THE EMERGENCE OF CENTRALISED POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN ZARIA
The emergence of centralized political institutions on the plains of Zaria namely: State formation, Kingship and Birnin Zaria as the capital of the state of Zazzau. These institutions were not only related with one another but also intertwined. This was because the emergence and consolidation of one seemed to be directly or indirectly influenced by the others. Therefore, these inter related political institutions will aid our understanding of the historical processes that produced the state system on the Zaria plains.
The emergence of these political institutions seemed to involve the gradual transformation of the pre-existing socio-political formations on the Zaria plains over several centuries. These socio-political formations included the earliest political communities (settlement complexes) that were formed on the Zaria plains and the various political authorities that seemed to have developed from them at the various levels of their transformations.
To reconstruct the historical processes that brought about such political developments, it is imperative to identify and examine some of the early centres of human habitation on the Zaria plains highlighting their evolution and roles in the early phase of the historical processes that gave birth to the emergence of state system on the Zaria plains. The political institution of the state of Zazzau is highlighted. This is followed by a discussion on the processes leading to emergence of the Kingship (sarauta) in Zaria and its consolidation to the eve of the Jihad that overthrew it as well as the role of the sarauta in the formation of the state of Zazzau and the Birni. Finally the discussion ends with an examination on the emergence of Birnin Zaria as the capital of the state of Zazzau.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
Traditions indicate the existence of several ancient settlements at a very early period within the Zaria plains. These were largely focused on the massive granitic outcrops of Kufena, Madarkachi, Turunku, Wuchichchiri, Kargi, and Tukur Tukur. It is however, difficult to say with some degree of certainty, the precise antiquity of these ancient settlements. This is because the state of archaeological study on the area is still in its infancy. However, from the fragmentary evidence so far available so far, it is clear that ancient settlements were in existence since the first millennium A.D. on the Zaria plains. Through gradual evolution spanning several centuries, these ancient settlements metamorphosed into large urban centres, a development that brought about the evolution of centralized political institutions namely: the formation of the state of Zazzau, the emergence of Birnin Zaria as its capital and the kingship system.
It should be noted that the various centres of human habitation in Zaria never emerged simultaneously at the same time. But rather each settlement seemed to have emerged and developed at its natural pace depending on the prevailing conditions or circumstances working in its favour. The main source for the reconstruction of these major themes are: Archaeology, Ethnography, king list and oral traditions.
Turunku Kufena Madarkachi Kargi Wuchichiri
THE EMERGENCE OF THE STATE OF ZAZZAU
The state of Zazzau appeared to have developed through the process of evolution spanning hundreds of years from the many ancient settlements that are still identifiable on the Zaria plains some of which have been discussed above. The best known of these ancient sites were: Kufena, Madarkachi, Turunku, Kargi, and Wuchichchiri. For a proper reconstruction of the early history of the state of Zazzau, evidence from varied sources such as archaeology, ethnography, oral traditions and scholarly works is discussed and analysed.
The early history of Zazzau like the origin of the kingship is also still shrouded in mystery. This is because there are lots of missing links and where information is available, it seems to be contradictory. But with the available evidence at our disposal, we can however make a fair reconstruction of the history of Zazzau.
Abdullahi Smith provided us with a clear picture of the earliest pattern of settlement and governance on Zazzau plains. According to him the earliest and the simplest settlements of people on Zazzau plains, began as gidaje (Sing. gida) where all the members of a lineage (gida) recognized the immediate leadership or authority of the mai gida (lineage head). The mai gida was usually chosen on the basis of age and genealogical proximity to the ancestors. As head of the lineage, the mai gida played important role in the mediation of disputes involving members of the lineage as well as having the final say in important issues affecting them. Land, which constituted a very key factor in the socio-economic life of the family, as well as other properties were jointly owned and commonly inherited. The lineage settlements seemed to be scattered on the plains in places where the environment was conducive for human habitation.
Gradually, where conditions were conducive, the earliest settlements (lineage settlements) developed into hamlets (Kauyuka; Sing, kauye or anguwoyi, sing. anguwa). This important transition took place when several lineage settlements clustered in an area and became fused together into a single socio-political unit, (anguwa) sharing common identity and geographical boundaries. We can discern the picture of this type of settlement from Steel’s description of the general pattern of settlements in tropical Africa.
