By Lillian Okenwa
In a remote part of Niger State in Northern Nigeria lies this unique community where an ancient curse is believed to have made it impossible for men to be kings. History has it that all the men who attempted to rule in the past died mysteriously. Welcome to Kumbwada where only women reign as monarchs!
The Sarauniyar Kumbwada, Hajiya Hadija Ahmed, the only female traditional ruler in conservative Northern Nigeria in an interview with CNN revealed that “If a man insists, we will let him. And then after two or three days, he will die.” So far, no man has tried to usurp the throne.
Kumbwada is one of the many vassals of the legendary Queen Amina of Zazzau. Centuries after the demise of the warrior Queen, the area which is now a district still experiences her domineering influence as only women within her lineage rule.
Two of the Sarauniyar’s maternal uncles, Usman and Suleiman, who assumed rulership of the kingdom shortly after the area was liberated by Queen Amina and her army from an invasion, never survived two weeks on the throne.
When she’s sitting in her palace during a typical meeting, her village heads, all male, squat meters away on the carpet in front of her.
Then names of each of the community heads within the Kumbwada district in Muya local government area of the State will be called from what looked like a register to ascertain their presence, by the palace secretary, after which the agenda of the day will be read out. The Sarauniyar then takes over the proceedings.
And although her official duties include settling marriages, land disputes and generally maintaining order in the community, the Queen who has reigned for 12 years since inheriting the throne from her late mother also desires to introduce some changes.
“Women must be educated,” she said. “Education means women can be anything they want to be.”
In many remote parts of Nigeria, women have very minimal rights and little access to education and so for the women of Kumbwada and thousands of other subjects, the Queen offers hope.
Moreover, with many youths in the community moving to the city in search of work and money, there’s a fear of traditions being lost. Meanwhile, elders of the community blame foreign influences from the towns for what they see as a growing disrespect of culture and beliefs.
Mohammed Sani, who is known as “Custodian of the Shrine”, told CNN, “The West is making our tradition go back. We want our people to be enlightened, but Western values are having a bad effect.”
However, the Sarauniyar acknowledges that modernity does bring some benefits. “I have seen many changes,” she said. “Things have improved, and the new town has helped education and infrastructure.”
Kumbwada is said to be the administrative headquarters overseeing several Gbagyi speaking communities, which had come under attack by ‘foreign’ mercenaries then. Queen Amina and her conquering army were said to have been on an expedition through the territory and had to stop over to ward off the invaders.
The name Kumbwada itself emerged as a result of the happenings at that time. The natives and their warriors used to retreat into an ancient cave and mountains whenever an enemy approached before launching an attack. According to Prince Danjuma, there was a traditional rite that natives perform before a major war.
“They prepare Kunu called Kum bada in Gbagyi, laced with protective medicine. They will now call on everybody to come and drink the mixture, and that was how the community derived its name,” he explained.
There is also a myth surrounding a large stone in the area called Zagura, which always alerts the natives when enemies approach. “When an invading army approaches, the stone will make an explosive-like sound warning the natives to take cover in the cave and mountains,” he said.
When peace returned to the area, Queen Amina rode towards the present Suleja, leaving some of her entourage, which include Usman, Sulieman, Rahamatu, and others behind. The natives then persuaded one of them to take over the reign for fear of another invasion. Usman was asked to assume the throne but he died a week later. Suleiman, his twin brother was also approached to inherit the throne, but he was reportedly reluctant. He later gave in to pressure, particularly from Rahmatu, his elder sister but also died nine days after he was turbaned.
Only then did the natives consult the oracle which decreed that only females could rule the kingdom. Rahmatu was then persuaded to assume leadership and she reportedly ruled for over 60 years as a vassal of Queen Amina.
Among the innovations she brought to the kingdom was its fortification with earthen walls, a protective barrier to ward off any intrusion.
Parts of the walls still exist in the old Kumbwada along with the ancient cave and the protective stone. She was succeeded by Queen Hadija who ruled for 55 years; Queens Maimuna, 41 years; Fati (I) – 37 years; Fati (II) who held sway for 33 years died at the age of 113. In order not to leave a vacuum after her demise, her brother, Ahmed was asked to act until a substantive ruler emerged, but he decided to remain on the throne against the advice of the elders.
A serious epidemic of chicken pox was said to have hit the kingdom, with consequent deaths. Ahmed was also said to have lost his sight to the epidemic. Consultations were made and it was discovered that his refusal to abdicate the throne for the chosen one, was responsible for the disaster.
He was banished from the kingdom to Bushi. Luckily he recovered. The current Sarauniyar, Hadija Ahmed was then turbaned as the new Queen in 2000.
Additional reports from CNN and Daily Trust
