•All The Shocking Things Found There
Daura, the hometown of President Mohammadu Buhari, is a town and Local Government headquarters in Katsina State in Northern Nigeria. It is the spiritual home of the Hausa people. The emirate is referred to as one of the “seven true Hausa states” (Hausa Bakwai) because it was, (along with Biram, Kano, Katsina, Zazzau, Gobir, and Rano), ruled by the descendants of Bayajidda’s sons with Daurama and Magira (his first wife). The University of California’s African American Studies Department refers to Daura, as well as Katsina, as “ancient seats of Islamic culture and learning.”
Daura is the city that Bayajidda, a figure from Hausa mythology, arrived at after his trek across the Sahara desert. There was a fable about a huge fierce snake living close to the only well that served the village about the time. It is also documented in history that Daura was ruled by women of royal bloodline. The Queen reigning at the time was (Magajiya Daurama), who vowed to marry any brave man who eventually kill the snake.
As soon as the news of the death of the snake broke, the search for the man, who killed it was launched and so many men came to the palace to claim the prize. The Queen placed a demand on every suitor, to produce the missing part of the snake, which was the head and the right foot sandal as the left was left behind.
A visitor to Daura, Bayajidda, was later found with the head of the snake and the right foot sandal was found on him too. When he got to the site of the well, he was thirsty and had to kill the snake (named Sarki) that had been preventing people from drawing water from the well, and the local queen, married him out of gratitude; one of their seven children was named Daura. The Kusugu Well in Daura where Bayajidda was said to have slain the Sarki is protected by a wooden shelter and has become a tourist attraction.
In 1805, during the Fulani War, Daura was taken over by Fulani warrior Malam Ishaku, who set up an emirate. The Hausa set up a rival state nearby. Later, a ruler, Malam Musa, was installed the new Emir of Daura by the British in 1904, While Fulani emirs reigned and established a rival kingdom at Daure-Zango (Zango) and at Daure-Baure (Baure). Zango (founded in 1825) was a more prominent Hausa-Daura kingdom, and in 1903–04, after the British and French had divided the three Daura polities, the British installed Zango’s king, Malam Musa, as the new emir of Daura. Part of the former North-Central state after 1967, the emirate was incorporated into Kaduna state in 1976. It became part of the later created Katsina state in 1987. Faruk Umar Faruk became the 60th Emir of Daura on 28 Feb, 2007, following the death of Sarkin Muhammadu Bashar Dan Umaru.
The Daura Royal Palace ‘Kangiwa’ is a huge complex located in the centre of the ancient city. It is a symbol of culture, history and tradition of ‘Daurawa’.The Daura Emirate is referred to as one of the “seven true Hausa states” (Hausa Bakwai).
