Durbar: Unifying the North

Durbar is one of the key festivals that are being celebrated annually in several cities in the  North mostly during the two muslims festival of eid-al-fitr  and eid-el-Kabir. Durbar festivals are organised in cities such as Kano, Katsina, Gombe Ilorin, Zazzau,Bida,Minna,Daura, Sokoto, Bauchi, Maiduguri etc. A palace source who pleaded anonymity remarked that usually the festival begins with prayers.

He said the emir attends the Eid prayer. At  the end of  Eid prayer, he  is usually escorted back to the palace by retinue of palace guards and title holders who are usually on  horses, accompanied by local musicians and praise singers  as well as well wishers.

Source told the Nigerian Tribune that the durbar  festival, which is  celebrated with pomp and pageantry, is an avenue for the subjects  to express their solidarity, loyalty and allegiance to the emir.

When the  monarch arrives the palace, he usually ushers  his  guests who  are usually the governor, members of the diplomatic corps, top government officials and captains of industries to the VIP lounge usually located at the top floor of the palace .

The idea, according to source is to allow the emir and his guests watch the event gracefully. Usually the durbar begins with the traditional gun salute by palace warriors.

Thereafter, each of the   district heads will be leading a contingent who will all be on horses to pay homage to the emir.  One after the other in different regalia, the  continents usually  display beautiful attires which symbolise the custom and  tradition of the  people as well as the emirate . Other side attractions involve horse racing which is usually done at the end of the durbar with winners carting home prizes.

There is also  artistry displays by snake charmers,  fire eaters and knife cutters to display  the  mystical  and magical prowess of the people.

A palace source, who wouldn’t want his name in print, said, the traditional’ title holders were not left out in the festival. He said the  wealthy ones among them usually came to the event  with hundreds of  horses to show their wealth and class, saying, ‘the title holders try to  outshine one another  by participating with a large contingent and quite a sizeable number  of horses and  camels .

He told the Nigerian Tribune that during the 2016 durbar in Zazzau, a  prince  , participated with over 150 horses with each horse  dressed in expensive Shadda(guinea brocade)  and beautiful ornaments.

This year, however, it was only few cities in the region  that marked the annual durbar festival. This was so because most of the royal highnesses travelled to Saudi Arabia on  holy pilgrimage . While, a few others cities like Sokoto, Gombe, Gwandu   etc did not hold the festival.

However, in cities like Katsina and Minna,  their  emirs paid the traditional sallah homage to their respective governors at their  Government Houses   where mini durbar celebrations were held. At the event start with  the traditional gun salute which was later followed by a beautiful parade by the different title holders and groups   who are clad in their colourful attires.

At the occasions, the emirs,  Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, Emir of Katsina and Alh Umaru Bahago, lauded the developmental projects being executed in  their respective states and  both stressed the need for their governments to put in more efforts in the  provision of portable water, roads, hospitals in rural communities as well as providing employment for the teeming youths. In their respective responses,  both governors Aminu Masari of Katsina and Alhaji Sani Bello of Minna, implored the royal fathers to assist  the present governments drive  in promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

However, it was gathered that in Kano and  Daura the annual durbar festivals was observed in pomp and pageantry. For instance in Kano, the event took place at the flyover. The emir of Kano  Sanusi, Lamido Sanusi, rode to the venue of the event in a colourful attire, escorted by his palace guards, title holders and well wishers. On arrival, minutes later, the state governor, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, arrived with top government officials. The massive field was filled to capacity as invited guests watch the Durbar. One after the other, the traditional rfulers acknowledged greetings from his district heads.

However, the bad weather almost marred the event. Both leaders, the governor, Ganduje, and emir Sanusi implored muslims to learn from the lesson of Eid-el-Kabir which is love, brotherliness and  care for one another, irrespective of tribe and religion. They also preached against hate speeches. In the same vein, in Daura, the Durbar took place at the emir’s palace with the state governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari and top government officials as well as senior citizens of the state in attendance. The durbar attracted quite a number of participants who came from different  parts of the emirate council in their colourful regalia to show their respect to the monarch. In their respective addresses, both  the emir, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar and the governor, Aminu Masari, thanked God for sparing the life of President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The leaders also  implored the people to continue to pray for the health of the president, so that he would steer the ship of the country to  greater heights. From the palace, the Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that both leaders drove to the private residence of the president at Maiadua to pay Sallah homage to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic. In his address, President Buhari reiterated his earlier called that every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country without any hindrance from anyone.