedule, wide-ranging topics, and remarkable outcome. It enhanced mutual political trust, traditional friendship, and pragmatic cooperation between China and Nigeria and strengthened the cultural and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

During the visit, the tourists inspected the official residence of the Chief of Sukur, including his living room, the court yard, boys quarters, his saloon and  the walls of the house which was said to have been constructed 500 years ago.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Hildi Sukur Gizik where the leader told him that they were at the site to see where China could come into to assist in developing the world cultural heritage. Responding, Hidi Sukur, Gizik said the people of Sukur would continue to protect and preserve their cultural heritage.

He told the august visitors that one of the festival celebrated by the people is Yawal. It is a festival of thanksgiving to the Almighty, as well as to the gods and their ancestors. It is an appeal for a good harvest, and there are prayers for a good new year too. Among the people, Piss is the sun god, Tia is the moon god, and the god of stars is Maila. Sukur-Yam is the rain-god.

He said, “The people here have a long history of working with stone and iron, and it is remarkable that they have formed a whole series of light dances, and even speak a soft language, that sits easily on the tongue. It is striking that from the heavy stones has emerged a people noted for their light dances, swift movements and soft words.”

He noted that they keep a lunar calendar which lasts for ten months.  “When the moon is sighted then the festival holds. It can be called a festival of the moon, and in a sense the gods can be said to come down and dance with men,’’ he said.

NCMM Director General Yusuf Abdallah Usman, said, “The importance of social harmony in the peaceful coexistence of our people cannot be over-emphasized in view of the diverse nature of our cultural heritage. The heritage site today is tasked to play the role of a rallying point of support to communities all over the world.”

He further noted, that the heritage sites needs the support of their communities for the realization of these set goals and objectives in the service of humanity and social harmonious existence.

Sunday Trust later learnt that if there is sadness in the land, or there has been a bad harvest then the festival will not hold. Just before the Hidi leaves his stone palace, symbolic rituals were performed to thrill the visitors.

The community leaders hoped that Sukur World Heritage Site that was victim of some natural disaster, degeneration or neglect could slip from its exalted WHS position into the unenviable list of World Heritage in Danger. “We had prayed that Sukur would not be left to go this way,’’ spokespersons of the Sukur community have said.

Sunday Trust however gathered that in spite the Joint Management Committee (JMC) for Sukur Cultural Landscape there seems to be poorly coordinated contributions to the community’s growth, the most pressing need for the villagers is water. Inhabitants stay awake all night just to get a bucket of water. Their only source is water seeping from the surrounding rocks, and during the dry season, the flow could be painfully slow.

Prince Markus Markama, son of Sukur’s District Head, sometimes ago, had highlighted the crushing level of poverty under which the

kingdom’s dwellers are groaning. “Sukur is a peculiar case because of the abject poverty situation of the local people.” In other words, the community can’t even raise seed money to cultivate themselves out of crippling poverty.

As put by Mr Saleh Kinjir, a former commissioner in Adamawa State, “Educationally, we in Sukur, are so much behind. We are very backward.

I am one of the early graduates, and I think this educational disadvantage has contributed to the current situation. Due to lack of awareness, some Sukur youth want to destroy some parts of the site.

It is difficult to even convince some people to appreciate that what is happening today is in their own interest. They say we at the lowlands are reaping all the benefits coming to Sukur. We need more awareness and a legal framework to protect the site. Some Sukur youth insist roads must be built connecting the lowlands to the top of the hill. They say people are dying in the upland settlements, while every facility is being cornered by those on the plains.”

The delegation after the hectic treckking later paid a courtesy visit on the paramount ruler of Lamido Adamawa, Dr Muhamadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa to conclude their two -day journey in the state.

The monarch told his visitors that Nigeria and China have rich cultural heritage and should work towards preserving the historical artifacts for the cultural development of the two nations.