The new socio-political system based on the Anguwa by its very nature required inter-lineage interactions, which necessitated the formation of an institution to regulate such interactions and to mediate disputes involving members from different lineage groups. Consequently, this led to the emergence of the institution of the mai anguwa to over see the affairs of the Anguwa. Since the hamlet or Anguwa was made up of all the lineage settlements or gidaje in an area, it means that the extent and content of political authority went beyond the confines of the masu gida. Hence the role of kinship in the selection of a leader as was the system in the lineage-based type of settlements became weak. It was this development that ushered in some form of political centralization on the plains of Zaria. The mai anguwa may be chosen from the oldest lineage in the society or may be the most influential of all the people in the area in terms of his bravery or mastery of the religious lore of the society.
At another level, there was the emergence of heads of occupational groups, which were the most distinguished people in key economic activities. This seemed to be in response to developments in the nature and scope of economic activities on the Zaria plains at each phase of its history. The earliest economic occupations of the people of Hausa land generally and Kasar Zaria in particular was hunting, farming and iron-smithing. In the case of farming for instance its antiquity is clearly demonstrated by the Hausa saying: “Noma na duke tsohon ciniki kowa yazo duniya kai ya taras”. This literally means: farming is an old trade and that whoever came into the world met it.
In all these economic activities, the family remained the unit of production. Initially all production was for the use of the family or for use during religious worships and festivals. Later great importance was highly attached to these economic activities to the extent that it became a major avenue for an individual to rise to prominence and high status in the society. This depended on ones ability to distinguish himself and attain some level of success in his chosen economic occupation. This created competition among the members of the various occupational groups, which resulted in the production of surpluses. The surpluses generated came to be appropriated by certain individuals, which enabled them to dominate other members of the society. It was this situation that seemed to lead to the emergence of Madara, Dan Zau and Bono as heads of occupational groups, exercising some form of authority over and above that of masu gida and heads of religious cults.
There was a remarkable socio-political change in Kasar Zaria by the 1st millennium A.D when the anguwoyi seems to have been radically transformed from mere clusters of several lineage groups into permanent towns or garuruwa (sing. gari). What likely gave a boost to this political transformation was the development in iron technology, which took place in Kasar Zaria dating back to 7th century A.D. This acted as a catalyst to the development of the economy, which in turn played important role in these transformations. The economy revolved around agriculture, manufacture and trade. For instance in the field of agriculture, technological advancement had a revolutionary impact on food production which created conditions for the emergence of new economic system. This was due to the manufacture of more efficient agricultural tools, such as galma (big hoe), fartanya (hoe), lauje (sickle), gatari (axe), which made the production of surplus possible. This made it possible for other people to turn their attention to other jobs such as smithing, scholarly pursuit, military profession and trade and consequently specialization and division of labour in the society.
The manufacturing sphere was another virile sector that made significant contribution in the emergence of permanent towns in Kasar Zaria. A class of highly trained professionals mainly controlled this sector. The manufacture was used for both military and household needs. It boosted other productive activities like hunting, weaving, agriculture and trade. The production of such military tools, like kibiya (arrow), Takobi (sword), Mashi (spear) was also an important factor in the expansion of these permanent settlements.
The above factors facilitated the growth of population in our area of study, particularly around the granitic out crops of Kufena, Madarkachi and Tukur-Tukur, this necessitated the expansion of settlements into areas within the plains. This was in areas especially around Fadamar Bono that is located at Babban Dodo in the heart of Birnin Zaria. This gradual expansion of settlements away from their nucleus involved the integration of several Anguwoyi into the sphere of influence of Kufena and Madarkachi.
At this stage of our study it is not certain which of the two settlements i.e. Kufena and Madarkachi that first emerged as a Gari. But archaeological study conducted on the two areas indicates that they were contemporaneous. This is based on the fact that the materials used in their construction are similar and their present state of appearance tends to suggest that they were built at the same period. This seems to be corroborated by the Zaria local tradition indicating the presence of two giants around the granitic out crops of the two settlements eating from the same bowl. If there was anything this story was trying to demonstrate, it was suggesting the existence at a point in time of two autonomous leaders presiding over independent settlements. This is manifested by the fact that only equals dine on the same table.
However, what is certain was the fact that the two settlements emerged as garuruwa with each gari developing an impressive fortification and serving as an autonomous political entity where all the inhabitants, were politically and spiritually bonded to the mai gari (ruler of the town). The mai gari was at the apex of this new socio-political structure and therefore, enjoyed enormous power and authority over and above those of masu gida and heads of religious cults and other occupational groups. It appears that the authority of the masu gari arose out of the need for the mediation of disputes with groups of people within the society over the allocation of land which was the major factor of production; management of external relations with other garuruwa; provision of security; and some form of religious worship.
