gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com Author: Abdullahi Lawan (Aml Gash) E-mail: gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com LGA/STATE OF ORIGIN:- NGURU, YOBE STATE PERMANENT ADDRESS: SARKIN HAUSAWA STREET HAUSARI WARD, MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA Tel: +2348022001990 Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF MACHINA Machina (also known as Matsena) is a Local Government Area in Yobe State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Machina at13°08′11″N 10°02′57″E. It shares a border in the north with The Republic of Niger. Coordinates: 13°06′N 10°00′E . Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com History of Machina Machina is one of the remotest towns in Yobe State. Located about 300 kilometres north of Damaturu, the state capital, it is an emirate that prides itself of a rich cultural and historical background. One of the unique things about the historical town is that snakes and human beings are friends and do not harm each other. It is not clear when the fraternity between Machina Kingdom and snakes began. But one thing that is very clear is that the people of the kingdom do not joke with the relationship or take it for granted. The enmity between man and snake may date back to creation, but the people of Machina are not ones to ever harm a snake. The nation news (2020) stated that the Emir, Alhaji (Dr) Bashir Albishir Bukar Machinama, OON, explained the origin of the fraternity and the consequences of violating it in an interview with their correspondent. He said: “The fraternity between human beings and snakes is one of the many things people want to know about Machina. It is based on some historical facts. Our parents used to tell us that snakes are not killed in Machina because in this palace, there was a time one of the Emir’s wives gave birth to a human being and a snake, and the snake stayed for about 3 days in the palace. “Because it could not cope with human activities, it crawled into the rocks. You know the palace is just near the rocks. So as we human beings have generations up to my own age and maybe my children, grandchildren great grandchildren, we thought also that snakes too have their generations and we have a relationship with them. “People should not misunderstand this. I am not the person who was born Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com with the snake. Neither was it my father or my grandfather. But it was one of the rulers of Machina. “If we are celebrating, no matter what type of celebration, whether it is naming ceremony or there is going to be a birth in this palace, sometimes we see snakes coming out and we would wonder what is happening and pray that it is a thing of joy not of sadness. “So if we are going to experience something good or bad, snakes will come out. And there have been many occasions when snakes came out to celebrate with us. “Normally, when you come, you might not see them. But sometimes if you are lucky, you will see them moving around the palace. “There is a place I normally rest in the evening; sometimes snakes will just come under my chair, stay for some minutes and go. They will not do any harm. They will just move round and round and go. That is why we consider snakes as part of us, our blood relations. So, we don’t allow people to kill snakes in Machina.” Asked if there are consequences for killing a snake in the town, the Emir said: “I can give three instances that I am a witness to. We had one gentle man who was at his tender age. They were clearing farm with my father just behind the rocks. A snake came out and the gentleman took a stick and killed it. Then all of a sudden, he started shivering and he was rushed to his house. At sunset, snakes started trooping into the gentleman’s house to the extent that he could not sleep in his house that night. “His body became weak as if he had no bones in it, and he started crawling like a snake, moving his tongue like them. “They came and reported the incident to my father. My father ordered that Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com the young man should be brought to the palace. He was brought into the palace and they gave him some medicine, prayed and begged for forgiveness. He recovered and after some weeks went back to his house. A Snake Chamer “But one thing is that whenever that particular period of the year comes, the gentleman would fall sick and would not get better unless they gave him the medicine. “Since he was like a house boy to my mother, the medicine was put under the custody of my mother. Anytime he fell sick, they would just come to my mother, get the medicine and go administered it on him and he would be fine again for the year. “Up until the period when my father died, he was suffering from that illness for over 40 years, and I continued with him. I appointed him as one of my village heads. He was posted to Karigide village. “Even in Karigide village, once that season comes, he will fall sick and luckily, my mother is still alive. She would send the medicine to him, and once he took it, he would be okay again. Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com “About three years ago, he died and we appointed his son to the throne of the village head. So this is one typical example of killing snakes and its consequences. “In the second instance, my father bought a tractor for farming and employed a driver from Jigawa State. That driver came with his family and settled in Machina. He married another woman from Machina, so he had two wives. “The one he came with was at her tender age, so she was not out of giving birth. One afternoon, a snake came into their house and they were shouting, ‘Snake! Snake!’ Then the woman from Machina said they should forget about it, that it would not harm anyone. “But the husband and the older wife said how can we be living in the house with snakes? Before they could do something, the snake had already entered a hole in the house. He ordered his wife to boil water. With the help of his pregnant wife, the one he came with from Jigawa, they poured the hot water in the hole where the snake entered. “When the wife gave birth to a baby girl, the baby she gave birth to was as if she had no bones in her body. She was just like a snake. She stayed up to 14 or 16 years before she died. “When you heard her speaking behind the scene, you would think it was an able human being. She could speak with her mouth, she could hear and see, but she cannot use her hands and legs. If she must move, they must use a basin to carry her up until that age or she would just be crawling like a snake. “That is another example of the implications of killing snake in Machina. “In the third instance, there was a time, just about sunset, a snake came out from that gentleman’s house and they were shouting snake! Snake! The family said, ‘Leave it; it won’t harm anybody.’ Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com “You know about snake charmers. The man thought he had charms and he could do anything with snakes. He started following the snake. As the snake ran up to the outskirts of the town, he matched on the snake’s tail to take it. “But just as he was about to pick it, the snake retaliated and bit the snake charmer. The man rushed to his master for rescue, and he was given oral medicine and the one he would use to bathe. But before he could even remove his clothes in the bathroom, he gave up. “After sometime, he did not come out of the bathroom. When the master went to check, he saw the dead body of the boy and the snake beside the dead body. Both the young man and the snake died. “These are the three typical examples of the implications of killing a snake. So a snake does not harm anybody if you don’t touch it. And it is dangerous for someone to touch it or try to kill it. If you don’t touch it, it will go its own way and you will go yours.” But what happens if you are a stranger and mistakenly harm a snake? To this, he said: “Well, in most cases, the state of nature made certain animals in such a way that once you see them, you will have fear for them. Immediately you shout snake, snake, people would say leave it. “So you will get that particular notice unless it is on the outskirts of the town. You know Machina has developed beyond its boundary. Where the snakes are is within the old city and near the palace. “But there are some dangerous snakes outside Machina which people do kill; even we do kill them on our farms. Not all the snakes. But there are specific species that we don’t kill. Even if it is black cobra, we know them and we don’t kill them. “The more they grow, the more they change their colours from this whitish silver colour to brownish to black and the rest, so we don’t kill them. Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com “And then there are certain species normally that are dangerous to be killed because they are not harmful, but we don’t have such cases. “In most cases, anybody who comes to Machina, they know that snakes are not killed in Machina. “So we don’t have that experience of killing snakes by accident. But doing so intentionally, it is very dangerous.” How then would visitors to Machina know about the taboo of killing snakes if they are not sensitized? “Well, we don’t tell them. But one thing is that many people are aware of it. If you asked we will tell you the story. But if you don’t aske, we don’t tell the story, and people who stay in the town they would hear people saying they don’t kill snakes in Machina. “They may hear the story before even getting to Machina. Most people who come to Machina know the story.” But how old is this tradition of fraternity between snakes and human beings in machine? “Well, I don’t have the specific date of the Emir who was the twin brother to the snake. So it is very difficult to give the specific date. But what I can tell you is that I, the present Emir of Machina, I am the 77th traditional leader of Machina. “Out of the 77 traditional leaders, only one is not from our blood linage. He was brought from Damangana Zingri in Niger Republic when the Sultan of Zingri came surprisingly and captured Machina Nguru and some part of Potiskum area; that is Mai Potiskum area. “So the leader of Machina was taking to Zingri for six years. Then later he was freed and came back and took over his leadership. And that was my father’s grandfather, Maina Maila Idrissa. So that was the only person Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com whose tenure had two breaks. “The first one was as a result of Zingri Damangana engagement in Machina and the second one was as a result of the