When ladies rode horses for Zaria’s Hawan Daushe

The spectacular display of skills while riding their horses attracted applause and cheers from spectators. Four female riders that emerged at the Hawan Daushe durbar in Zaria snatched the show. The fact that many residents were seeing female riders during the traditional event, made all eyes to be on them. Barbara Patricia Zingg, Blessing Mato, […]

The spectacular display of skills while riding their horses attracted applause and cheers from spectators. Four female riders that emerged at the Hawan Daushe durbar in Zaria snatched the show. The fact that many residents were seeing female riders during the traditional event, made all eyes to be on them.

Barbara Patricia Zingg, Blessing Mato, Hawwah Gambo and Shamsiyya Zaria stormed the arena under the banner of Queen Amina Warriors. To justify their tag, they were fully attired in battle regalia, replete with swords, armour and turbans. The quintet certainly evoked history, cutting the image of Zaria’s famous warrior queen. 

The choice of Hawan Daushe by the Queen Amina Warriors to demonstrate their love with the Zazzau tradition of Hawan Sallah was described by many as a perfect one. Hawan Daushe is a gathering that brings people from all walks of life in Nigeria and abroad to the Zazzau palace. Therefore, any guest of the palace who wants to identify with the emir, Alhaji Shehu Idris, and other princes of the emirate usually do so during this important event.

Aside reminding citizens of Zaria their cultures and values, Hawan Daushe serves as a recreational platform for both residents and visitors.

As tradition demands, after the obligatory noon prayer, the emir, in company of his district heads, moved out of his palace on horseback, to go round the ancient city. The Hawan Daushe provided an opportunity for residents to meet the emir face-to-face. Of course, Zingg and her team were part of this traditional extravaganza. 

After the tour, the emir went back to the historic Kafen Daudu pavilion where he received the homage of his subordinate princes. During Hawan Daushe, the princes engaged in a competition wherein one tries to outshine the other in horseriding skills and display of royal regalia. This provided an opportunity for Zingg and her team to also showcase their efforts. 

Zingg and her team displayed their skills, to the delight of the audience, attracting applause and cheers. She said the Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club that is based in Kaduna was their parent organisation. She said they had been involved in providing horses that pulled the carriage of His Highness, the Emir of Zazzau for the last years.

Zingg said she loved living in foreign lands, especially the ones that were filled with culture and history. She said she had been participating in the durbar since four years, doing that as the only foreigner and woman.

“I am interested in culture and the history of the Emirate of Zazzau, with a dominant figure, who is a woman as a leader and warrior, Queen Amina of Zazzau, who led men to war. This has deeply impressed me and brought me to the idea of doing a re-enactment in homage to the Queen.”

Commenting on the ladies, Chief Protocol Officer of the emir, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, said the emirate always encouraged women to promote its culture. He said the group’s homage to the legendary Queen Amina of Zazzau was commendable.

The thrills that the ladies brought to the Zaria Sallah durbar earned them the alias, or rather, the traditional title of ‘Zazzau Queens’.