BAUCHI MARKS ELEGANT DURBAR FESTIVAL.
Cultural heritage is the legacy of cultural resources and intangible attributes of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. It is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, traditions, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions, and values.
Durbar Festival is one of the prominent cultural heritage in Northern Nigeria. It is an annual Muslims religious cum traditional celebration that marks the end of Holy month of Ramadan and the commencement of Shauwal. It is annually organised and celebrated in some prominent Hausa cities of Northern Nigeria and has been said to have been practiced for decades.
Durbar is called”Hawan Daushe” in Hausa language which today has became one of the major tourist attraction. People who travel for pleasure enjoyed to observe the great procession. I was not left out for I have witnessed the event to scratch my itchy eyes with vast of colours.
The 2021 Durbar procession in Bauchi took place on Saturday 15th of May two days after the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. It was a day full of pomp, colourful display and procession as the people came out en masse to celebrate their rich cultural heritage.
As usual, the event commenced from Bauchi government house where the Emir and his council members, district heads and their entourage and other traditional title holders paid homage of allegiance to the state Governor. While the Governor gave his address and remark, the pageant and magnificent event commenced with horse parade where hundreds of splendidly adorned riders matched from the government house down to Wunti roundabout, Central Market roundabout and finally ended at Emir’s palace.
The Emir and his entourage who dressed in magnificent robes and regalia matched and paraded elegantly to the palace while thousands of crowds and spectators chanted prayers, praises and good wishes to the Emir.
As the Emir and his entourage storm the palace, the palace regiment turned the sky smoky with their gun fires. While shortly, the Emir started to receive loyalty homage from his chiefs and other traditional title holders. The title holders in order of their position led their regiments for a military parade to demonstrate allegiance to the Emir by showcasing their horsemanship and loyalty.
Written and submitted by:
Fa’iz Idris Ibrahim.
