Our people started writing, wearing clothes 200 years ago - Dan-Galadiman Chawai
Alhaji Zakari Isah Chawai is the Dan-Galadima of and former secretary, Chawai Development Association (CDA). He served as Commissioner of Finance and Information at different times in Kaduna State and later worked at National Board for Community Bank. In this interview, the traditional ruler said people of the area have been practicing democracy for over 200 years. He also spoke on the values of the Chawai ethnic group and some important national issues.
Since the death of the former Res-Tsam, a new one has not been installed. What is really the problem? Well, there have been issues over who takes over from the former Res-Tsam, Danlami Yahaya, and that has led to institution of a court case at a Kafanchan High Court by the Chawai Development Association. And I think they were ill-advised. The officials of the CDA who are still caretakers ought to have concentrated on planning for an election instead of a court case over an issue that can be settled amicably, because everything about Chawai people has already been documented. It is not the right time to institute a court case against the Kingmakers and the executive governor of Kaduna State. I was the longest serving secretary of the Chawai Development Association and I know the function of the association. We have kingmakers that are capable of choosing the next Res-Tsam and that has been the tradition.
But it seems there are clans that have also joined the contest but they are not originally from the ruling clans. This is giving the kingmakers some headache. But I know that everything will soon be settled. Are you vying for the stool? Yes, I have applied for the position of the Res-Tsam, and we are waiting for the kingmakers and the Kaduna State government. I am from one of the ruling clans. My uncle was once Sarkin Chawai and later, another of my relations contested for the position with the late Res-Tsam Danladi Yahaya in 1975. One of my brothers is a district head in Fadan Chawai, the seat of our traditional institution. So, I am originally from the ruling clan that is why I applied. But the more the issue is being prolonged, the more tension will mount in the land because the people need a leader to protect their culture.
Can you tell us about the Chawai people?
Chawai people originally were hunters, just like any other group of people. They became farmers and have cultivated the sense of living together for a very long time. And once people are living together, they need to have leadership arrangement where people need to live in peace. Chawai chiefdom has always been known to be a kingdom because of the civilization it has. It made sure that various aspects about running of the community were vested in the hands of different families. The kingmakers are different, the rulers are different.
The spiritualists are different. The king is selected from the royal family and that is all his powers. In case of Chawai, the position of kingmaker is rotated between two families: the Dawaki family and the Barwa family. When the leader dies, the other people take over the leadership. The oldest person in the family is always given the leadership position. He makes sure that the chief does his bidding. He must do his job, while the kingmakers do their job. Like I told you, the spiritualists are Zambina and Maizanko. They do their jobs separate from the persons who keep the royal sword. You cannot control that family. That is why I said there are checks and balances in the management of the affairs of the Chawai kingdom. There are armies and warriors who have their commanders. And will you believe it that the Galadima, who is in charge of that spiritual knife, is the commander in the field. Because of the special civilization of Chawai, we used to have ambassadors. We are talking about 200 years ago. At that time, when there was still slave trade, in the whole Hausa states, Zaria is known for leadership of slavery. They supplied slaves to the Sokoto Caliphate and Chawai was referred to as kofa (gateway), because there was a lot of trade in the area.
Why Chawai was called gateway during the slave trade?
The people from the North and South had to go through Chawai. There were a lot of commercial activities in Chawai also. Clifford passed through Chawai and gave the story of Chawai, and Kurmin Rigasa. Kurmin Rigasa used to be a fantastic commercial centre. When they left Kurmin Risga, they moved to Zangon Kataf. They sold variety of things, ranging from agricultural products, tools, blacksmith’s products, wooden products, carvings, clothing and salt. It’s not this type of salt we are using today, and it was used for cooking. They sold mats, potash and all sort of things, including honey and tamba. Those were the things that were being traded. That’s why Chawai people have been wearing clothes for over 200 years. At that time, some of our people could read and write.
Looking at the traditional setting, can one say that the Chawai people have been practicing democracy without even knowing?
Yes, everybody had his own role and there were checks and balances. But let me tell you, earlier on it was some kind of republican way of life. Everybody was living independent in his village but was brought together as one family because everybody was ruling in his clan. As civilization came, somebody became the leader and people became followers, and he appointed his advisers. And in the council of Sarkin Chawai, there were (and we still have) title holders. And even inside the palace, the women that are in charge of the house are different and they are just there for a purpose. So, giving chiefdom to Chawai by the Makarfi’s led administration was just a restoration of what had been in existence.