BIU: A Visit to a City on a Plateau (1)
Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
I have been hearing stories about the city of Biu and its people for more than two decades. A town in Borno State, it’s a city of heritage and legends.
I started having contact with people of Biu in the year 2006 and that was the beginning of my stunning, cordial relations and experiences with every Biu man or woman I interacted with since then. Every time I meet Biu man, I develop interest to visit the town. I want to visit the historical town to see the good, hospitable, resilient and courageous people. The people of respect, love, discipline and indeed patriotism – Babur/Bura.
The first personality from Biu I interacted with was Zainab Musa in Kaduna in 2006. That was when I was working with Public Agenda newspaper as Arts and Literary Editor. Zainab was one of the administrative staff of the company. She was Babur from Biu. It was her parents that relocated to Kaduna for civil service.
Zainab was then a young lady full of herself – humble and disciplined. She showed respect to her colleagues especially elders. Another good quality I noticed in her was her dedication to Allah. She was truly a practicing Muslim. She always wore hijab that covers all parts of her body. Throughout our stay in the company, I never noticed a single unworthy character in her. That’s the reason I said to myself, “this lady must have come from a good and disciplined family.” This accords with the saying that only sweet tree produces sweet fruit. Right from that time, I accord respect to Biu people for they had a good ambassador in Zainab.
My next encounter with a Biu indigene was Musa Salihu in the same year, 2006, barely five months after my interaction with Zainab. He was just like Zainab in character, and so equally had a good impression on me as to the sincerity and goodwill of typical Babur people. I met Salihu at Media Trust Limited, Abuja where I secured appointment as editorial staff of the newly established Hausa weekly titled Aminiya. I joined the company on 15th June, 2006.
Salihu was among the advertorial staff of Daily Trust newspapers when we met. A young man, cheerful, friendly and indeed jovial. One of his best habits that drew my attention to him then was his devotion to Allah. Although he was moderate in religion, you can’t find him wanting or playing with daily prayers. He was also trustworthy and merciful towards his colleagues – he loves for others whatever he loves for himself. These sterling qualities were what cemented our friendship till date, despite he left the company earlier than me.
As full-blooded Babur, Salihu and Zainab succeeded in sowing the seed of love of Babur people in my heart. By their good attitudes, I realized and understood that truly an average Babur/Bura man and woman can be trusted. I thought and reflected, if Zainab and Salihu as youths could behave so well, what more of their elders?
Hajia A’isha Umar Yusuf, though an indigene of Kano State, is Babur by tribe because her parents were from Biu. I also met her during my appointment with Media Trust Limited, Abuja in 2006. She was the pioneer Editor of Aminiya where I worked under her as an editorial staff.
She was a woman of virtue, generous and very intelligent. She was very religious, practices Islam with clear understanding. One of her traits was her love for justice and fairness. She loved and supported anything about education. I’m such a lucky chap that every Biu person I met always turns up to be upright and of sound character. Such is the same testimony with my contact with Mrs. Yusuf – a worthy ambassador to the Babur clan.
The next good man of impeccable character from Biu I came into contact with in my life is Dr. Bukar Usman, OON. I will never forget; I met him for the first time in the year 2007 through a fellow Hausa author, Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino. The essence of the meeting was about his Hausa publication, the famous collection of Taskar Tatsuniyoyi and of course his humanitarian Foundation – Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation.
I must confess, through beneficial interaction with Dr. Usman I totally submit and believe that a greater percent of Biu people or rather the tribe of Babur/Bura are one of the best homosapiens in the black world. Is it decorum, humility or easy-going nature? When it comes to patriotism, they are nationalistic. When it comes to the issue of learning and teaching, they are custodians of knowledge. Through the books, magazines and articles published by Dr. Usman, I really found a great teacher who moulded my life positively.
To elaborate, some of the works of Dr. Usman that impacted so much on my life included among others his famous autobiography, Hatching Hopes. In it, I learned the importance of education, obedience to leaders, elders and also the importance of honesty, justice and equity. I learned that idleness is the worst form of negativity that ruins society. I studied how he built his life through doggedness, search for knowledge, dedication to duty, patriotism, altruism and thus achieved greater success in life, worthy of emulation.
