RURAL PEOPLE: THE ABANDONED SOULS IN ZAMFARA

BIRNIN ZAUMA ROAD, LOCALLY-MADE
WOODEN BRIDGE

The life of rural communities in Zamfara has been a hell on earth since the demise of Directorate for Food Roads and Rural infrastructure (DFRRI) which was established by military regime of General Badamasi Babangida in 1986 as "a conscious attempt to move away from past narrow sectional pre-occupation to overall formulation of the national rural development strategy with emphasis on alleviation of rural poverty and enhancement of the quality of rural life”.

True to its central objective, this development policy achieved a lot in transforming the life of rural communities in the country. It has not escaped my memory how as a young boy I used to come out together with other children to watch how bulldozers, caterpillars, tippers and rollers worked indefatigably before the first drizzle of every rainy season to rehabilitate our rural road from Bukkuyum to Birnin Zauma, Birnin Wajje, Birnin Tudu and other rural settlements on that axis. Similar access roads from Tsafe to 'Yankuzo, Hayin Alhaji, 'Yar Talata and from Tsafe to 'Yan Waren Daji and Tafkin Kazai were also routinely renovated. It is a sheer paradox that the advent of democracy and its widely proclaimed dividend is not felt by the people of the settlements.

The politicians from the time of the first democratic governor (Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura), Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi to the incumbent governor of Zamfara State Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari have been playing politics with the lives of rural people. So many sweet promises to put Bukkuyum - Birnin Zauma 3.7 miles (5 KM) road in shape were made on the campaign pulpits but dumped after successful ascendency to the gubernatorial throne. The same empty promises were made to the 'Yankuzo people that their 17 KM road would be constructed. These are the roads that have never been asphalted, so it is muddy and sticky in the rainy season posing a great threat to the lives of people who have to travel through eroded, muddy potholed roads to Tsafe and Bukkuyumrespectively for urgent medical care, because the one block clinics in these populated wards are without medical personnels and facilities to cater for their health needs. What then does Shehi want us to do? 

'YAN KUZO ACCESS ROAD, TSAFE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

I remember how the electorates from these rural regions revolted en-masse against the former Governor, Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi on account of his failure to reconstruct the road and the Yari came and promised in his first pre-tenure campaign that it would be rehabilitated and when he did not, the people still expressed optimism that he would do it because he has constructed roads in other places, and they supported him with their votes for the second tenure. Alas! He still fail to look at the people with eyes of sympathy.

The Zamfara state government needs to do the needful and save the rural people from this terrible hardship. Enough of this negligence! #Saveruralcommunities.



By Ibrahim Bello Zauma

DISTANCE FROM BIRNIN ZAUMA TO GUSAU

HISTORY OF BIRNIN ZAUMA

To unravel the history of any region where record-keeping culture was at its lowest ebb, is not an easy task. However, there are elements of nature that preserve some undisputable historical facts aided and given weight by verbally
transmitted stories of events that transpired in laying the foundation of Birnin Zauma and the details of its development as a settlement. Birnin Zauma is a populated settlement in Bukkuyum Local Government Zamfara State situated on a hilly terrain beside River Zamfara. According to reliable sources, Birnin Zauma or Zoma as formally pronounced was founded more than 350 years ago. A legend has it that its founder was a hunter called 'Dan Kayaye'
The historical hypothesis that places Zauma at that age is based on firmly established historical record which portrayed the revivalist tour of Shaykh Usmanu Danfodiyo and his visit to Birnin Zauma as mentioned in the book titled "Great Lives" published by Ministry of Education Sokoto. The conclusion is drawn from the time of Shehu's visit to Zauma some few years before the Battle of Kwatto in 1804 (209 years ago). Shehu met a populated settlement of devoted Muslims in Zauma and built a large mosque there. This points to the fact that Shehu could not have built such a large mosque if the settlement was new and had only few houses. Thus, Birnin Zauma was a populated and well established settlement at the time of Shaykh Usman Danfodiyo that it could had been founded some 150 years before the historical revivalist tour.
If the 209 years of the Battle of Kwatto and 150 hypothetical years of Birnin Zauma settlement before Shehu's visit are summed up, the figure 359 years stands to be the probable age of Birnin Zauma.
Some sources show that Birnin Zauma and the old deserted Sabon Birni at its western outskirt were founded by brothers. Sabon Birni whose only surface relics are dye pits, broken pots, pieces of pottery ovens, dotted baobab trees and crumbling ancient wall was founded by a man called Bazai.

BIRNIN ZAUMA IN PICTURES

HINTS ON BIRNIN ZAUMA BLOG

AB0UT BIRNIN ZAUMA
Many attempts to provide comprehensive information about Birnin Zauma were made by different blogs and websites including www.maplandia.com and www.fallingrain.com.However, these efforts fall short of their goals! It can be asserted without running risk of error that the only accurate data they provide about the region are sattelite based informations and not retrieved through first- hand experience. The result of such efforts stops at producing sattelite maps and images indicating routes and distances between locations. This blog seeks to be different by extending the information to history, culture and the life of the people of Birnin Zauma relying heavily on informations I retrieve from the region through different reliable sources coupled with what I personally see especially with regard to cultural heritage of the people of Birnin Zauma.
As you can see, the image at the left side is the ancient wall of Birnin Zauma from the western gate. Though the wall is gradully crumbling, its deterioration did not obscure its salient features as a defense wall. Birnin Zauma is a populated settlement in Bukkuyum Local Government Zamfara State situated on a hilly terrain beside River Zamfara. Reliable sources indicate that Birnin Zauma or Zoma as formerly pronounced was founded more than 350 years ago. A legend has it that its founder was a hunter called 'Dan Kayaye'