The individuals behind the ban of the teaching of history in Nigeria were intentionally mindful of their scheme. Their grand design was to obscure or obliterate Nigeria’s great cultural heritage that points to many pre-colonial civilizations that had governing structures that can rival that of any of the celebrated civilizations in the world from Greece the birthplace of democracy, to England arguably the most accomplished Monarchy. The prowess of the Benin Kingdom that was never defeated by any local army except the same army that conquered the Chinese empire is well documented. The other well-documented conquest is Usman Dan Fodio’s, which paints a rather distorted narrative of Nigeria’s northern history. This narrative does a great disservice to many of the kingdoms in Northern and middle belt Nigeria. The Kingdom that has suffered most from the non-teaching of history is Nigeria is the Hausa kingdom. The Hausa Kingdom was the most expansive kingdom in northern Nigeria and beyond. One of the outposts of the kingdom is Zazzau where a new ruler is about to emerge after the death of the long-serving Fulani Emir – Shehu Idris who died on the 20th of September 2020.

The strategic placement of Fulani herdsmen like the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Buhari, and Nasir El Rufai has engendered an era where Fulani herdsmen represented by Meyitti Allah and their subsidiaries continue to decimate other tribes and religion in Northern Nigeria. They have perfected the strategy of unite and rule where they have grouped themselves with Hausas forming the deception called Hausa-Fulani. This is a deception where only Fulanis become Emirs and Hausas are regulated to continued servitude. It would shock many to discover this was not always the case. Queen Amina, a Hausa royalty was born in the middle of the sixteenth century to King Nikatau, the 22nd ruler of Zazzau, and Queen Bakwa Turunku (1536–1566). She had a younger sister named Zaria for whom the modern city of Zaria in Kaduna State was renamed by the British in the early twentieth century. According to oral legends collected by anthropologist David E. Jones, Amina grew up in her grandfather’s court and was favored by him. He carried her around the court and instructed her carefully in political and military matters. At age sixteen, Amina was named Magajiya (heir apparent). From an early age, Amina had several suitors attempting to marry her, including a sustained wooing from the Emir of Kano. After the death of her parents in or around 1566, Amina’s brother became king of Zazzau. At this point, Amina had distinguished herself as a “leading warrior in her brother’s cavalry” and gained notoriety for her military skills. She is still celebrated today in traditional Hausa praise songs as “Amina daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man that was able to lead men to war.”

After the death of her brother Karama in 1576, Amina ascended to the position of queen. Zazzau was one of the original seven Hausa States known as Hausa Bakwai. Others include Daura, Kano, Gobir, Katsina, Rano, and Garun Gabas where Fulanis present holds sway and leadership. Under Amina’s leadership, Zazzau controlled more territory than ever before. To mark and protect her new lands, Amina had her cities surrounded by earthen walls. These walls became commonplace across her territories until the British conquest of Zazzau in 1904, and many of them survive today, known as ganuwar Amina (Amina’s walls). Fast forward to 2020 and the Fulani Kingpin Nasir El Rufai is the kingmaker of the once peaceful Hausa Bakwai kingdom of Zazzau, and the Hausa’s servitude continues. The irony of this situation is that the man who has threatened other tribes and religious faithfuls in Kaduna State and Nigeria in the recent past about his tribe’s unforgiveness and violent retribution, is presently presiding also over the genocide still happening in southern Kaduna. Hausa servitude and violence will most likely continue unless Hausa men like Aliko Dangote help in the reconstitution of Nigeria that will enable Hausas to control their destiny like the Kanuris of Borno State who successfully resisted the onslaught of Usman Dan Fodio. Hausas are not Fulanis and Fulanis are not Hausas. The implementation of this distinction is the beginning of the liberation of Hausas.

Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com