More so, by his great literary collection of Taskar Tatsuniyoyi, I understood for sure, Babur/Bura people share common traditional norms and culture with other major tribes of Africa, like Hausa, Swahili, Fulani, Yoruba and even Arabs, etc.
Also in his book, Girl-Child Education in Biu Emirate: The Early Years, I came to know more about the diligence and determination of Biu women in terms of search for knowledge and their sacrifice to human development.
In fact, the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back is the famous, voluminous book of history by Dr. Usman, A History of Biu. The book is an eye opener, a guide and interface in knowing the greatness, the endowment and the richness of Biu Emirate and indeed the people of Babur/Bura. I was enticed more by the legend, warrior – Yamtarawala, the founder of Biu kingdom. His bravery, his conquests and exploits were extraordinary.
Another great man of Babur extraction I met is Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, CFR (retired), former Chief of Army Staff (COAS). It was precisely in the year 2015 that I heard of the name Buratai for the first time. That was when former President Muhammadu Buhari announced him as the COAS. Since then, I developed interest in his activities. Later on, I got the privilege of meeting him one-on-one.
I met Buratai through Brigadier General Sani Usman K/Sheka (retired). I was privileged to translate his biography titled The Legend of Buratai into Hausa. It’s indeed a fact, Babur people are special. I must visit this town that produces great people – Biu, the city on a plateau.
My cordial interactions with Dr. Usman and Gen. Buratai (retired) and other influential people of Biu heightened my interest to go and see the legendary town of Biu. The town of history and tradition. The town of heritage, mountains and splendor.
I made up my mind to pay a visit to Biu to satisfy my curiosity. I wanted to visit the historical sites, including the legendary settlement of the famous warrior, Yamtarawala. I wanted to see the mysterious royal cemetery, where previous Biu kings were laid to rest. I wanted to visit the Tilla Mountain and its crater lake. I wanted to see the great culture on display – the songs and dances and many more.
He who seeks shall find and he who knocks the door shall be opened. And that’s true as regards to my yearnings about Biu. I now have the satisfaction for I visited the town on Wednesday, 25th October, 2023. And I spent seven good days in Biu. I visited many important places of history and educational institutions in Biu. I had interviews with many influential people, men and women. These included His Royal Highness the Emir of Biu, Alhaji (Dr). Mustapha Umar Mustapha Aliyu II, CON. I had one-on-one interview with the recently turbaned Betara of Biu, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, CFR (retired).
I received a red-carpet reception from a good friend of mine. The man of goodwill and hospitality, Malam Umar Mohammed Midala. The man was tireless in his efforts to see that I enjoyed my stay in the town. He guided and escorted me in my visits to many important places and introduced me to all the important people I envisaged to meet.
This is the First Part of my travelogue to Biu. The Second Part to follow carries a lot concerning what and how I saw the town; my further observations and testimonies about the people of Babur/Bura and their famous town of heritage – Biu.
My name is Gambo Isa from Babur district Miringa – Biu area council.
In your travallogue people you met from Biu emirate for forgotten your good friend in the Audit dept of Daily trust then Mallam Gambo Isa alangubro as you tagged& always with Fulani people like Galadima .
Am also one of them we met in Media trust publishers of Daily trust & Aminiya Mallam Gizago always on the fince
Hajji Gambo, am very sorry for the missing link. You know how writing is, human errors do occur. I will surely mention you in my subsequent piece. This is of 5 parts.
Thanks.
Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi,
Editor-in-Chief,
Taskar Gizago Magazine.
Thank you very much for the comprehensive post about your visit to Biu. We will always remain grateful to you. As you have rightly said, we will be expecting more. May Allah give you the strength to keep the oromise
You are welcome Dan Kishin Kasa. This travelogue is of 5 parts and your interview will feature in the subsequent parts by Allah’s grace.
Thanks for all the support.
Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi,
Editor-in-Chief,
Taskar Gizago Magazine.
Thank you for visiting our Home town and for your complimentary to us
I’m grateful for the hospitality of peace loving people of Biu. Await for the second part of the travelogue this week by Allah’s grace.