The power equation, between the masu gari within the site that later came to be known as Zaria remained as it was up to the beginning of the second millennium A.D, when the power equation was tilted in favour of the mai gari residing at Kufena. This followed the annexation of Madarkachi, which was formerly an important and autonomous political and religious centre, into the political ambit of Kufena. What prompted this political disequilibrium appears to be the ability of the rulers of Kufena to be in effective control and exploitation of iron ore, in areas, which gave them such an advantage. Following the political domination of the above mentioned sites, an extensive wall fortification commencing from the massive granitic outcrops of Kufena, through Dala, Kofar Kona, Madarkachi, Tukur-Tukur and back to Kufena covering a total distance of about 24 kilometres was constructed under the authority of the rulers of Kufena. This brought about the political unification of the smaller and earlier walls such as Tukur-Tukur, Madarkachi, Kufena and Kona walls under a ruler in the present site of Birnin Zaria. Thus, the foundation of a state was laid which can be describes as a mode of social arrangement in which all inhabitants within a territorially defined region, were integrated and possessed the political and cultural consciousness of a single unit, identifiable and often identified by a group name. This embryo state was named Zazzau after a sword.
According to local tradition this single political unit that came into being following the unification of Kufena and Madarkachi was named Garin Dan Zau apparently after the founder of the Kufena settlement. After a passage of time Garin Dan Zau was renamed Zazzau. Local tradition claims that Zazzau was a sword and a symbol of power and authority as well as an object of worship which was revered by the Zazzagawa to the extent of swearing by it. This clearly demonstrates the unifying role of the sword.
THE EMERGENCE OF KINGSHIP IN ZARIA
The emergence of kingship (sarauta) in Zaria marked the beginning of a well-defined political order revolving around the personality of the Sarki (King) or uban Kasa (Father or Owner of land). Thus, the era represented a major watershed in the political history of Zaria. This was because it ushered in the beginning of a more cohesive cosmopolitan political community involving the integration of several autonomous garuruwa and Birane in which all the inhabitants of the community were spiritually and politically bonded to the Sarki (King).
It is important to note that the genesis of kingship in Zazzau just like the origin of the state is still beclouded in mystery due to the nature of the body of evidence in the forms of king-lists and oral tradition of the area. This situation therefore, need re-examination of such body of evidence, which according to Y.B. Usman contains information whose status as historical evidence, varies considerably.
According to the king-lists of Zaria, Gunguma the son of Bawo and the grandson of Bayajidda, the legendary progenitor of the Hausa people was the first ruler of the state of Zazzau. The king-lists also contain sixteen other names starting with Gunguma and stopping on the sixteenth person on the list. Information about whether these people were descendant of Gunguma or whether they were just his lieutenants who accompanied him to Zaria varies. Whatever truth lies on this, it is apparently clear that the king-list made claim for ancestral connection with Bayajidda, a claim that seems to be cleverly integrated into the official traditions of the people of Zaria. Ancestral connection to Bayajidda is a common feature that characterized the king-lists of the various Hausa states. A cursory looks at the king-lists of these states indicate names associated to the sons of Bayajidda and in other cases even those of his associates. How such names got into the lists is difficult to say.
Some studies have shown that most of the king-lists in Hausa land were committed only recently into writing. Therefore, they were susceptible to errors and manipulations. It is therefore possible that such names that were connected to Bayajidda were added to the king-lists of Hausa states in order to rationalize the hermitic hypothesis. What lends much credit to this is the fact that in most of the king-lists there is conspicuous silence on the length of the reigns of some of the Hausa rulers. This applied mostly to the first few rulers in the king-lists. This therefore gave birth to the suspicions, that such names may be later additions into the lists. In the case of Birnin Zaria, there are strong speculations as to whether the previous rulers before Bakwa Turunku as indicated in the lists were kings of Kufena or Turunku. On the bases of the above problems it is difficult to say with some degree of certainty, who was the first ruler of the state of Zazzau.
Apart from the king-list, there are a number of traditions relating to the genesis of kingship in Zaria. One version of the traditions for instance claimed that the rulers of Zazzau were migrants who settled in many places before their final sojourn to Zaria where they settled permanently. Their routes of migration were identified as follows: Kawari, Kargi, Rikochi, Wuchichchiri, Turunku, Kufena and finally Zaria.