coming of the Europeans. He fled and he came back about two years or so later. “He ruled Machina in three subsequent times and later died on the throne, and his son, Mai Ali Idrissa, inherited the throne and later my father Mai Bukkar Aliyu Idrissa, then myself. So out of the 77, only one is not from the linage of the founder of Machina. “So, this year, Machina is over 1,400 years, because it started its reign when the Kanem Borno Empire was under the Sifawa Dynasty. You know we have two dynasties in Kanem Borno. We have the Shehu Dynasty, which is currently the ruling family from the Shehu Elkanami. “So the present Shehu is the 20th Shehu of Borno while ours, I am the 77th Mai Machina. You can look at the historical variation. So it is very difficult to give you the exact date or era when the snake thing started. The cultural heritages of the people of Machina in the present Yobe state are a source of pride to them as MUSA M. BUBA witnessed the annual festival as captured in this report. The absence of culture is likened to a tree without its roots. Over the years, many cultures were at the verge of fading away globally either due to the influence of westernisation and religion, among others. In Machina Emirate of Yobe state, however, the case is different as people flow into the state to witness its annual festival known as Machina Cultural Festival (MACUF) because of its unifying factor. Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com Machina Emirate: Where Snakes Pay Homage To King Dailytrust (Sun Nov 11 2018) Stated that Snakes are generally seen as dangerous reptiles, but in Machina Emirate, Yobe State, they are revered. Here, it is believed that royal blood runs in their veins. In fact, they consistently pay homage to the Mai Machinama palace, where their ancestor was born, together with one of their ancestral kings, as twins. According to history, a queen gave birth to twins in the palace, a human being and a snake. Being a snake, it couldn’t stay long with its mother, thus, it found its way into the rocks behind the emir’s palace. It is said that its descendants still enjoy all the privileges that come with royalty. It is also believed that, just like the Machina Emirate, the forebear of the snake procreated kings, queens and princesses that were of equal status with their relatives in the kingdom. Corroborating the story, the Emir of Machina (Mai Machinama), His Royal Highness, Dr. Bashir Albishir Bukar (OON), said the snake started its generation like regular human family immediately after it went into the rocks. “Since then, their lineage has continued, just like human beings. I am the 77th Mai Machinama, so there must be one snake that has attained the same position in their kingdom,’’ he said. Bukar revealed that during his father’s installation as emir, many snakes came out and gathered at the palace entrance and socialised with people without causing any harm. He recalled a mysterious encounter the snakes had with the media crew that came to cover the event. Out of curiosity, some of the journalists attempted to photograph the snakes, but the moment they fixed their cameras on them, they got out of sight. Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com “After the futile struggle, they all gave up and went back with miraculous stories to tell. It is only by our acceptance that one can get their pictures. Our children snapped pictures of the snakes within the palace because they consider them as their brothers,” he said. At Machina Emir Palace Speaking on how they relate with the snakes, the emir said they occasionally come together as a family to share moments of happiness or sorrow. “When I was turbaned, there were old snakes at the occasion, just like the young ones usually come to the palace whenever my wives are giving birth. So we are doing everything together with them in this palace. “When I married my younger wife, a snake came to the house and spent more than a week. The guests were afraid, but I assured them that it would Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com not harm anybody. In the morning, it would come out and spread itself on the wall, then varnish in the afternoon. It would do the same thing in the evening and varnish. Initially, my bride was afraid, but she later became used to it. So the snakes are our brothers; they don’t harm anybody in Machina. “As I sit here, a snake could come and curl under my chair. I feel happy seeing them around. But each time I see them around, I will pray and hope it’s for good because something will definitely happen. Whenever my wives are about giving birth, you will see the young snakes coming out, a sign that something is going to happen,’’ he said. One of the courtiers in the palace told Daily trust correspondent that one of the princes usually sleeps in the same bed with a snake. “Each time he goes to sleep and finds a snake in his bed, he will just push it aside and sleep alongside it,’’ he said. Daily trust correspondent also learnt that in Machina Emirate, killing of snake is forbidden because they are considered as having royal blood. The snakes don’t harm anybody; however, they retaliate when someone tries to harm them. Mai Machinama, Dr. Bashir Albashir Bukar Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com Asked if he had ever played or eaten