Durbar! – Nigerian Style
Roaring muskets flash salutes as thousands of warrior horsemen race onto a dusty parade ground in front of the Emir’s palace marking the start the annual Durbar festivals in Northwestern Nigeria. Horseman clad in colorful robes, indigo turbans, ostrich feathers and glistening swords honor their Emir who enters the parade shielded from the sun by a massive twirling parasol.

It is the season for the Durbar!

In the northern reaches of Nigeria lies two cities, Kano and Katsina, both famous for Durbar festivals. Kano is the oldest city in West Africa settled over 1000 years ago by the Hausa people. Today, it is the second largest city in Nigeria. The old city of Kano is surrounded by a massive 11th century mud-brick wall that extends 17.7 kilometers. The wall still stands and must be navigated by a series of sixteen gates. Not to be outdone, Katsina is surrounded by 21 kilometers of a mud-brick wall and is Nigeria’s northernmost city. Both cities are predominantly Muslim, comprised mainly from Fulani and Hausa ethnic groups.


One of the sixteen, mud-brick gates that surrounds the old town of Kano

Often we think that goods and ideas travelled one-way into Africa and overlook the fact that the ancient trade routes were a two-way street. Camel caravans carried luxurious and rare commodities in both directions along the trans-Saharan trade route creating a thirst for highly prizes items and curiosity for new beliefs. Out of Africa, went indigo, gold, ivory, kola nuts, cowry shells, salt, and ostrich feathers. From Timbuktu, Katsina and Kano were the crossroads of trade with flourishing markets. Arab traders brought Islam. The Hausa and Fulani groups converted to Islam in the eleventh century and remained under Hausa leadership until 1804 when the area was engulfed in bloody wars and fell to the conquering Fulani armies under the Islamic reformist, Usman Dan Fodio.

The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, enters the parade ground under a huge parasol, surrounded by a splendid entourage of indigo turbaned horsemen, guards bedecked with ostrich feathers, camels and servants in brightly-colored robes.


Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero

Over millennia, a tribe or a nation, proudly displayed military might by organized parades. In Mamluk Egypt, ceremonial processions and parades showcased the military’s training and displayed their horsemanship and preparedness for war. “Mamluks reminded the whole population of Mamluk utility and ferocity by continually training in military skills, publicly practicing horsemanship (polo), and parading in disciplined regiments behind the sultan, who was shielded by a gold-embroidered yellow umbrella…” (Urbain Vermeulen, D. De Smet, J. van Steenbergen. Egypt and Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Eras.). Cultural, religious and military traditions moved into Northern Nigeria along the trans-Saharan trade route.

(Click here for history of the Royal Umbrella.)

In the long history of a military parade, the origin of the word, durbar, comes from Urdu, darbār, (dar meaning door and bār meaning entry or audience.) In Nigeria, the Durbar dates back 200 years when horses were used in warfare to protect the Emirate. Each noble household was expected to defend the Emirate by forming a regiment. Once a year, the regiments would gather for a military parade to demonstrate allegiance to the Fulani ruler, by showcasing their horsemanship, readiness for war, and loyalty.


The Durbar celebrates special occasions such as the Muslim festivals or Sallah (from the Arabic word, Salat, meaning prayer) to honor visiting Heads of State, government officials, and installation of new emirs.

I am in Northern Nigeria, with the Nigerian Field Society and organizer Paulette Van Trier, to witness the Katsina and Kano Durbar Festivals. Tied to the lunar calendar, the Durbar is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, Eid el-Fitr, and at the start of the pilgrimage to Mecca, Eid el-Kabir. My journey begins as the Hausa guide explains his name, Danjuma, born on a Friday; his English name, Friday; his Muslim name, Essa. I marvel at three distinct identities that reflect the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria.

We travel by bus to Katsina, 200 kilometers northwest of Kano. The bus enters the Palace gates and we climb stairs to the covered reviewing stands that overlooks a sandy parade field. People and food vendors begin to gather. The Nigerian National Anthem plays loudly and the crowds grows silent and still. On the last note, everyone jostles for first row position. The procession starts with groups of horses lead by noble households and district heads. Horse and riders circle the grounds counter clockwise, passing to pay respect to the dignitaries.


“Ranka ya Dede”, the horsemen shout. The right arm bent at the elbow and raised with fist and thumb directed toward the sky, “May you live long”! Their greeting is in Hausa to honor both elders and royals. The Durbar is a ‘men-only’ event. Turbans with one ‘ear’ or two denote royal lineage.

The procession is strictly men only dressed in magnificent turbans many with one ‘ear’ or two sticking out denoting their royal linage. Young and old participate to insure that tradition is observed through generations. All approach the viewing stands raising their fist and shout “Ranka ya Dede”, proudly proceeding to line the sides of the parade ground. Rhythms of the talking and traditional drums fill the air with the shrill of trumpeters and fluters. Acrobats flip and catch one another, musicians, warriors riding brightly armored horses make their way to assemble along the parade grounds. When hundreds of horsemen are on the parade grounds, the Emir’s procession begins down the center, including his guards, his sons, riderless horses for his wives, and camels. Finally, the Emir himself rides among his guards and servants amidst the shooting of flintlock muskets. The Emir is immediately recognized, veiled and clad in white with a huge fanning parasol lifts up and down over him. After he pays respect to the governor, the horse regiments race up to the Emir at a gallop to demonstrate their courage, agility, and respect. The Emir gives an Eid el-Kabir address to the crowd’s approval.

The hawan sallah was started by sarkin kano muhammadu rumfa in the 14th century

Even before that hausa have developed an equestrian based culture which is still a status of nobility and high status in hausa society

Great topic but maybe it needs a few pictures to bring it to life.

Pictures of hawan sallah

Horse is very dear to hausa people.. it is a status of nobility and high class in hausa society

The first ones are known as yan lifidda.. they are emirs guards

Even our great queen amina use horse to conquer

Wow....

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