Citation: Sani, Aliyu SOBA (Ph.D), Bashir, Aliyu TSAFE, Dahiru, Hussaini SANKALAWA & Aminu, Muhammed MAIDALA’ILU (2023). Analysis of the Traditional Wall of Zazzau as a Defense Strategy of Zaria City and Its Environs. Yobe Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (YOJOLLAC), Vol. 11, Number 1. Department of African Languages and Linguistics, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria. ISSN 2449-0660
ANALYSIS OF THE TRADITIONAL WALL OF ZAZZAU AS A DEFENSE STRATEGY
OF ZARIA CITY AND ITS ENVIRONS
By
Sani, Aliyu SOBA (Ph.D)
Bashir, Aliyu TSAFE
Dahiru, Hussaini SANKALAWA
Aminu, Muhammed MAIDALA’ILU
Abstract
This paper attempts to make some analysis on the contribution of
Ganuwa as a defense mechanism in Hausa Land of the Northern part of Nigeria
specifically in the City of Zaria Kaduna state. Ganuwa is a Hausa word which
means defense wall, it is a means of defense strategy by people in the olden
days, it serves as an avenue for making inquiry about intruders and a source of
security information for the people of that particular community. Ganuwa is
erected in such a way that no human being can claim it to avoid access to the
community information and attacks. When Ganuwa is constructed by people in the
community assign some to be the security personnel to guard the Ganuwa. This
means of security has been in practice by Hausa people for many years and yet
results. The work has a looked at Ganuwa as a means of defense mechanism in
Hausa land with a look at Zaria city, Kaduna state Nigeria.
Keywords: Ganuwa,
Security, Zazzau, Kaduna, Defense
Introduction
This paper attempts
to bring to fore how the ancient people traditionally
derviced ways of secuirty of their lives and property against any threat of
enemies and intruders through construction of a very strong city wall known as ‘Ganuwa’. The paper also discusses the origin of Zazzau
kingdom and highlight the perception of other communities in Hausa land on the significance of city wall fence as security strategy. The
paper explains the security relevance of “Ganuwa” in providing safety to
the communities who erected them particularly in Zazzau kingdom. Bargery
(1993), describes Ganuwa as a city
Bick wall or fence erected round a particular village, city or community. Specifically, the Ganuwa in
Zaria which is also trade marked as Ganuwar Amina becomes a
source of reference. In his view, Newman (1997), simply sees Ganuwa as
a wall erected round a given village or town. However, this
definition falls short in explaining Alhaji Rilwan Yahaya
Fate and Makaman Zazzau Babba Alhaji Kasim Abdullahi, they are of the view that the aforementioned etymology of word ‘Ganuwa’ that
is the word “Ganuwa’ was used by travellers
transform to “Ganuwa”.
Another view which differs from the above, argues
that the word ‘Ganuwa’ is derived from the static
case or steps used as a ladder in climbing the local Brick wall
especially by the local city guards to examine any enemy coming from
a distance towards the town or any suspicious movement against the
town. As soon as they sighted any of these they used to say An gano su meaning
they have been discovered. Later the local Brick wall was
named Ganuwa having removed the lexical an, suffuxing uwar to Gan and the word becomes Ganuwar. Ganuwar or
local Brick wall is not a new thing in Hausa land. The
art of local artery and building has been established tradition in Hausa and
from time immemorial. Hausa people used to erect brick wall round the
residence of their king or leaders while other houses are
sorrounded with corn-stalk fence it was this practice that was
improved by erecting a Brick wall round the city or town.
Further to this is that the
Hausa people used to call the city Brick wall as Kur rami roughly
translated as hyena in the ditch. This makes reference to a local trap made to
catch hyenas which used to be in rampage at night
some diametres are dug so round-fenced with
a very deep ditch while a goat is tied close to the ditch as a prey to
the hyena. The trapped hyena usually jumped to the ditch in attemp to attack
the tied goat and eventually fell into the ditch and later killed by its hunters
it was this art that was improved into building a
very big brick world instead of digging a ditch.
Ganuwa as Defense Mechanism
The essence of building the
brick wall is to shield residences and households. Hence the Hausa
adage Daji Baka da Gambu meaning forest has no defied
entrance door. Thus, many scholars attempt to define environment. B.B.C
English Dictionary (1992) defines environment as
anything which sorrounds you and affects your life for example your residence
and the communities around you. This therefore, show that the brick wall
serves as a shield for both the human’s
animals and their immediate surroundings. Bargery
(1993) sees environment as just a residence occupied by individuals or groups. This
definition however limits the meaning of environment. Newman (1997) like
Bargery equally gives a very narrow definition of the environment
as simply a place of residence. Hence, falls short in describring what an
environment as just a place of residence.
Bargery (1993) explains
security as security something or giving protection to something. This
definition has greatly limited the scope of security to protecting something
only thereby leaving and more circumstances that require security. CNHN (2006), views the concept of security as providing safety
and protection of the entrance gate. This definition equally
falls short in that it has left out the most important
aspect of security and that is the life and property of
individuals rather than entrance gate alone.
