Mixed reactions trail cancellation of Kano Sallah durbar

When the news that the annual Sallah celebrations in Kano will not take place during this Eid el- Fitr, residents received the information with mixed feelings, as some say it is a welcome decision considering the state of things across the state in particular and the nation in general while others say not all Sallah activities should be the cancelled.

The cancellation was coming at a time when people were busy making preparations for this year’s Sallah celebration; and many in Kano and beyond were surprised to hear the cancellation as announced by Kano Emirate Senior Councilor and Wamban Kano Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, who cited emir’s failing health as the major reason for cancellation of the event. The emirate’s senior councilor in the emirate had on Wednesday briefed newsmen in Kano shortly after a meeting with the emir alongside all his district heads and other Kano traditional title holders.

“The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has directed me to inform all district heads and all other traditional rulers that traditional Sallah activities have been cancelled and everybody should stay indoors to celebrate the Sallah”, he said. He said already, the council had taken steps to ensure that the Sallah was celebrated without any problem and that the emir of Kano will only attend the Eid prayer on Sallah day. The emir had recently undergone a medical treatment in the United Kingdom after which he returned about five weeks ago.

No sooner the news on the cancellation of the durbar filtered in than people in Kano and elsewhere began to express their feelings over the development. Reacting to the development, Alhaji Amadu Bukar of ‘Yan Kaba quarters said even though the emirate council cite health condition of Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero, who is the custodian of the tradition of people of the state, the cancellation is also appropriate given the current security challenges facing the state.

“In fact, many believe that the cancellation is also connected with the present security challenges facing the state; and whatever the reason given by the emirate I believe it is in the interest of good people of the state; so we pray and wish for a hitch free Sallah celebration”, he said.

Also speaking, Abdu Bala, a business man in Hotoron Arewa area of Kano metropolis said to him without durbar this year’s Sallah celebration will be as dull as anything. “Without the Sallah durbar it will just be like continuing with the fasting, because to me the durbar marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. A lot of people will be sad that the Sallah celebration has been canceled; at least not all activities should be canceled. 

But since they have canceled everything, we pray for the health of His Royal Highness and we pray for peace in Nigeria, but honestly we are going to have a dull Sallah celebration” Bala concluded.

And to Malama Ummassalama Abdu Gyadi-Gyadi, the cancellation is inevitable considering the failing health of the emir. “The celebration has to be cancelled even though we wouldn’t want to have a dull moment during the Sallah period”, she said. “We all have to be considerate and wish the emir a quick recovery and also jointly pray for him, Kano State and Nigeria in general,” she added.

Aminu Musbahu Batsari, in his reaction to the cancellation, said “We will miss all the fun attached to Sallah celebrations. Even though I am not from Kano, it will interest you that I am from Batsari in Katsina State, but for 13 years I have never missed Hawan Nassarawa; in fact I met my wife during one of the Hawan Nassarawas. But do we have a choice? We are living in this country and we all know the risk involved, it has been canceled so be it”.

The Kano durbar has always stood out among other ceremonies in the state, and indeed in Nigeria when many other cultural activities have now been in limbo over time. Kano Sallah durbar has undergone a lot of modification to remain in tune with current reality, and that has increased its acceptability and the also strengthened the bond between the people and their cultural heritage. Durbar is a horse procession through which the people pay homage to the emir whom they rarely see except in festive occasions like Sallah

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So with time people became so attached to the annual event to the extent of believing that he who had missed the traditional festivity has a genuine cause to be commiserated with. Sallar durbar is a royal parade of thousands of men on horses adorned with traditional garments and regalia. It is a colorful display of culture full of pomp and circumstance.

Also, the event is a spectacular traditional concert of arts and bazaar of African music and culture that attracts people from all over the world.  There are two most important Muslim festivals and they are the Eid el-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The Eid el-Fitr is celebrated on the first of the month of Shawwal after 29 or 30 days of Ramadan fast while the Eid al-Adha is marked on 10th day of the month Zul hajj.

In Kano, both festivals always begin with a two rakaat prayer at Kofar Mata Eid praying ground; and the emir usually dresses in white and leaves his palace before 8am on foot for the mosque; and treks to the mosque without any praise singing and he arrives at the praying ground in about thirty minutes while the governor or his representative arrives at the praying ground before the emir and the prayer led by Chief Imam of Kano commences immediately.

After the exchange of pleasantries, the emir moves to Kofar Kwaru, which is just behind his palace and it is there where he delivers his Sallah message to his subjects; and significantly, the message is usually a piece of advice to authorities, especially on issues that affect the common people of the state.

So goes the Sallah celebration with different durbars for five days with an interval of one day. And of the four durbars done by the emir the Hawan Nassarawa stands out as the most exciting after the Hawan Daushe durbar. The emir, during the Hawan Nassarawa, goes round places receiving homage from his subjects.