I’m super excited to share with you all about this festival more like a street carnival call Durbar with reference to my hometown Bauchi. Generally, Durbar festival is an annual event celebrated in almost all the 19 states of Northern Nigeria. However, each state or emirate has its own special way for celebrating the festival but they all share many things in common.
Durbar festival is celebrated to mark the end of the Muslims’ holy fasting month of “Ramadan,” popularly know as “Eid Fitr.” Some states celebrate it again during the “Eid Adha” which is the pilgrimage and animal slaughtering festival celebrated 2 months after the “Ramadan” one.
The most popular durbar celebrations in the Northern states are Kano, Zaria-Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina, and Sokoto. The festival used to attract many tourists and culture enthusiasts nationally and internationally.
The traditional musical sounds entice spectators and the horse riders as well because that seems to give a kind of motivation, pride and confidence to the horse riders on the move. Some of them even dance to the tune of the sounds as they majestically pass. Durbar festival creates an avenue for peaceful coexistence in the states. It also waxes the harmonious relationships between the royal emirates and the state government, as well as the non-indigenous ethnics in the state.
In my hometown Bauchi, the Durbar festival is specially called “Hawan Daushe” where beautifully decorated horse riders converge in the emir’s palace contingent by contingent (including the emir’s contingent) in order to start the Durbar procession. Every year, each contingent creates a unique dress to be worn uniformly in competition to look better than all other contingents in the festival. There is a usual route every year where the procession follows.
The Durbar procession starts from the emir’s palace and they will first follow the Kofar Nassarawa road to pay a homage to the State Governor at the government house. After that, they will follow through Ahmadu Bello Way to Kofar Wunti/Kobi Street/Wunti Street up down to the emir’s palace again which is the final stop.
Thousands of spectators with full of energy, enthusiasm and smiles all over their faces will be anxiously waiting for the Durbar procession in all the aforementioned streets so as to witness their passage. The spectators cheer up the best and beautifully looking contingents.
Lastly, when you are in Durbar crowd, I would like to advice you to be very careful with your cellphones and pockets because some people are there to pickpocket your valuables. I will recommend to you either Ahmadu Bello Way or emir’s palace at the top with VIPs as the best spots to watch Durbar in Bauchi: There you’ll have clear spectacular views and less crowded.
Durbar is a an amazing experience to behold. I hope you loved it and you’ve got some tips from it. Thank you! ?