with snakes, he said, “At times I personally rescue them, especially when they fall into a ditch. But my son was telling me that sometimes he would sleep with a snake in the same bed. “In the olden days, there was a place we used to put milk for them. If we made sacrifices we threw it around the area, believing that they would use it. But we don’t eat or play that much with them,’’ he explained. When asked if there was any form of provocation between them and the snakes at any time, the emir said, “No. But there was a time when the perimeter fence of the palace collapsed, and in the course of rebuilding it, they forgot to leave a hole where the snakes used as passage to the palace. An hour later, the wall collapsed, they rebuilt it and the concrete collapsed again. Then one of the courtiers observed that a hole that the snakes were using to enter the palace was blocked. They turned the blocks and made some holes there before the wall stood.’’ When our correspondent visited the rocky hill where the snakes have lived for centuries, it was a beautiful sight. The festival The Machina Cultural Festival (MACUF) which commenced in 2007 is celebrated annually during Easter period according to the Emir, His Royal Highness, Bashir Albishir Bukar. The reason for holding the festival that period, according to investigation, is because normally Good Fridays and Easter Mondays are holidays and gives ample time for people to travel from far and near to grace the programmme. The festival is meant to strengthen the cultural heritage of the people and not allow the tradition to fade. Every district heads comes to the festival with his contingents and horses well dressed in traditional attires. Sons Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com and daughters of Machina also attend with their well-wishers and friends while the executive governor of the state serves as the special guest at the festival. Some of the activities in the 7seven day long programme include local wrestling competition known as Kukuwa. In the 2019 festival, over 40 participants competed. Before now the crowned champion of the local wrestling was being given a free woman to marry without paying any bride price. Things are, however, changing as Yahaya Audu Dole who was crowned champion at the 2019 local wrestling was given N100,000 while the second and the third competitors got N70,000 and N50,000, respectively. Other activities were one leg wrestling, camel and white horse durbar which the emirate is well known for. Investigation shows that it emerged the best performing emirate at the 2016 National Grand Durbar in Abuja. The most interesting thing was that the durbar cuts across all traditional leaders, title holders, among others, whether educated or highly ranked. It is believed that everyone must learn to ride a horse or camel to be regarded as son of the soil. The conferment of title on former Governor Ibrahim Gaidam by Machina Emirate was for his ability to solve the problem of access road and drinking water. The governor awarded contract for the construction of the 51 kilometer Nguru-Machina road which was completed and put to use. The second challenge was put to rest government by drilling bore at a far distance of about five kilometers to provide water to the community. The royal father admitted that for 40 years, there were series of promises made by previous governors of former Borno and the present Yobe states for the construction of the road and provision of drinking water but that could not come dream true until this time around. Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com It was in this respect, that His Royal Highness, Bukar conferred the traditional title of ‘Shettima Fatihuma of Machina’ on the governor for transforming the area. Relationship with other Countries Because of its recognition by some international cultural bodies, many participants from Turkey, Benin, Niger and Tchad Republics attended the festival apart from traditional rulers in Nigeria. President Elhadj Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic had conferred an international merit award of L’ Ordre National du Niger (L’ONN) on the Mai Machina, HRH Bukar in Niamey in recognition of the long peaceful coexistence between the former Kanem Borno and people of Niger which was maintained by the Mai Machina. Issoufou said the award was also to appreciate the royal father and his durbar contingents in attending almost all Niger Republican day which was being celebrated annually on 18th December which the Emir normally attends with 40 horses to promote the cultural festivals in that country. Tel: +2348022001990 gashabdullahi1564@gmail.com References "Post Offices- with map of LGA". NIPOST. Archived from the original on 2012-11-26. Retrieved 2009-10-20. https://thenationonlinengnet.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/thenationonlineng.net/yobe-community-wheresnakes-are-friends-with-humanbeings/amp/?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFUAKwASA%3D# referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s& ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fthenationonlineng.net%2Fyobe-communitywhere-snakes-are-friends-with-human-beings%2F https://www.blueprint.ng/yobe-community-sustaining-peaceful-coexistence-through-cultural-heritage/ Tel: +2348022001990