By Henry Akubuiro
A History of Biu, Bukar Usman, Klamidas Communications Ltd, Abuja, 2022, pp. 693
If you haven’t been to the southern Borno town of Biu, perhaps you have missed the seduction of nature and its balms. Located in a strategic part of the northeast, Biu boasts of one of Nigeria’s most beautiful sceneries. Beyond its scenic beauty, however, lies a rich history from precolonial, colonial and post independence, penned down by Dr. Bukar Usman in A History of Biu.
First published in 2015, A History of Biu is a continuation of Dr. Bukar Usman’s self-imposed assignment to bridge the gap between the African past and the present through scribal and multimedia channels, driven by rigorous research. This has resulted in blooming flowers in the garden of knowledge for all to relish.
Compared to Kanuri, Biu’s history isn’t widely circulated. Before now, aspects of Biu’s history were chronicled by European explorers, government anthropologists, colonial administrators and missionaries, which were limited in scope and didn’t represent all about Biu up to the present age.
Usman acknowledges these limitations when he says: “The well-meaning white colonialist was at best a curious outsider peering into the landscape of a strange world, misinterpreting cultural intentions, perhaps without meaning to do so” (p.14). A History of Biu, therefore, is a detailed up-to-date history of Biu that would be easily accessible to those who may be interested in enhancing their knowledge of the traditional state of Biu.
The latest edition of A History of Biu is slightly different from the previous publication but not much changes have been made in the reprinted book. Following some contentious points raced by some indigenous people from Biu Emirate, the author has made some useful corrections while adding additional shafts in narratives where the original chronicles attracted dissonant voices.
A History of Biu takes you to Biu Emirate through a scribal thoroughfare and virtual testaments. Just as this reviewer was tempted to visit Biu after reading the first edition of the book, you might be lured to have a look in after reading the book. “Biu town lies on the Biu Plateau which dominates its topography,” writes Usman in the first chapter. Instantly, that gives you an idea of what Biu looks like. You also learn that the plateau is fed by Hawul, Divana, Ruhu, Mandafuma, Manda Kisim, Sabil Hili, Manda Mbula, Whu-Mandara Abdu, Mwada ka Thlama, and Gwand Zang rivers.
Usman adds that escarpments transverse the whole of Biu, bearing captivating evidence of extinct volcanic eruptions in time past.
The author furnishes us with the diverse trees found in Biu, from the imposing Fur Kwagu/Kogu (baobab tree) to Fur Bwala (Bwaka tree).
You will also find pictures of tourist attractions, including the Tilla Lake/Hill at Kwaya Bura in Hawul, Local Government Area, Mandaragrau Hill at Kurtun village, Gwaram Hill along Biu-Damaturu Road, Jur Rock at Biu Cotton Ginnery, Njurang Hill at Kwaya Kusar LGA, Marama Hill in Hawul LGA, etcetera.
The colonial history of Biu, as recorded in A History of Biu, recalls the Origin of Biu Kingdom, Settlement History of Biu Kingdom Groups, Traditional Administration of Biu Kingdom, People and Languages of Biu Kingdom, and Cultural Practices of Biu Kingdom Groups.
This unputdownable read informs us that Biu is the name of a kingdom, a local government area and an emirate comprising four local governments with a longstanding traditional monarchy. Before the adventures of Yamtarawala, who was to found the Biu Kingdom, Usman explains that Biu wasn’t the domain of a central monarch. Rather, it was populated by indigenous groups who generally spoke Bura language and lived in fairly independent communities.
The Babur/Bura, the book tells us, is the most populous group in the Biu Emirate. It is a linguistically similar and culturally related unit that shares significant cultural affinities with other ethnic groups in the emirate, most of which belong to the Biu-Mandara group of Chadic languages.
In tracing the origin of Biu, Usman examines recorded occurrences, events and personages authenticated by oral tradition.
The most significant personage in ancient Biu, as noted by Usman, is Yamtarawala, a man imbued with “super-human qualities and dare-devil acts”, ranking him in the same league as Oduduwa of the Yoruba people and Bayajidda of the Hausa people of Daura.
Through conquest, after he fell out of favour with the establishment in Ngazargamu, the ancient capital of Kanem Bornu Empire, he established the Biu Kingdom and became the first Kuthli (king) in 1535.
In the third chapter, Usman recollects the settlement history of Biu Kingdom groups such as Miringa, one of the first points of contacts when Yamtarawala arrived from Ngazagarmu; Mandaragrau, Kogu, Buratai, Bam, Gur, Sakwa, Kwajaffa, Kwaya Bura, Kwaya Kusar, Zobi, Wandali, Yimirdlalang, Brihyel, Jara Nda’li, Zara, Balbaya, Wuyo, Fikahyel, Teli, Jara Gol (Gwal), Shani, among others.
The traditional administrative setup of Biu Kingdom shows administrative practices that were established before the coming of the British. The book informs that, though the system was monarchical, the king ruled through a traditional structure anchored on title-holders and royal stewards. The Biu organogram shows the Kuthli on top of the administrative hierarchy with Biu Tradition Council following behind. Below them are Traditional Title-holders, Administrative Establishment and Royal Warriors.
Although the clans of Biu Kingdom constituted the key units of kinship grouping in the pre-colonial society, Usman informs that they were and still remain subsets of larger entities called ethnic groups, which include Babur (Pabir), Bura, Tera, Kanakuru, Chibok, Marghi, Pidlimdi, Jara, Komberi, and Fulani. Apart from Babur/Bura, A History of Biu declares that all the other ethnic groups are non-homogeneous.
As the second section of the book winds up, A History of Biu educates the reader with the cultural practices of Biu Kingdom groups. Among them are folktales and tribal marks, the latter which have grown out of fashion. This chapter also includes details about traditional marriage among different Biu ethnic groups.
No doubt, Biu Emirate is steeped in culture, and Usman doesn’t forget to mention the major annual festivals, from local wrestling of Brihyel and Fikahyel to Menwara Festival of Shani. There is an abundance of photos in this book, including artworks, musical instruments, Barber’s instruments and healing materials, sites of former Biu capital, some notable Biu personalities, among others.