The Legend of Bayajidda: A Seminal Tale of the Hausa
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Bayajidda’s journey from Baghdad, Iraq, to northern Nigeria is filled with intrigue, adventure, and acts of heroism that shaped the foundation of the Hausa people. Though his story has been passed down through generations primarily via oral tradition, its symbolic and cultural significance continues to shape the heritage of one of the most influential ethnic groups in West Africa.
Introduction
The legend of Bayajidda, also known as Abuyazid, meaning "the father of Yazid," is one of the most enigmatic tales in West African history. Bayajidda’s journey from Baghdad, Iraq, to northern Nigeria is filled with intrigue, adventure, and acts of heroism that shaped the foundation of the Hausa people. Though his story has been passed down through generations primarily via oral tradition, its symbolic and cultural significance continues to shape the heritage of one of the most influential ethnic groups in West Africa.
Origins and Early Journey
According to legend, Bayajidda was a prince from Baghdad (in present-day Iraq). He embarked on a long journey across North and West Africa, arriving first in Borno, then the seat of the powerful Kanem-Borno Empire. There, he married a princess — the daughter of the reigning king — and they had a son named Biram. However, following tensions with the Borno king or out of a desire for a new beginning, Bayajidda departed eastward, eventually arriving in the town of Daura, located in present-day Katsina State.
While the historical accuracy of Bayajidda's existence is still debated, archaeological and oral traditions suggest a date as far back as the late 10th or early 11th century — a period corresponding with the rise of organized states in the Sahel.
A Name with Meaning
The name Bayajidda is itself a Hausa phrase: "Ba ya ji da", loosely translated as “he couldn’t understand before.” This may reference his foreign origins and his initial difficulties understanding the Hausa language or customs, or perhaps symbolically, the process of becoming integrated into Hausa society.
The Hero of Kusugu Well
Bayajidda’s defining moment in Daura was his encounter with a monstrous snake, Sarki, which resided in the town’s only water source — the Kusugu Well. This serpent only allowed the people to draw water once a week, on Fridays, forcing them into dependence and hardship.
Despite being warned, Bayajidda approached the well on a Thursday. When the serpent emerged to attack him, Bayajidda slew it with his sword, freeing the people from its tyranny. This courageous act earned him admiration from the townspeople and caught the attention of Queen Daurama, the reigning monarch of Daura.
From Matriarchy to Patriarchy
As a reward, Queen Daurama offered Bayajidda half of her kingdom, but he declined, requesting instead her hand in marriage. At the time, the rulers of Daura were traditionally celibate women — a practice reflecting a matriarchal system of governance. Bayajidda’s marriage to Daurama marked a significant transition to patriarchal leadership in Daura and, by extension, the rest of Hausaland.
Together, Bayajidda and Daurama had a son named Bawo. Meanwhile, Bayajidda’s earlier son, Biram, from his Borno wife, continued to play a significant role in what would become the broader Hausa political system.
The Hausa Bakwai and Banza Bakwai
Bayajidda's lineage is foundational to the political identity of the Hausa people. His two sons — Bawo and Biram — would become patriarchs of the Hausa Bakwai (the Seven True Hausa States), a group of kingdoms that formed the cultural and political core of Hausa civilization:
Daura
Kano
Katsina
Zaria (Zazzau)
Gobir
Rano
Biram
According to tradition, Bawo fathered six sons, each of whom established one of the states above (excluding Biram, which was ruled by his half-brother).
In contrast, a parallel group of kingdoms known as the Banza Bakwai (the “Bastard” or “Illegitimate” Hausa States) were said to have been founded by descendants of Bayajidda through a concubine or servant, not a royal wife called Bagwariya who was offered to him by Queen of Daura during her waiting period before he could be married to her. These states include:
Kebbi
Zamfara
Yauri
Gwari
Nupe
Ilorin
Kwararafa
These classification, while historically fluid, were used to distinguish between the states seen as directly descended from Bayajidda’s royal lineage versus those associated with mixed or indirect ancestry.
Legacy
Though there's no confirmed record of Bayajidda’s date of birth or death, his story has endured for centuries as a foundation for Hausa identity. He represents a convergence of foreign influence and local heroism, of religious symbolism and dynastic legacy. Whether viewed as historical fact, cultural myth, or political metaphor, the story of Bayajidda continues to offer insight into the early formation of Hausa society — its values, systems of governance, and the enduring role of storytelling in African civilizations. Shehu U.
References
Smith, M.G. (1959). The Early States of the Central Sudan. In: History of West Africa, Volume 1. Edited by J.F.A. Ajayi and Michael Crowder. Longman.
Palmer, Herbert R. (1908). The Kano Chronicle. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.
Abdullahi Shahid (1980). Some Considerations Relating to the Formation of States in Hausaland. Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Vol. 10, No. 4.
Alhassan AbdurRahman, Prince of Daura.
Yusuf Bala Usman (1981). The Transformation of Katsina: 1400-1883. Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press.
Hausa Oral Traditions (recorded by the Centre for the Study of Nigerian Languages, Bayero University, Kano)
National Commission for Museums and Monuments (Nigeria) – official documentation and preservation of Nigerian cultural legends.
Deutsche Welle. (2018, February 2). Bayajidda: The legend of Hausa land. DW