ATTAHIRU AHMED GUSAU captured the return of peace to Zamfara State symbolised by the staging of Sharo cultural festival in Gusau, the state capital, after almost one decade of absence due to security concerns caused by banditry.
FOR almost a decade, Zamfara State has been reeling under the burden of banditry, a problem that has caused dislocation of families and communities. This is apart from economic and food security problems. Farming which is the main occupation of the people suffered heavily as farmers fled their farms with many losing their livestock.
A state of general insecurity also pervaded the state as residents feared for their lives. In many instances, cultural and social events were often interrupted by bandits who attacked people, killing and injuring anyone they could lay their hands on. Residents were afraid and even found it difficult to move freely from one village to the other without being attacked.
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Though it started as a local problem, banditry soon caught national attention going by the number of lives and properties that had been lost. According to reports, about 2000 houses and 3000 lives had been lost to the crisis.
Reports also had it that the crisis created more than 8,000 widows and 16,000 orphans. The state government has also reportedly spent more than N17 billion to tackle the problem. Apart from these, the government also took steps in its efforts to curtail the problem by sacking traditional heads found to be allegedly supporting banditry while dangling the carrot before bandits who were ready to repent and embrace peace.
Those who did were welcome by the government and rehabilitated. These steps eventually paid off as cases of banditry began to reduce. Subsequently, there seemed to be a silver lining in the sky as the state began to breathe a fresh air of peace and residents were now able to engage more actively in their day-to-day activities.
Sharo festival
To demonstrate this newly-found freedom, Zamfara State government recently used the opportunity created by the Eid-el-Kabir holidays to stage Sharo, the popular Fulani cultural festival.
Traditionally, Sharo festival is held twice a year – during Eid-el-Kabir and at another time mostly during harvest time. It is held over several days, sometimes a whole week in an open square. It is often characterised by dancing and singing, while the major attraction is the part where bare-chested, young men come to the centre ring surrounded by beautiful girls.
Amid drumbeats and cheers by spectators, the young men undergo several floggings which they are expected to endure. Those who cannot endure the floggings bring disgrace to their families.
The severe floggings often leave scars on the young brave men who see these as marks of courage and a successful transition to manhood. After being flogged, those who successfully endured often go home with new brides of their choice.
For more than 20 years, Sharo was not held in Gusau, the state capital, while in the hinterland communities, it has not been held for more than eight years.
Things were different, however, this year as Governor Bello Matawalle invited the Fulani from all the communities around the state to come out and celebrate the festival to signal the end of banditry and to assure the people that they could now go about their duties without fear.
Over 20,000 Fulanis and well-wishers attended the festival where their popular cultural activities were gleefully on display.
The ceremony, held at Gusau Trade Fair Complex had the who-is-who in the state in attendance including Governor Matawalle, top government functionaries and leaders of Fulani communities.
Governor Matawalle, who started the ceremony by doing a symbolic flogging on a young man, commended the reformed bandits and the Fulani leaders for agreeing to a ceasefire and accepting the peace initiatives brought up by his administration. He expressed delight that this year’s Eid-el-Kabir was one with a difference. And indeed it was a difference as the Fulani, Hausa and other ethnic groups all trooped out just like the vigilance group members known as Yansa kai.
The governor, who was ecstatic over the event, said the Sharo cultural event was to show the world that peaceful coexistence had returned to Zamfara State, a situation he said would be sustained for the sake of unity.
“You can see now that everybody is moving freely without fear of attack or molestation. I want to use this opportunity to thank my Fulani brothers for accepting the peace accord. This year’s Eid-el-Kabir is the only one we witnessed where no life was lost as a result of banditry,” the governor said, adding that his administration would soon come out with welfare packages for the Fulani to enable them lead decent lives.
Assurance on peace
The Chairman, Zamfara State Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Ahmed Husaini, commended the governor for allowing the Fulani to perform their cultural activities which were halted several years back, assuring him that the Fulani had wholeheartedly agreed to abide by the peace initiatives.
Alhaji Ahmed stated that the Fulani were ready to ensure lasting peace in the state while calling on every citizen of the state to support the governor in his efforts of moving the state forward.
Particularly excited over the new atmosphere of peace in the state were the Fulani who expressed happiness that things have returned to normal in most part of the state. Ibrahim Abdulahi Magami, Abubakar Maru Bingi and Kabiru Barade Barkeji, all Fulani, commended the organisers for the revival of Sharo cultural display, describing it as a good idea particularly now that bandits had ceased fire and embraced peace.
Also, Hajara Tsafe and Hafsat Anache told Arewa Live that over the years, their tradition had been abandoned but now with the new atmosphere of peace created by Governor Matawalle, the almost forgotten cultural festival has returned.
According to the two Fulani women, the event reminded them of so many things particularly in their younger days, meeting people, exchanging ideas, the music and dance, distributing free fura da nono and many other activities that showcase the rich Fulani culture.
Those who added glamour to the event included emirs, traditional rulers, the state deputy governor, Mr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed; immediate past deputy governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala; former deputy governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ahmed Anka; former Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bature Umar Sambo; Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru and the state Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mallaha Gusau, among others.
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