Kurawa: Aminu Bayero Didn’t Cancel Durbar, He Ended His Drama

Malam Ibrahim Ado Kurawa, former Special Adviser and Director of Research and Documentation under the administration of former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, has dismissed the cancellation of a parallel Durbar planned by the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, for the upcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebrations as a charade.  

A researcher and author, Malam Ibrahim Ado Kurawa, told newsmen on Thursday that Bayero could not have staged the Sallah Durbar in the first place, having lost access to the instruments and protocols of the traditional heritage.

Kurawa, a Kano Emirate historian, said it is impossible for the 15th Emir to rewrite over 500 years of Durbar history, insisting that the announcement of a parallel Durbar was politically motivated to destabilize the relative peace in the state.

Kurawa, the author of the only book on Kano Durbar—whose citation was used by UNESCO to recognize the festival as a world intangible cultural heritage—added that Aminu Bayero lacks the key emirate councillors and custodians of the tradition, such as Shamaki, Dan Rimi, Madakin Shamaki, Madakin Dan Rimi, and Sallama, who are essential for the event. He also noted that the Makaman Kano leads the procession and that none of these principal officers is with Aminu Ado Bayero.

According to Kurawa, “Durbar is a ceremony or procession that has been going on for over 500 years. It has its processes and protocols. You cannot have Durbar if you are not in Gidan Rumfa because Rumfa was the first Sarkin Kano who initiated it, and he designated specific events, codes, and protocols for each Durbar.

“For example, if you are going for Sallah, you have to come out wearing white clothes from a particular gate called Fatalwa Gate at the Gidan Rumfa Palace and then proceed to the Eid Ground on foot. After the Eid prayer, you must return through a different route, where you will address the people before proceeding back to the palace and entering through another gate.

“Now, if the Emir is going for another ceremony, like visiting his mother, he follows protocols established over 500 years ago. For Hawan Daushe to visit Mai Babban Daki (the Emir’s Mother), the route was established centuries ago. The Emir comes out from Kofar Kwaru and returns through Kofar Kudu. So, if you are not there, where are you going?”

Kurawa explained that since Aminu Bayero is not operating from Gidan Rumfa, he lacks the authority to lead the Sallah Durbar.

“So, he was only joking because he lacks the authority and legitimacy. He was only going to bring confusion with his dramatization. Therefore, he was not canceling the Durbar but only canceling his dramatization. He would have only ridden horses, and that’s all, but it would not have qualified as the *Hawan Sarki* Durbar, which is deeply rooted in culture and tradition.

“He was the one breaching the peace in the first place. If he has resolved not to do so anymore, we commend him for that. Aminu Bayero has done everything he has done so far because the federal government has been backing him. If the federal government had allowed the state government to discharge its statutory responsibility, things would not have turned out this way.”

Kurawa recalled that when Governor Ganduje deposed Emir Sanusi, the former CBN Governor did not resist or challenge his removal in court because he considered it worthless.

He insisted that Aminu Bayero is resisting his removal only because of the security cover provided by the federal government.

Kurawa urged the people to go about their normal lives as the official Durbar takes place and advised the state government to engage stakeholders in maintaining peace and order.

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