DURBAR, THE NORTHERN HORSE CULTURE.

Some people were of the opinion that the Hausas who are predominantly in the Northern part of Nigeria, are hardly known with any culture other than the ones borrowed from Islam or the Arabian world.
The asertion is very far from the truth, Nigeria is a country blessed with people of diverse cultures and traditional values.
The Hausas are known with so many cultures, but let treat the Durbar first.
Durbar is dated back to pre colonial days when clans, villages, towns, emirates engage in warfare to battle for supremacy over issues. During this period, each town, district and household was expected to contribute a regiment to the defence of the emirate.
This standing army are subjected to a kind of test, once or twice in a year, the emirate head invited the regiment for durbar parade for the emir and his chiefs.
During this parade, the regiments showcased their horsemanship, their preparedness for war and their loyalty to the emirate.
Now, the war parade has transformed to a festival used in honouring Important visitors, dignitaries to the northern part, i.e, visiting presidents, emirs and other people.
It has also been tailored with the two muslims most important festivals, the Id-ei-fitr (marking the end of muslims fast) and the Eid-el-kabir (the festival that is significant with ram).
The festival begins with each emirate racing across the square with their well decorated horses at a full gallop bearing a swords that will be glitting in the sun, they pass through the visitors and then stop abruptly to salute and pay homage.