Change and conservatism in Tammunnde

A review of Munzali Dantata’s Tammunnde by SALAMATU SULE.

TAMMUNNDE: Hope on the Horizon, is an attempt by Munzali Dantata, to trace the evolution of the relationships between the nomadic cattle herders and farmers in Nigeria as represented by the protagonist, Bappa and his host community of Okitipupa.

Bappa, a nomadic Fulani from Gerei in Adamawa State, leaves his native land in search of grazing space for his herd of cattle until he finally camps at Okitipupa, where he and his two sons, wife and mother live for many years.

The novel depicts how Fulani nomads used to enjoy mutual relationships with their host communities in the past. At that time, there were local alternative dispute resolution measures to resolve conflicts between the nomads and their host. Lately, ecological problems and politics have led to the breakdown of this mechanism.

The struggle for space between the nomads and the farmers has been complicated by the claims of traditional rights and constitutional rights. While the farmers base their rights to the land on tradition, the nomads base their rights on the freedom of movements enshrined in the constitution.

We read how   Bappa, his family and several other herders are forced to take flight from Okitipupa and other places. Occasionally, they stop to rest in the course of their movement, only to finally arrive at Adamawa, where they hope for a new horizon.

Sadly, home does not provide Bappa and his family the succour they long for, instead the faith for reaching the much-talked about horizon leads to the tragic fate of Bappa.  He is bent on keeping tradition alive against any form of cultural and social encroachment. He opposes the plea for his sons to acquire nomadic education or any other western form of education that would alter the traditional ways of life of the Pullaku. He detests his brother’s consistent visit and insistence on the need to face the reality and adapt to the rapid change that is taking place.

Unlike Bappa, Anas is of the view that the failure of the Fulani to adapt to change is responsible for the kind of narrative he receives from the public as he has refused to see reasons with the need for a grazing reserve for his cattle.

At what point did the romanticised nomads, whose portraits adorn many hotel, halls and galleries drop his stick in favour of the AK47? At what time did the once mutual relationship turn sour?

In Tammunnde, we uncover the issues of cattle rustlers and bandits who take advantage of the existing situation by causing harm to both the host community and the Fulani; added to this are the attempts to politicise the issue.

The tragic end of Bappa symbolises his lack of understanding of the natural and social forces at work. That is, the effect of environmental changes, rapid population growth and urban expansion.

Munzali, in this book, reminds us of the need to appreciate history and civilization, while also advising government on the need to provide grazing reserves for the herders. He also articulates the need for tackling the issue which is fast-becoming a national question, purely from an ecological point of view as opposed to the politicisation and ethnic chauvinism that is colouring the discourse.

The thematic preoccupations of the novel are current burning issues that need thinking through. The themes include: change versus conservatism, constitutional rights versus traditional rights, identity, ethnic chauvinism and political manipulation of the cattle and farmers clashes in Nigeria.

Tammunnde is an addition to the existing narrative about the life of the Fulani as in   Cyprian Ekwensi’s The Burning Grass and Wale Okediran’s The Tenants of the House. It is told in a racy, linear and readable style with a supremely ironic twist at the end giving vent to the novel’s underlying metaphoric allusion to the horizon which is never a futuristic attainment but something to work towards today.