Oxford Advanced Learners
Dictionary (2008), describes security as the entire process of
providing safety and freedom to a given country against attack or any form of
threat from internal or external force. In the above definitions certain
elements of security are quite obvious and this includes
national secuity and security to the individual’s communities and
environment. This shows the significance of traditional brick wall as a
potential means of securing the lives of people and their
environment.
Other scholars who share their thought on the concept of securing
are presented below:
Kelvin (1960) view it as the
initial effort of the people in the past by erecting traditional brick wall as
a protection against wild animals and other threats that has
equally given them the opportunity to leave in their
environment for other places in the search for food and other means of
livelihood as well as the freedom to explore other environment and locations. Thus,
this strategy is an old one and that may suggest why the Zazzau people erected
their own brick wall like other parts of Hausa land.
Manch (1978) argues that the frequent migration from one place to
another experience throughout the Hausa land was mainly for their safety and
food security. He emphasized the importance of security in the life of the
people. Muhammad (1983) revealed that the community usually acquires
weapons and device strategies for self-defense due to the poor standard of
security faced especially in Hausa land. This research discovers that security
of people and their environment goes beyond the acquisition of weapons
alone, it goes further to different strategies such as constructing a
traditional brick wall as a defensive measure against intrudes.
Sa’ad (1987), opined that most Hausa communities usually erect the
building around areas with large numbers of trees for security reasons because
such areas are believed to be highly possessed by spirits and most Hausa people
hold that such spirits give them special protection and safety against any
enemy be it human or animals. This is another indication that the ancient
people made a frantic effort to provide security to themselves and their
environments. In this effort the Zazzau people are certainly not left behind.
Muri (2003), observes that part of the security strategies of the
Hausa was to the movement of any suspension character or new face in their
vicinity. Given the above association, it is the view of this paper that
security is an entire process and strategy measures to guarantee the safety of
their lives, their property and above the entire environment against any threat
of enemies or external forces either human or animals. In any society, people
serve the greatest frontiers in providing security to the environment. Security
can hardly be enhanced in the absence of stringent measures and strategies out
of which is the construction of the Ganuwa traditional brick
wall.
Ganuwa in Some Parts of
Hausa Land
Any historical town has in
the past faced the threat of insecurity. The brick
wall is one of the issue of insecurity. Places like Daura, Kano, Katsina and
others have used brick walls for a very long time as stated by Achi
(1985, p. 44),
The Ganuwa in
Daura has been erected since the emergence of the Hausa people. It
was said that the Brick wall was founded during
the reign of Sarkin Daura “Yantsawani who rules around 19th century. This,
is what makes it the oldest traditional Birck wall in the
history of Hausa land.
Origin Zazzau Traditional Brick Wall
Suleiman (2007) explains what a researcher said when he visited Zariya in the year 1880.
The town is surrounded by a brick wall made up of clay Known
as ‘Ganuwa’ such walls need frequent repair work to counteract
the erosive effect of the typical sunshine and torrential rains, a number
of gates (Kofa) gave entrance through the town walls and
this could be closed with wooden doors and latches in each gatehouse,
sat a few of the king’s guards who livied a market of few
carries for the wares brought by farmers of the districts. However we were not
mandated to pay such a levy. I didn’t have any idea has much was being paid
when leaving the town.
The Zazzau brick wall was constructed around the 15 century with
about 8 entrances to the town. The entrance includes: Kofar Doka, Kofar
KibaTukur-Tukur, Kofar Jatau, Kofar Kuyambana, Kofar
Gayan, Kofar Galadima and Kofar Bai. The 8th entrance
was Kofar matasKwasa which was recently closed. The reason was
due to the fact that it was founded after Sarkin Zazzau Mako broke the wall to
enable him pick up his legendary sword known as Zazzau in the
face of his defeat by jihadist he went ahead to found Suleja town. Later the
gate became a shrine for the worship of ancestral a reason which led to its
total closure by the subsequent ruler who was a Muslim.
Security Provision of Zazzau Brickwall through Gates
Zazzau has a special arrangement of people motioning the town or going
out of it. All these are monitored by custodians of the gates known as Wakilan
Kofofi. According to the findings, each gate
was constructed for a species purpose and there are categories or social
classes of people who pass through each gate especially during the reign of
non-Fulani rulers known as Habe.
i. Kofar Doka: There are conflicting views
on the emergence of Kofar Doka. The first view was that a
particular tree found by the side of the gate called the Doka tree from which
the gate derives its name. The second view hard that there were Doka trees
which grew up that the Emirs place from which the gate got its name.
