STAR FEAT Enugu: Story of ‘ uniting East and
Born in hilly Enugu, they are not only fluent in Igbo but look towards the East as home. This is the epic story of the Hausas of Enugu.
there the cows are transported to other parts of the South-South and South-East. This detail lies at the heart of the story of Alhaji Girei, the grandfather of what has become known as the Baba Enugu family. ‘Professor of Suya’, the first Hausa man to start the suya business in Enugu once flourished along Owerri road. Though he is late, the spot still retains the fame it enjoyed not long ago, and it is now part of the culinary and social history of Enugu. Suleiman tells the story of his famous father ‘My father was the first person in Enugu who started selling suya at a spot known as no.1 professor of suya, 70 Owerri road, in the 1970s. He’s the only person who made suya in the city at that time, and all others who came later were under him.” Baba Ali arrived Enugu in 1970 and immediately became active in the cattle trade. He is still in the business today, and has risen to become Chairman of the cattle market. Famous Hausa families which were and still are involved in the cattle trade, soon emerged, with the children speaking fluent Igbo as well as Hausa and English. Over time they develop a mastery of local culture, festivals and meals and they form deep roots with the soil. Thus was born the amazing Hausa-Igbo who in one breath look East and North and