Another tradition claimed that following an attack on the Zaria plains by the Gwaris in 535 A.H., which was equivalent to 1141 A.D of the Christian calendar, a delegation was sent by the Zazzagawa to Daura to seek for military assistance from Bawo who was then the reigning King. In response to this request, he appointed his son Gunguma to rule them. He also appointed sixteen other people to accompany his son to Zaria. The tradition further claimed that all of these sixteen people succeeded the throne one after the other. The last of them was Sukanau.
Another version of the local tradition has it that Gunguma became the King of Zazzau after the possession of the famous sword known as Zazzau, which seemed to be a symbol of political authority from which the state derived its name. The tradition is not explicit on how he came about the sword.
There is therefore, no doubt that the genesis of kingship as embodied in the Bayajidda legend is an over simplification of the issue. This had necessitated a close scrutiny of traditions relating to dynastic origins. Whatever historical truth lies in the traditions above, they seem to suggest that the Zaria plains had attained some level of economic and cultural significance even before the emergence of the kingship. This was a factor that acted as a magnet by attracting and pulling around the neighbouring communities to the plains and consequently in the settlement of various groups of people of diverse origins and occupational activities such as the Kaje, Gwari, Kurama and Kadara. This is confirmed by the Kadara tradition which claimed that as a result of their movement from their place of origin at Meisin, they had settled at the rock of Kufena before their permanent settlement at the rock of Kufana located to the south of Kaduna River. It should however be noted that a critical look at the traditions of Kadara suggest that they were not original settlers of Kufena as the traditions explain that they migrated from somewhere. Similarly, the Dutsen Kaje located to the south of the inselbergs of Kufena is said to have formed the settlement of Kaje speaking people before their emigration out of the area.
The town of Zazzau however, came under heavy attacks in the thirteen century by the people from the area south of the present Birnin Gwari area known as the Gurara. The situation therefore, necessitated the mobilization of effective defence against such military aggression. It was this circumstances that brought about the emergence of the Kingship. However, we are yet to know the details of the process of the emergence of the kingship. But certainly it could not have been peaceful involving such peaceful means like issuing of royal orders to that effect or through a compromise between contenders as the Bayajidda legend seems to suggest. Apart from this, vying for leadership position is always characterized by stiff and cut-throat competition. In such kind of struggle it is the strongest that always have the upper hand. What ever was the process for the emergence of the kingship it is regarded as marking the final evolution of the socio-political structure of the state of Zazzau, a process by which the monarchy emerged at the centre of a complex network of feudal relationships. This was a process by which the authority of the Sarki was extended to areas beyond the confines of the walled settlement, to cover other areas in the hinterland.
The authority of the Sarki to a great extent was subject to the amount of support he could get from his subordinate officials (masu sarauta). This was because they were the ones that were in actual control of the garuruwa of Zazzau. As a matter of necessity therefore, the Sarki had to surround himself with such group of officials whose relationship was purely feudal. This was based on the fact that while they received some rewards from the Sarki in form of fiefs and other things, they were in turn under an obligation to recognize his leadership as well as provide him with military services, and contributes towards civil administration and to provide him with revenue for administrative purposes. The most powerful of this class of people (masu sarauta) were the Galadima, Wambai, Dallatu and Madawaki. These positions with the exception of the Madaki were normally filled by eunuchs. This was because the Sarakuna did not found them a security threat to their political position mainly because by law, Eunuchs could never aspire to the position of the Sarki. Consequently, they were more loyal and reliable in the defence of the city and for the security and health of the Sarakuna. This was unlike the princes who were feared because of their over zealousness for power. The masu sarauta were regarded as public officers and advisers to the Sarki and known as the rukuni (pillars of the state). Other category of officials included the Dangaladima (the heir presumptive to the throne), the Sarauniya (the daughter of the Sarki) and the Iya (the wife of the Sarki’s father). It should be noted that the Iya and Sarauniya were powerful Palace officials. The existence of powerful female officials within the sarauta system in Zazzau in the pre-colonial period demonstrated the position for women in the society. There also developed a group of officials who served as important links between the Sarki and the masu sarauta known as yan fada (palace officials) whose function was mainly with the administration of the palace. Thus, Zazzau was sharply divided into two classes; the masu sarauta and the talakawa with the masu sarauta at the upper rung of the society while the talakawa were at the bottom strata of the society. The relation-ship between these classes was often exploitative. The history of Birnin Zaria from the 16th to 18th centuries was characterized by wars for territorial expansion. These were aimed at enforcing its political supremacy and ascendancy over its neighbouring states. This provided it with more economic resources to man the state. However, it is difficult within the present state of our knowledge to give details of the processes involved in the wars. But what is clear was that Zaria’s influence was widely felt as far as Nupe land. For instance a tradition recorded by Muhammad Bello states thus:
In any case, the process of the fusion and subjugation of such communities into the state of Zazzau based in the Birni can be conveniently broken into three broad stages. The first stage involved the incorporation of settlements in the immediate neighbourhood of the Birni such as Dumbi, Farakwai, Tsauni, and Hange. Sutton was of the view that this might have taken place in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The second stage involved the subjugation of other smaller garuruwa within the hinterland of Birnin Zaria into its sphere of influence. This included garuruwa like Kawari, Rikochi, Kargi, and Wuchichchiri. Such garuruwa were not totally brought under the direct control of the rulers of Zazzau, but they rather maintained a dependence relationship, a process where by the masu gari ruled such garuruwa through their rulers.
