When Algoje Celebrates 27th ANA Convention
I am not a good student of history. So, I would not know whether history brought together the popular queen Amina of Zazzau dynasty and the powerful queen ‘Yargoje popularly known as Algoje, in Algoje’s court room for the two to sign women empowerment treaty. That would have been a great plus to Hausa society for being the first in the modern history to had empowered women on the African soil. If proven positive, that must had taken place in the 14th century, between 1310 and 1350 precisely when Algoje ruled Zamfara dynasty.
What ever the historical truth might had been, the above was the last scene of the wonderful play performance named Algoje that formed part of the activities of the 27th International Conventioin of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in the ancient city of Gusau , the state capital of Zamfara.
On the evening of last Friday, the participants from all over the nation and highly placed personalities of Zamfara state gathered in the multipurpose theatre of Jibril Bala Yakubu state secretariat of Zamfara to witness the play.
Starting with Fulani traditional dancing, the event took the participants back in time, trimming down about 7 centuries. In both the content and context, the play did more than reminding the spectators of the characteristics of life in those days, in fact, it made them feel the 13th century life running in them.
According to an official publication of the programme, the historical Algoje who ruled between 1310 and 1350 A D, was not only the first and only queen of Zamfar dynasty, but also the founding mother of the dynasty, who moved the seat of the kingdom from its old location in Dutsi to its present location in Birning Zamfara.
In the modern history, Algoje remains a serious source of proud to the Zamfara people for a pool of reasons. A part from being the pace setter in women empowerment programmes, Algoje the matriarch, the queen, the religious leader and patron of technology and art was known for signing peace treaties with the neighboring kingdoms, encouraging literacy, artisanship, craftsmanship, and technology. Her rule was also described as being the first democracy on the soil of Zamfara dynasty.
Discussing with the participants during the performance revealed that the play was much more than an entertainment, but also an eye opener of the glorious past of the history of Zamfara. Before the play, a large number of the participants were not aware of the fact that Zamfara as a dynasty in the 13th century was organised and focused enough to start archeological excavation, neither were they aware that a 13th century queen would be thoughtful enough to change the location of her kingdom on the bases of land fertility and abundance of natural resources.
At the end of the performance, the participants not only agreed that Algoje came well before her time but also confessed that with likes of Algoje and Queen Amina, Hausa literature really has a story to tell
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Sunday, July 29, 2012
BLACK NIGHT, NERVOUS HEART
I was astray
At the dark night
Past midnight.
Deserted were all,
I was left alone.
On that black night.
I searched all around,
But none to be found.
It was a cold night.
No where to go
As a stranger
No where I knew.
No guards nor drivers or riders,
But only the barking of nocturnal dogs.
The venue was locked.
Knocking wearily but in vain.
Palpitation and worry covered me.
My phone was deaf,
Worthless as a pulp.
As its soul perished.
I passed on streets and shrubs.
I was chased by a SATANIC dog!
Merciless, callous and troublesome.
Then my running increased,
For phobia of hydrophobia, not for death.
I was rescued by a herdsman
Who came out in search of bulls.
Took me to his abode I felt safe.
Full of mosquitoes and mice,
Together there we slept.
At dawn I rose;
To the mosque we went first.
Having our prayer said.
To my dwelling I reached.
Praise be to Almighty God,
And thanks to the cattleman.Arabic languague as well.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
BLACK NIGHT, NERVOUS HEART
I was astray
At the dark night
Past midnight.
Deserted were all,
I was left alone.
On that black night.
I searched all around,
But none to be found.
It was a cold night.
No where to go
As a stranger
No where I knew.
No guards nor drivers or riders,
But only the barking of nocturnal dogs.
The venue was locked.
Knocking wearily but in vain.
Palpitation and worry covered me.
My phone was deaf,
Worthless as a pulp.
As its soul perished.
I passed on streets and shrubs.
I was chased by a SATANIC dog!
Merciless, callous and troublesome.
Then my running increased,
For phobia of hydrophobia, not for death.
I was rescued by a herdsman
Who came out in search of bulls.
Took me to his abode I felt safe.
Full of mosquitoes and mice,
Together there we slept.
At dawn I rose;
To the mosque we went first.
Having our prayer said.
To my dwelling I reached.
Praise be to Almighty God,
And thanks to the cattleman.Arabic languague as well.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
BLACK NIGHT, NERVOUS HEART
I was astray
At the dark night
Past midnight.
Deserted were all,
I was left alone.
On that black night.
I searched all around,
But none to be found.
It was a cold night.
No where to go
As a stranger
No where I knew.
No guards nor drivers or riders,
But only the barking of nocturnal dogs.
The venue was locked.
Knocking wearily but in vain.
Palpitation and worry covered me.
My phone was deaf,
Worthless as a pulp.
As its soul perished.
I passed on streets and shrubs.
I was chased by a SATANIC dog!
Merciless, callous and troublesome.
Then my running increased,
For phobia of hydrophobia, not for death.
I was rescued by a herdsman
Who came out in search of bulls.
Took me to his abode I felt safe.
Full of mosquitoes and mice,
Together there we slept.
At dawn I rose;
To the mosque we went first.
Having our prayer said.
To my dwelling I reached.
Praise be to Almighty God,
And thanks to the cattleman.Arabic languague as well.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
BLACK NIGHT, NERVOUS HEART
I was astray
At the dark night
Past midnight.
Deserted were all,
I was left alone.
On that black night.
I searched all around,
But none to be found.
It was a cold night.
No where to go
As a stranger
No where I knew.
No guards nor drivers or riders,
But only the barking of nocturnal dogs.
The venue was locked.
Knocking wearily but in vain.
Palpitation and worry covered me.
My phone was deaf,
Worthless as a pulp.
As its soul perished.
I passed on streets and shrubs.
I was chased by a SATANIC dog!
Merciless, callous and troublesome.
Then my running increased,
For phobia of hydrophobia, not for death.
I was rescued by a herdsman
Who came out in search of bulls.
Took me to his abode I felt safe.
Full of mosquitoes and mice,
Together there we slept.
At dawn I rose;
To the mosque we went first.
Having our prayer said.
To my dwelling I reached.
Praise be to Almighty God,
And thanks to the cattleman.Arabic languague as well.
KASU/09/MCM/1093
We have so many unsang heroes in Nigeria, who have done so many great thing. these people deserve our praise.
Kasu /09 /mcm /1022
This is to say that women are also great leaders that should be considered.
This is fantastic, I hope lessons would be learnt from the write by making corrections where and when necessary.
This is quite an interesting piece, no doubt women are potential leaders too if given the chance.
lesson: every one should be given a chance to show his/her capability
Our great Nigeria have many justified heroes other than the thieves we praise and call heroes today.
ABDUSSALAM S. RAMALAN
To whom it concern. Correction is nessesary.
unforgettable history and we have to consider the positive effort of people that are trying to bring a positive change
positive change effort should be recommended
good story with good change effort
I never heard of a story of this great woman called Algoje of Zamfara. The tale justified that Women are capable of leading a society to achieve its greatness. This clearly shows that women are good leaders and trustworthy in managing state resources especially treasury. The Hausa-Fulani dynasties in the North had produced several great women leaders in the past such as Sarauniya Daurama and Queen Amina of Zazzau. Even now, women are doing better in the present democratic dispensation. Examples of Northern women that excelled in their careers presently in Nigeria are the Chief Justice of Nigeria Mrs Mariam Aloma Mukhtar and Minister of Education Prof Rukayyatu Rufa’I to just mention a few. Therefore, women should be given more opportunity to participate in government in order to transform the society into a better place for the next generation.