How late Hama Bachama blended tradition with modernity
The Hama Bachama’s Palace, located in Numan town in Adamawa State, today wears a brand-new look courtesy of the late ruler, Hama Bachama Honest Stephen Irmiya who passed on last Sunday, June 23. It is one of the legacies the late ruler would be remembered for by his subjects.
With the renovation and upgrading of the palace infrastructure, the traditional ruler showed a great taste for proportionate blend of modernity and tradition.
His predecessor, Homun Asaph Zadok, had inherited an old-fashioned palace made up of a row of round huts and a two-bedroom bungalow which he started to upgrade but unfortunately died before completion of the project.
Asaph had reconstructed the interior section of the palace, erecting two semi duplexes and starting a larger single storey complex with a conference hall.
Soon after ascending the throne in 2012, the new ruler, Honest Stephen, engaged a team of architects and building engineers to redesign the palace complex, remodel the round hut court and provide a modern office facility attached to the court.
The renovation was done in phases. At the Grand Entrance, he constructed a sprawling vehicle parking space, a block consisting of the Clan of Elders retreat and guard rooms.
The spokesman of the palace, Chief Timawus Mathias, said the late Hama Bachama would always be remembered for his successful transformation of the palace.
In a bid to preserve the kingdom’s history and cultural values for present and future generations, the late ruler built the Museum of Bachama Artifacts and Historical Relics and recruited a curator to manage it.
Speaking with Daily Trust Saturday, Chief Timawus Mathias, said “Today, at the Voti in Numan, Homun Honest has left modern administrative offices to accommodate the Secretary to the Traditional Council, Accounts and other Administrative Staff, as well as a well furnished 50-seat Public Gallery with an adjoining office retreat.
“For recreation and sporting activities, Homun Honest built a posh recess, a gym and a squash hall attached to the king’s restroom, away from the family quarters that he inherited in the palace.
“Not done with Numan, he also remodelled the Voti (Palace) in Lamurde, providing an ultra modern spacious living area, an improvement of work done by his predecessor, Homun Asaph Zadok, modernizing the Ruto - the king’s raised round pavilion from where he received his kingmakers, traditional praise singers/entertainers and comedians. He also built up the fence of the abode of his ancestors and predecessors in their sleep. He has joined them there. The burial ground for Kings is called Venti Veying - which remodelling of the grounds and fence work began by Homun Honest, is still a work in progress.
“A novelty that stands as his legacy is the 200 capacity Glass Conference Hall and the adjoining ultra modern gymnasium both at the Numan Palace. In that gym, he never missed a day of 6km on the treadmill or 45 minutes confrontation with a punching bag. It was a common sight to find him visited by his colleagues - retired military officers, burning fat in the gym, a factor for which his sudden demise came as a shocking surprise because he nursed only a few days of a head ache which did not hinder his gym time.”
Honest Irmiya Stephen, the 28th Hama Bachama ruler from Nomupo clan, was selected in 2012 following a keen contest of princes from the six royal clans of Impang, Waduku, Kowo, Magbularon, Nokodomun, and Nomupo.
He received his official staff of office on December 7, 2013 from the then governor of the state, retired Admiral Murtala Hammanyero Nyako.
Chief Timawus noted that in keeping with tradition, Honest Irmiya Stephen took on the traditional names of Kwirei-Mana, and his great grand father’s name Kpafrato, who himself had been Hama Bachama from 1910 - 1921 (90 years ago). He became Hama Bachama Honest Irmiya Stephen, KwireiMana, Kpafrato II.
“The Voti, as the palace is called, means the core. The Numan Voti was sited by Homun Mbi in 1921 when the Colonial Divisional Officer reported to Numan as Divisional Headquarters. It was Homun Mbi that dualised the seat of traditional power, adding the Voti in Numan to the Voti in Bachama (Lamurde),” Timawus added.