Durbar Festival contributes significantly in representing my beautiful culture and heritage where we have strong cultural assets such music, film, folklore, theatre, festivals on display.
This festival is most commonly practiced in Northern Nigeria. According to Pulse NG, “ it dates back two hundred years ago when horses were used in warfare to protect the Emirates.” It is an annual festival celebrated in many cities across northern Nigeria which includes Zaria, Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Sokoto amongst others.
With reference to my hometown Zaria, Durbar Festival which is called “Hawan Daushe or Hawan Daba” in Hausa, marks the end Muslims holy fasting of ‘Ramadan’ which is called Eid-Fitr and also ‘Eid-el-Kabir’ which marks the end of the holy pilgrimage, both of them are about 70/71 days apart.
It begins immediately after the Eid prayers followed by a traditional gunshot where celebrants with large turbans and body covered in several layers of clothing, metallic sword, skin purses, followed lastly with the Al-Kebba (Royal Robe) displaying different handwoven colors with their horses decorated in heavy thick caparison and beautiful head stalls parade from various places converging to the Emir’s Palace. The whole of this entourage ride on their horses round the city with spectators cheering and saluting, musical instruments such as flute know as “algaita” in Hausa language playing, fire performance, and wild animals displaying.
Then announcement of the arrival the King made by ancient musket fire from the King’s guards. It is considered a way of displaying cultural heritage which attracts tourists both locally and internationally.
The parade is lead by the Emir’s family, horses, bodyguards, servants and the Emir himself.
The word Durbar is of Persian origin and is also linked to ceremonial assemblies marking the proclamation of Queen Victoria as the Empress of Colonial India
No I don’t. It was from an internet source, but the artwork was from the owner’s Instagram page of which I had permission from, however, I edited and took it down because he is not on connect and neither does he have a website that I could tag with the credit. Nonetheless, I have still replaced them with my photos.
@ErmesT Thank you so much for the helpful tips, ultimately now that I understand how copyright is very important to connect just as it is part of its core values. I have read and as much try to adhere to its guidelines from now henceforth, originality shouldn’t just stop in our school essays, research, and projects even in connect and everywhere else necessary.
We better our learning scope everyday. Thanks you people like you @ErmesT
Erm… all of these photos are on Instagram anyway. My account, my families, friends and so on. The one I am unsure of is the one of the carriage which was from a crowd source account that we all tag our photos to and they repost them collectively to promote the heritage, however, I have taken it out too. Thank you
@Nuhuu what an awesome insight. My family members are always traveling from the Gambia to Kano to visit the Emir. I was planning to visit Nigeria this summer but the coronavirus changed everything. Hopefully we will meet when I plan to visit again.
How lovely! It is really interesting to know. I have heard that there are Hausa/Fulani people in The Gambia I hope that is true. People really do come from places for the Durbar Festival but unfortunately the last Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has been dethroned about two months now.
It would really be great to have you, please do reach out. Cheers!
That was very disappointing to learn from my sister on Twitter, I have always admired Emir Sanusi’s modesty,eloquence and yes his library! . Yes, we have quite a few Hausa Fulani’s in the Gambia and Fulani is the 3rd largest tribe and 4th most spoken language in Gambia. Matter of fact my mom is Fulani from Guinea Conakry.
Awesome, I look forward to it. Please drop your Instagram or another social let’s stay connected.
. Yes, we have quite a few Hausa Fulani’s in the Gambia and Fulani is the 3rd largest tribe and 4th most spoken language in Gambia. Matter of fact my mom is Fulani from Guinea Conakry.