The third stage was reached when smaller states were brought under the sphere of influence of Birnin Zaria in a vassal or satellite relationship. This kind of relationship is a clear evidence of the military and economic superiority of Birnin Zaria over the vassals or satellite states. States like Kauru, Kajuru, Fatika, Kagarko, Lere and Durum were examples of vassals. While states like Jema’a, Nasarawa, Keffi and Doma were satellites. The basic difference between a vassal and a satellite state lies on the fact that the latter had some measure of autonomy. The people in the satellite states could select their rulers, subject only to confirmation from Zaria. Vassal states on the other hand were under the direct control of the ruler at Zaria. The Sarakuna at Zaria could select and depose rulers of the vassal states at will. The vassal states could not also engage in raids or war without approval from Zaria.
The rulers of Birnin Zaria also paid greater attention to the maintenance of peace and security in the Kingdom, which was vital for the growth of the economy and by implication, the development of the state. It is within this context that the building and modifications of the walls of the Birni and the adoption of up to date weapons in line with the changing military technology and tactics of war should be understood. The walls played many functions. One of the functions of the walls was that it provided psychic and physical security to the inhabitants of the Birni. This was an important factor that encouraged peaceful commercial transactions and the immigration of many people of diverse occupational pursuit into the Birni. This included traders, craftsmen, and scholars. This boosted the economic prosperity of the Birni and by extension also boosted the power of the Sarki. The level of economic prosperity enjoyed by Zaria due to its security enabled it to overshadow other competing centres of political powers such as Kauru, Hunkuyi, Makarfi and Zangon Kataf.
The walls also served as refuge to the neighbouring communities who always became the first targets during attacks on Zaria. It was said that large number of people from villages such as Gimba, Giwa, Danmahawayi, Dumbi, Dobo, Pantaki, Kuringa, Kidandan, Yakawada, Kaya and Gangara migrated into the Birni for security between C1750 and 1808 whenever there were external threats.
The Sarakuna also encouraged economic activities. This was aimed at generating funds sufficient enough to maintain and preserve the sarauta and to maintain the status quo. Some of the measures adopted by the sarakuna to ensure smooth economic activities included the maintenance of peace and security, which was very crucial in that regards. There was also the regulation of economic activities by the state. From the trade and other economic activities the state derived a lot of revenue in form of, taxes and tolls obtained from traders who moved with their goods into the Birni and at the main market of the Birni. Through this process, the masu sarauta had effective ways of appropriating the surplus produced by the talakawa residing both in and outside the Birni. This was to take care of the needs of the ostentatious living of the masu sarauta.
THE EMERGENCE OF BIRNIN ZARIA AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE STATE OF ZAZZAU.
The Foundation of Birnin Zaria as the capital city of the state of Zazzau was laid in the second half of the 15th century. Traditions ascribed the foundation of the Birni to Amina one of the daughters of Bakwa Turunku, the twenty-second ruler of Zazzau.
The circumstances that gave impetus to this important political development could be traced to the external military campaigns against the state of Zazzau by Kano in the 15th century during the reign of Sarkin Kano Kanajeji Dan Yaji (1390-1410). The military campaigns were part of the territorial expansion drives that was common among the Hausa states around this period. This was necessitated by the need for more territories and wealth in the forms of booties, slaves, taxes and tributes, which was much needed for the maintenance of a strong foothold and political control of areas under their sphere of influence. The situation was such that any attempt of expansion by one state came into sharp conflict with the interest of another state. It is against this background that we should understand the military conflict between Kano and Zazzau by this period.
