Dr Aminu Musa Audu, a London based sociologist, author of the Ochamalienwu Theory of Community Policing, has called on Kogi state government to consider granting official recognition and sponsorship of the annual Sallah Durban Festival organised by the Abu Bebeji Akono Clan of the Mandala Ata Igala-Angwar Ategune/Etutuobo Chiefdom in Idah over the weekend.
He also called for official recognition and grading of the historically significant Royal Mandala Ata Igala traditional stool to truly reflect the essence in the context of Kogi state traditional institution.
Addressing the 335th edition of the Sallah Durban Festival/Annual General Meeting event held at Angwa Ategune, Idah, Dr. Aminu said if given official recognition, the sallah durban will maximise the tourism and its associated socio-economic potentials of Idah local government council and Kogi state,
Dr. Aminu, who is also the President, Abu Bebeji Akono Descendants Association Worldwide, harped on the significance of the sallah durban, adding that it was an opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the importance of independence, peace and freedom for the Igala Kingdom and her people under the erstwhile leadership of Ata Igala Ayegba Omidoko and in the context of wider contemporary Kogi State and Nigeria.
“Drawing inferences from my over twenty years of research field work about the Bebeji Malamai and the Warfare in precolonial Igala Kingdom. it has been revealed that prior to the assumption of the throne of Ata of Idah Kingdom by Ata Ayegba Omidoko who reigned (1687-1717), Idah(Igala Kingdom) was completely under the control of the Bini and Jukun imperial authorities. The associated rebellious armed conflicts and warfare that the political situation had generated led to the unfortunate loss of the precious lives of the four previous Atas before him.
“The several other casualties among the Igala people and the subsequent negative consequences and impact on the people were too devastating and numerous to mention. When he took over the reign, the scenario was similarly chaotic despite taking some of the most difficult decisions that were available to him at the time.
However, as providence would have it, there was a critical intelligence information about the tested ability of a famous mystically powerful Hausa Muslim cleric Malam Abu Awaina (that would later be popularly known as Malam Abu Bebeji Akono) who was believed to be capable of putting the Igala challenge of survival to permanent rest. That information emanated in the Kano market between Ahmadu Bebeji and AjumaOti of Agaidoko clan of Igala, during the duos business transactions. Ata of Igala Kingdom of Idah Ayegba Oma-Idoko in the present day Kogi State, Nigeria, thereafter invited our apical ancestor Malam Abu Awaina (Malam Abu Bebeji Akono), a Hausa Muslim cleric from Bebeji in the present day Bebeji Local Government Council of Kano State, Nigeria.
“Malam Abu Bebeji Akono was subsequently given the highest military royal honour and decoration (Mandala AtaIgala-Angwar Ategune/Etutuobo) in the year c.1690, for helping the Kingdom achieve unprecedented victory in the warfare and sociopolitical and economic independence from the imperial powers; that would provide the peaceful environment for the ‘golden age’ of the Kingdom’s development into the 20th century until the era of British conquest and colonial administration of Nigeria(1900-1960).
“Following the persuasion of Malam Abu Akono titled with Mandala Ata Igala(royal throne of victory) and his team (Malam Aliyu Bebeji, Malam Ahmed Awal, Malam Ahmadu Atahiru, Malam Bukar Bebeji, Malam Adam Yahaya and Malam Muhammad Kabiru; who were given three royal titles- Akpochi AtaIgala Angwa Ayegba(throne for gallantry in warfare) , Ochalla Angwa (Youth Leader) and Limamu(leads Muslim prayer); to share in rotation among themselves)) to stay after the momentous victory, they helped in the Igala expansionist project and as Muslim scholars, they also helped in the establishment and propagation of the Islamic Religion in the Igala Kingdom.
“In addition, this Sallah Durban Festival and similar Gani acrobatics festivities usually staged by the descendants of his Bebeji warriors across the Idah, Ankpa and other parts of the Igala Kingdom are not only a celebration of the pre-eminence and gallantry of our ancestral figure and Leader- Malam Abu Bebeji Akono and his six Bebeji warriors, and subsequent descendants, but also traditionally linked to the demonstrations of cultural solidarity, varieties of African Hausa culture of warfare and peace, entertainments, tourism, traditional medicine, royalties, and spiritual mysticism as a problem-solving mechanism in the context of African indigenous knowledge at that time in human evolutionary and survival history.
“We are also using this opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the importance of independence, peace and freedom for the Igala Kingdom and her people under the erstwhile leadership of Ata Igala Ayegba Omidoko and in the context of wider contemporary Kogi State and Nigeria.
“At today’ festivities, there is social magnet connecting descendants of Abu Akono from Angwa Ategune, Etutuobo, Ogenegu-Ikakwuewe, Ugwolawo, Ugwoda, Ejule, Oko-Ikeke, Iyale, Iyegu, Ugbetulu, Idah, Ikpakpala, Ukpologo, Abocho, Dekina, Ajaka, Alokoina, Ate-Uge, Anyigba, Ologba, Aya, Egabada, Ukpakele, Bassa, Ankpa, and other communities across the land and our people across the globe. Indeed, today is the GROUND DAY to celebrate Malam Abu Bebeji Akono and his warriors in Igala Kingdom of Kogi State,” he narrated.
Speaking about milestones achieved over the years, Dr. Aminu recalled that in July 2024 he made a special call to many members of the community who are residents not only at the home front in Kogi State, but also in all over the world.
“Your Highness, respected fellow clan members, the forum has developed into Abu Bebeji Akono Descendants Association Worldwide, flourishing in every aspect of life in terms of family bonding, social solidarity and development of our collective heritage. We are grateful to Allah the Almighty for His grace upon our lives and the grant of wisdom and sense of guidance to shaping our communities positively.
“Our ancestral heritage has a great reputation for humanitarian service, and peace making. We strive to create peace where there is conflict and chaos. We celebrate peace and harmony with each other and with people who are peaceful. Those with Bebeji-Kano root are historically known for knowledge, wealth, and problem-solving skills, and currently producing the wealthiest black man on earth. Given the enviable legacies of the Bebeji Malamai in the 17th century Igala and the high profile personalities that their seeds have produced, what is then our efforts to address some of the numerous challenges besieging the Igala in particular and Nigeria in the contemporary world? We need to use this gathering to reflect accordingly,” he said.
Dr. Aminu expressed gratitude to governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu Oyibo for providing the necessary conducive, environment for the successful staging of the Sallah Durban event.
He also thanked the Ata Igala who is the custodian of culture and tradition of the area, His Royal Majesty Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa for his continued maximum support for the celebration of this landmark festival.
