Habe Dynasty in Zazzau
The historical overview of Zazzau must start with the rule of Habe. The chronicle of the early rules of Zazzau as preserved, stated with the legend of Bayajidda, thus describing the origin of the Hausa speaking people, their tribe and kingdoms. Hausa speaking people referred to, by the Fulani as Habe, have been in existence in scattered hamlets and villages since ancient times.
The historical evidence indication where Hausa people migrated from into the present Hausa established. However, the Hausaland is yet to government started in the Middle Ages i.e. medieval period. Historians refer to the millennium between 476-1400 A.D as the medieval period. Therefore, we can venture to compare the art of government in the middle ages in Europe with what obtained in Hausaland at that time.
Hausa states like other states all over the world started from small-scattered settlements, which grew into city-states because of economic necessities, and security needs. The big hamlets and city-states were independent one another. Stronger and better organized city-states under ambitions leaders embarked on conquests to expand their suzerainty. Might was the rule of the day, conquests and defeats were recorded but no paramount rule over the large area was recorded until the coming of the off springs of Bayajidda into Hausa land.
The historical evaluation of Zazzau under a centralized powerful kingdom is often dated back to the period of Gunguma (Madau-Zazzau, which literally means the carrier or holder of Zazzau). According to oral tradition, Gunguma was said to have originates from Bawo, the son of baajida who was said to have migrated from Baghdad and killed a snake names ”Sarki”. He later married the queen of Daura (Daurama) who gave birth to seven children that became the founders of the seven Hausa states namely, Zazzau, kanoRano, Zamfara, Gobir, Daura and katsina. These states were popularly referred to as ”Hausa Bakwai”(meaning the seven original Hausa states). The non-Hausa states founded along the same line were referred to as “BanzaBakwai” which comprised kwararrafa, Nupe, Yoruba, Kabi, Gwari, Yawuri and Borgu (Olstunbosun 1981:70)
The children of Bawo, Son of Bayajidda, Imposed themselves on the rules of small Hausa City-State as a result of their superior knowledge of the art of war. These development transformed the small city-state into centralized kingdoms with the “Sarakuna” (kings) as the paramount rules.
Various traditions in Zazzau Indicated that Gunguma used a sword as a symbol of authority over the small city-state and the sword was named “Zazzau” Dynasty in Zazzau who established his rule around the period of 10th century. In literature, Zazzau is sometimes referred to as “Zeg-Zeg” or “Zak-Zak” but “Zazzau” is the term commonly used and applied by the Hausa speaker people to describe the kingdom. The traditions indicate that the early rulers settled in many places before finally settling down in Turunku. This explanation clearly demonstrate the fact that Turunku still remains a very important town in the history of Zazzau. The ruins to Turunku town still exist and the area is currently referred to as “TurunkuTsohuwa” (old Turunku).
The establishment of the present day Zaria as the capital of Zazzau by the Haba was largely attributed to the rule of the twenty second (22) Habe ruler of Zazzau, BakwaTurunku (1536:1539 A.D). it should be noted that BakwaTurunku was the father of two daughters, Anina and Zariya. According to the customs and traditions of that period. He allowed his eldest daughter Amina to control the political power since he had no male child, and then named the seat power “Zaria” after his second daughter.
Amina was said to have traveled a great deal, raided and captured many kingdoms. She expanded the territory of Zazzau up to Kumasi (Ghana) and Zebarma (a place attempted to conquer the entire Hausaland and the surrounding states, thus consolidating who paid tribute to Zazzau. (Hogben 1967:116) states that.
Amina conquered all the towns as far as Kwararrafa and Nupe….. theSarkinNupasentfortyenounce and ten thousand Kolanuts to her, she first had eunuchs and kolanuts in hausaland.
Amina remained very famous throughout the westen Sudan and built “Ganuwa” (wall) in the Kingdoms she captured. Zaria, originally built by BakwaTuruku, was thus greatly expanded by Amina in her time. The Ganuwa of Zaria is popularly referred to as “Ganuwar Amina raised the prestige of Zazzau to make it one of the greatest Kingdoms in African.
The general historical survery of the period revealed that Amina did not actually sit on the throne of Zazzau, for she died while attempting to expand the suzerainty of unification of the entire Hausaland into a centralized empire under an Emperor. She died at Idah in the present Kogi State on her way to wage war against Okenne. Her sister way to meet Amina from “Zariyan Kala-Kala” a Place now in Niger Republic.
Development in the capital of Zazzau, Zaria continued up to the period of the last Habe rular of Zazzau, Makau son of Jatau. It has been pointed out that during the reign of Isiyaku Dan Gabi (1701-1703), forty (40) wells can still be found at Anguwar Wanzamai, Anguwar Karfe, Anguwar Juma near the former Habe Mosque, Akushin Kura et Cetera.
Zazzau Chronicle gave a list if sixty (60) Habe rulers of Zazzau, beginning with Gunguma and ending with Makau as driven out of the Kingdoms as a result of the 1804 Jihad.