ANGUWAN SALMANDUNA

Of all the settlements that existed within the walled city, Salmanduna appears to be one of the earliest. As indicated earlier, permanent settlements were located around the area of Salmanduna before the emergence of the Birni. Salmanduna is located at the centre of the Birni along Fadamar Bono.
Traditions vary with regard to the origin of Salmanduna. According to one of the traditions, the settlement was founded by a hunter known as Bono who was said to be the husband of Zaria, one of the daughters of Bakwa Turunku. It was further stated that during one of his hunting expeditions, Bono stayed longer than usual around the site of Fadamar Bono, which now comprises Babban Dodo and Salmanduna areas. Worried by his absence, his wife, Zaria followed and traced him at the site of Fadamar Bono and was very much fascinated by the fertility of the area to such an extent that she pleaded with her father to relocate from Turunku to the beautiful site.
Another tradition claimed that Gunguma founded the settlement of Salmanduna following the clearance of the forest that covered the whole of Zaria plain and the establishment of the earliest agricultural community around the area of Babban Dodo. The tradition stated further that Salmanduna emerged following the expansion of Babban Dodo to the area.[1] Many other variations of this tradition however exist.
Even though the real import of these traditions may not be properly comprehended, they seem to represent the recollection by the people of an account of a settlement that developed into a centre of human activity at a very ancient time.
Whatever historical facts may be embedded in these traditions, there is sufficient evidence that indicates that favourable conditions for the emergence and development of ancient human settlements existed in the area occupied by Salmanduna. Such favourable conditions included the abundance of arable land, water, as well as grasses for live stock grazing. There was also the presence of alluvial soil, which constituted an important source of clay for the production of pots.
The development of Fadamar Bono into an important economic centre and the subsequent emergence of the earliest Market of Durumin Maigarke also gave impetus to the expansion of human population into the area of Salmanduna and its subsequent transformation into a ward.
The religious significance of the site of Babban Dodo as a major religious centre, (Kusfa) for the worship of iskoki centred on the Rafin Sarki and a silk cotton tree (Rimi) were also very important factors in the emergence of Salmanduna. It stimulated the concentration of a large number of people of diverse origin in the area as people trooped to the area for religious worship. The worship of iskoki was still prevalent among the yan bori in the area. This is reflected in the kirari (praise song) of Duna one of the spirit as follows: –

DUNA
Duna na kar kashin kasa Duna the one underneath the earth
Arne na gidan Nabijari pagan of the house of Nabijari
Ko uwanka na tsoronka even your mother fears you
Bakaka mushagala Bakaka mushagala
Mai kallabi da hanjin yaro the one who crowns with a boy’s intestines
Talaka baya iya ijiyeka a poor man cannot keep you
Ko ya ijiyeka maizai baka if he keeps you what is he going to offer you
Sai dai ya baka Bargon doki except to give you horse’s blanket
Ba dai ya baka jini ba. He can not offer you blood
As a result of the combinations of the above factors Salmanduna emerged as an important economic centre by the 15th century. This was demonstrated by the existence of dye pits numbering over fifty, and other industries such as iron and pottery productions. According to Mahmud Aliyu all these were indications of the level of prosperity enjoyed by the ward until the 19th century when there was a decline.
Among the most prominent members of the occupational groups that settled in Salmanduna was the Sarkin makera, Duna. According to traditions the compound of Duna was a major centre for the production of such materials like bungles, stirrups, horse halters and other decorative materials. Although though, Duna was not the first prominent personality that settled in Salmanduna, the ward was believed to have derived its name from the combination of his name, Duna and that of his wife, Salma.