Durbar festival

The Durbar festival is an annual cultural, religious and equestrian festival, celebrated as a core part of the Arewa (Northern Nigerian) Hausa culture. Durbar has existed for centuries and is as an essential part of Hausa Kingdoms and Hausa tradition. Durbar is a paramount part of Hausa cultural rites, tradition and history and the Hausa are renowned in history as ancient horsemen and warriors of the Sahara and the Sahel.
Durbar is performed in several northern cities of Nigeria, which include the original ancient Hausa Emirates are such as Kano, Katsina, Lafia, Gombe, Akko Emirate, Sokoto, Zazzau, Bauchi, Bida, and Ilorin. The festival is usually celebrated by these Emirates city following the end of Ramadan and also coincides with the Muslim festivities of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitri. Kano Durbar Festival is Northern Nigeria's (Arewa) Most Spectacular Tribal Horse parade which marks the celebration of Hausa Kingdom's cultural treasure.
It begins with prayers at dawn, followed by a colourful mounted parade of the Emir and his retinue of horsemen, musicians, and artillerymen. At the Durbar festivals noblemen travel to pay homage to the Emir and reaffirm their loyalty to their various emirates.
The festival dates back to the 14th century in Kano, the Emirate of Hausa Kingdom and the largest city in Northern Nigeria. The Kano durbar festival is a four-day extravaganza of opulence, horsemanship, and street parades.
The word durbar is of Persian origin and it was first linked to ceremonial assemblies marking the proclamation of Queen Victoria as the Empress of colonial India in 1877. But the native Hausa use the term "Hawan Sallah" to describe the festival - meaning the "Mount of Eid", "Hawan" referencing the physical mounting of the horse and "Sallah" being the Hausa name for Eid.
Historians say the "Hawan Daushe" (Mount of Daushe) was introduced to Kano during the reign of Muhammadu Rumfa in the 1400s. During and after the Fulani Jihad horses were used in warfare to protect the Emirate. Each noble household was expected to defend the Emirate by forming a regiment. Once a year, the regiments would gather for a military parade to demonstrate allegiance to their ruler, by showcasing their horsemanship, readiness for war, and loyalty.
The Jahi race is the Durbar's centrepiece and the Hawan Daushe's final item on the programme. Several horse riders in the emirate charge full speed towards the emir, then abruptly stop when they approach him and wave their sword or flag before exiting. The Emir and his entourage ride through a number of quarters housing historically significant families before returning to the palace via the Kofar Kudu gate for the Jahi - the horsemen's salute. The Palace guards march into position after the Jahi and fire several gunshots into the air, signaling the end of the Hawan Daushe Durbar.
Hawan Sallah – the Festival Riding, followed by Hawan Daushe, Hawan Nassarawa, and Hawan Doriya. The most fascinating and impressive aspect of the Durbar celebration is the Hawan Daushe, which also includes the "Jahi", which attracts viewers from all over the world.
The Hawan Daushe began as the Emir and his entourage ride out of Gidan Rumfa – the Emir's Palace, past Kofar Kwaru to Babban Daki – the palace of the Queen Mother, where he pays tribute to his mother.
Other say that the Durbar festival was introduced to Nigeria by colonial administrators with political objectives in mind. The word durbar is of Persian origin and it was first linked to ceremonial assemblies marking the proclamation of Queen Victoria as the Empress of colonial India in 1877. In Nigeria, the events then were ceremonial in nature. The first Durbar was held in 1911, subsequent ceremonies were held in 1924, 1925, 1948, 1960 and 1972. The ceremonies linked together pre-colonial aspects of martial display, colonist-created assemblies and celebrations of important events in Northern Nigeria.
The Durbar festival featured prominently in the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, sometimes known as Festac 77. Since Festac, the colonial origin was gradually phased out and the events were linked with pre-colonial traditions such as the importance of horses for military purposes and ceremonies in the Bornu Empire and the ceremonies of "Hawan Sallah" and "Hawan Idi".
In December 2024, the festival was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible cultural heritage.