Misrepresentation of Kano palace etiquette and milieu

It is first time in history that I have read a piece written by an apparently astute writer, Jaafar Jaafar and indeed felt that he should be abreast with decorum, etiquettes and the Al-Maghili’s code of ethics as well as the unwritten laws of Kano palace. From reading the text, I gathered that Jaafar is from Kano state but obviously amiss with regards to the recent past history of particularly the palace of Kano and this is the record I want to set straight not at all a rejoinder to his mere expression of opinion.

First of all Jafaar alleged that songs by Sarkin Kotso is responsible for Emir Sanusi I believing “he was above his peers” and to my knowledge nowhere in written or popular oral account has such a statement being made or referred to. Also nowhere the songs of Abdulrahman Sarkin Kotso for Emir Sanusi I had any effect on his character or thinking in order to bring about the Jafaar’s conclusion. The song, “Sir Sanusi Sarkin Yaki Zakin Daga Na Abashe” was made after Emir Sunusi was honoured with Knight of British Empire (KBE) and this same song referred by Jaafar as fountainhead of Emir Sanusi’s belief of superiority is nothing but assumption. If I were Jaafar, in concocting my history, I would have rather used the song that choruses “Mamman Kafi Karfin Mazaje Kowajja da Kai Ya Tsugunna” because the verse put the said Emir above others. Even this song would not make one to arrive at the conclusion that the songs will bring about feelings of grandeur. In a nutshell, Jaafar has no basis for his historical claim on Emir Sanusi I, as the ground upon which Jaafar based his argument is entirely a fallacy.

Secondly, Jaafar claimed that Emir Sanusi II forsaken the etiquette laid down by AlMaghili, he said, “Barely three years after his ascension to the Kano throne, the present Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has dumped a set of etiquettes laid down by Muhammad AlMaghili…” my question is, which chapter among the 8 chapters of Al-Maghili’s document “The Crown of Religion Concerning the Obligation of Princes” that Emir Sanusi II dumped. It seems like Jaafar depends on secondary but unreliable sources of Kano palace environment.

Soron Ingila was built by Emir of Kano Muhammadu Abbas in 1903. He was the first emir appointed by colonial masters perhaps that was the reason why he named the soro after their country. He uses the soro for meetings with the British colonial officials. That Emir Sanusi II “demolished the century old Soron Ingila built by Emir Abbas” is not correct. Jaafar may need to know that Emir Abdullahi Bayero son of Abbas renovated it in 1936. Apart from rebuilding the palace by Emir Abdullahi Bayero, Emir Sanusi I expanded the Soro Ingila. Now Emir Sanusi II is rebuilding the palace as done by his predecessor. It may be of interest to Jafaar to know that in 1926 Emir Abdullahi Bayero demolished centuries old Soron Zauna Lafiya and built a new one which was also rebuilt by Emir Ado Bayero.

Jafaar’s article entitled, “Another word for Emir Sanusi”, is full of avoidable historical inaccuracies and gross misrepresentation of the palace. Yet it is pardonable when one takes into consideration the fact that palace etiquettes are mostly unwritten laws as such could not be used as basis for blame or pointing fingers.

Nasiru Wada Khalil, Kano