This gate serves as an important gate through which all visitors enter. It
is situated opposite to Kofar Gayan which is a
whole Sarkin Kofa a traditional ruler who appoints other
representatives to oversee other gates across Zariya town.
ii. Kofar Gayan: Kofar Gayan originated
from a river located in the southern part of the gate. The river is a very
important one as it is almost the only source of water for drinking and other
domestic purposes. This gate is situated by the northern side of Kofar
Doka visitors pass through it as an exit to the main Zariya town.
iii. Kofar Kunyambana: This gate got its name from
Kuyambana town located about 80 kilometers in the Northern part of Zariya. This
follows the conquest of Kuyambana town by Amina Sarauniya Zazzau who appointed
her representative. This gate served as a
link between Kuyambana town and Zariya, It was through this road that Kwararafa
fighters followed to attack Zariya, in the year 1532.
iv. Kofar Tukur-Tukur (Kibo): This gate got its name from Tukur-Tukur rock but in the 19th century
the name of the gate changed to Kibo Gate from the word
“Kiban”. This indicated the war between Haruna of Ningi and Sarkin Zazzau Sambo
(1987-1888 A.D) Suleman (2007, p. 70). The
dominant weapon used were ‘Kiban’ that is the arrow from which the gate got its
name. The name of the gate representative is Wakilin Kofar Kibo Maidala.
v. Kofar Jatau:- This gate derives its name
from Sarkin Zazzau Jatau (1782-1802). The second view has it that this gate was
frequently followed by Sarkin Zazzau Jatau whenever going far hunting or coming
back from hunting.
vi. Kofar Kona: This gate according
to history got its name from Kona scholars who left their initial settlement in
Kona and relocated to Zariya. The word Kona was derived from the
expression ko nan za mu zauna i.e we can settle even here made
by one scholar to his disciples. The representative of this gate is
called Wakilin Kofar Kona Kako.
vii. Kofar Galadima: This gate has its
name from a traditional ruler Galadima who resided very close to the gate. He
was the Galadiman Zazzau Daudu. In another view the gate was named after
Galadiman Zazzau Dokaje. The gate got its name from Galadima. Galadima used the
gate in and out of the area. The representative of this gate is called Wakilin
Doka.
viii. Kofar Bai: This gate is located at the back of Zazzau Palace
. It derives its name from an area at the back of the Emirate known as Kwarbai which
originated from some warriors called kwarbai’. This gate was not
opened until the reign of the Habe rulers. However any
time if there was visitor, the door was open for a guest ruler visiting Zariya.
Therefore, the door was usually opened for such important personality. The custodian
of the gate is Wakilin Kofar Bai Zanko.
Zariya Brick
Wall Today
Unlike in the past, Zazzau
Brick Wall today is deteriorating by the day. Instead of progress we only witness consistent dilapidation of the
brick wall. The Brick Wall has obviously become a hideout or a base for
criminals like political thugs and
drug abusres. Most parts of the brick wall have been illegally sold to strangers or new settlers of Zazzau who erected buildings and houses. What is left is only a trace
of the wall. Therefore the ancient Zazzau brick wall is more of history that a
visible reading at the memory.
How to Improve the Ganuwar Zariya
The only way to enhance the security of Zaria town is to bring
back the Ganuwa as it was before and indeed all other brick
walls across our lands. It is equally very important to erect or maintain city
gates as they used to be. The government in particular should provide fund for
the rehabilitation of Ganuwar Zazzau and others in Hausa
land.
Secondly, there is a need to bring back the tradition of gate
custodians who would take care of the gates as it was in the olden days, this
will help in monitoring the people’s movement in and out the city. Equally the
traditional rulers should provide the means for the maintenance of the
gates and the brick wall. Also, stringent measures should be taken against
those who destroy the brick wall and use it for constructing their own houses.
Ganuwa in Enhancing Security
of the Zaria Town
One of the fundamental purposes of constructing a brick wall in
the Zariya is to provide security. In ancient time Zazzau came under a series
of attacks from its enemies. Ganuwar Zaria
has provided security to the people against invaders at all times. There was
equally a very deep ditch around the wall which make it difficult to cross and
penetrate the city. The presence of the brick wall and its custodians has
greatly helped in motoring all those who go in and out of Zaria and in
generating internal revenue and protecting the town from wild animals that can kill humans or destroy farm lands. Invaders from
Ningi Kataf Kaje and Nimzaru were mainly denied access to Zariya due to the
protection provided by the Brick wall.
Conclusion
The presence of the brick wall popularly called Ganuwa and
its custodians has greatly helped in monitoring all those who go in
and out of Zaria and serve as a source of security measures to protect lives and property of Zariya people against invaders and wildlife
animals. Zazzau Kingdom has used Brick Wall to provide security to its people and other parts of Hausa land like Daura and Keffi Kano Katsina,
and Gobir have equally used the same method to secure their town that maintain
a Brick wall and city gates. If this culture will be reviewed, definitely the
security of life and properly of the people would have been guaranteed.
Recommendations
1. CCTV should be mounted to these Ganuwa to enhance security
surveillance
2. More Ganuwa should
be erected to curb with the current security challenges
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