Daura

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Daura is a city, emirate, and Local Government Area in Katsina State, northern Nigeria. It is the spiritual home of the Hausa people.

Contents

[edit] Connection with the Bayajidda legend

Daura is the city that Bayajidda, a figure from Hausa mythology, arrived at after his trek across the Sahara.[1] Once there, he killed a snake (named Sarki) who prevented the people from drawing water from the well, and the local queen, Magajiya Daurama, married him out of gratitude; one of their seven children was named Daura.[1] The well in Daura where Bayajidda is said to have slew Sarki is housed in a museum[2] and has become a tourist attraction.[3]

[edit] History

Daura is an emirate, and is referred to as one of the "seven true Hausa states" (Hausa Bakwai)[4] because it was, (along with Biram, Kano, Katsina, Zaria (Zazzau), Gobir, and Rano), ruled by the descendants of Bayajidda's sons with Daurama and Magaram, (his first wife).[1] As of 2007, Daura still has an emir.[5]

In 1805, during the Fulani War, Daura was taken over by Fulani warrior Malam Ishaku, who set up an emirate. The Hausa set up rival states nearby, and the ruler of one, Malam Musa, was made the new emir of Daura by the British in 1904.[4] Once part of Kaduna State,[4] Daura became part of the new Katsina State in 1987.[6]

The University of California's African American Studies Department refers to Daura, as well as Katsina, as having been "ancient seats of Islamic culture and learning."[7] However, the city also has a Roman Catholic church, St Gabriel's Catholic Church.[8]

In 2003, Lawal Garba, a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, was elected as Daura's representative to the House of Representatives of Nigeria. His term expires in 2007.[9]

[edit] Population and geographic statistics

Daura's population was estimated as 25,151 as of 1972,[4] the geographic coordinates are 13.0364 and 8.3178, and the elevation is 474 m.[10] According to the MARA/ARMA organization, malaria affects Daura for four to six months of the year, and is "endemic and seasonal."[11] In 2005, after an outbreak of measles in Katsina State, Daura became one of five training centers for workers who were to carry out immunization.[12]

On vehicle license plates, Daura is abbreviated as DRA.[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Dierk Lange. Oral version of the Bayajidda legend. Ancient Kingdoms of West Africa. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  2. ^ Bature, Abdullahi; Russel G. Schuh. Gani Ya Kori Ji. Hausar Baka. World of Languages. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  3. ^ Katsina State. NGEX, LLC. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  4. ^ a b c d "Daura". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  5. ^ "INEC registers 1.8m voters in Katsina", The Tide Online, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, 2007-01-09. Retrieved on 2007-01-24. 
  6. ^ Katsina State. Nigeria Direct. Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  7. ^ African Films and Documentaries: Daura and Katsina, Nigeria. The Hausa Woman. University of California's African American Studies Department. Retrieved on 2007-01-24.
  8. ^ Sokoto Diocese. Diocesan Information. Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. Retrieved on 2007-01-24.
  9. ^ House of Representatives Member : Honourable Lawal Garba. The House of Representatives. National Assembly of Nigeria. Retrieved on 2007-01-24.
  10. ^ Maps, Weather, and Airports for Daura, Nigeria. fallingrain.com. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  11. ^ Nigeria: Duration of the Malaria Transmission Season. mara.org.za. MARA/ARMA (Mapping Malaria Risk in Africa / Atlas du Risque de la Malaria en Afrique) (July 2001). Retrieved on 2007-01-24.
  12. ^ "Measles kills 500 children in Katsina", The Tide Online, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, 2005-10-25. Retrieved on 2007-01-24. 
  13. ^ NGR - Nigeria - Where's That Vehicle Come From?. Where's That Vehicle Come From?. Retrieved on 2007-01-24.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
LGAs and communities of Katsina State
State capital: Katsina
LGAs

Bakori · Batagarawa · Batsari · Baure · Bindawa · Charanchi · Dan-Musa · Dandume · Danja · Daura · Dutsi · Dutsin-Ma · Faskari · Funtua · Ingawa · Jibia · Kafur · Kaita · Kankara · Kankia · Katsina · Kurfi · Kusada · Mai'Adua · Malumfashi · Mani · Mashi · Matazu · Musawa · Rimi · Sabuwa · Safana · Sandamu · Zango

 Map of Nigeria highlighting Katsina State

Coordinates: 13.0364° N 8.3178° E

Languages