Kano was said to have launched two military campaigns against Zazzau during the reign of Sarkin Kano, Kanajeji. During the first attack, the town of Zazzau was invaded up to the plains of Turunku but was forced to retreat. There after, the second expedition took place during which the Sarkin Zazzau was killed at Gadaz together with many of his officials. Following this event the Zazzagawa who suddenly found them selves without a leader loss the will to fight, and hence became demoralized and scattered. This situation provided the opportunity for the forces of Kano to over ran the town of Zazzau and kept it under siege for almost eight months. At the end of the siege, the Kano forces returned laden with booty. Abdullahi Smith was of the view that the political instability following the vacuum created by the demise of the political authority and the destruction of the town of Zazzau by Kanajeji might have created the conditions for the transfer of the dynasty of Turunku to Kufena. However, a careful study of the available evidence indicates that contrary to this assumption, the transfer of the dynasty seemed to be from Kufena to Turunku. This was because by the time of the invasion, the town of Zazzau was already located near the Kubanni River (Kufena) and that both Kufena and Turunku were contemporaneous. Under these circumstances, naturally the tendency was for the people of Zazzau to flee away from their enemy to a more secured place.
Turunku might be the only choice since the town of Zazzau at Kufena was under siege for eight months. The flight to Turunku might be informed by the fact that security there seemed to be well assured and established particularly due to the presence of physical conditions guaranteeing protection such as the granitic out crops of the area reinforced by series of wall complex. It is probably within this context that the complex nature of the walling system of Turunku should be properly understood. Flights into other places were not strange in Hausa land. For instance there was the flight of Sarkin Kano and his followers to Daura following attacks from Kwararrafa in the 16th century. In any case the impasse created by the killing of Sarkin Zazzau gave an opportunity for the rulers of Turunku to mobilize forces and brought Kufena within its sphere of influence. Thus, the two ancient centres of power were integrated into a single political entity. This development seemed to have taken place during the reign of Bakwa Turunku.This important development marked the beginning of a new era for it witnessed the emergence of Birnin Zaria as the capital city of the state of Zazzau. With the capital of the state firmly established at Zaria, there began the period of territorial expansion in the west and south of Zazzau commencing at the beginning of the 16th century as mentioned.
The ability of the rulers at Turunku to consolidate their control over the state gave a fillip to the development of commerce, which in turn encouraged people of diverse occupational pursuit to immigrate into Turunku in large numbers. This was in addition to the large number of people that already fled into the area from the old town of Zazzau following the devastation of their town by the Kano forces. Consequently, the situation led to over population. This in turn brought about acute shortage of water due to pressure on the sources of water supply in the area which could not cope up with the rapid increase of population.
As a result of the resolve to find a permanent solution to the precarious condition created by the acute shortage of water in Turunku, Bakwa Turunku who was credited with the rebuilding of the old town decided to relocate to the abandoned old town of Zaria. This decision was predicated upon the fact that the old town was more spacious and contained adequate supply of water. This is confirmed by the Zaria traditions, which claimed that a hunter called Bono during his hunting expeditions discovered the site where Birnin Zaria is presently located. Astonished by the beauty of the area, he reported his findings to the King who on discovering that the site was not only suitable but had an extensive land reserve for expansion decided to move to the new site.
But Considering the fact that the old town of Zaria became vulnerable to external attacks, which were often occasioned by heavy loss of lives, including at one occasion that of its ruler, more improved defences had to be carried out as a precondition for rehabilitating and reestablishing it. After due consideration therefore, the decision was in favour of the erection of ganuwa (town wall) as a major security device. We do not have details of the process involved in the construction of the ganuwa. But what is clear from the oral tradition was that it took a long period of preparations involving a period of three years. A total of five years was spent in the construction works.
Click to see details on the Zaria walls and Gates
Whatever the process was involved in the building of the ganuwa, what is of great concern to us here was the fact that the project brought about significant political development. This was because on the completion of the ganuwa and the Palace of the King of Zazzau, the dynasty of the rulers of Zazzau moved from Turunku to the rebuilt old town, which was, renamed Zaria after the daughter of Bakwa Turunku. Soon after this transfer Zaria was able to over shadow all the other ancient settlements such as Kufena, Tukur -Tukur, Madarkachi and Turunku by bringing them under its control. Hence, Zaria emerged as the capital city of the state of Zazzau, the new focal point of power, authority and economic activities.