By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Gwandu Emirate in Kebbi State has announced plans to reintroduce its "Traditional Annual Horse Racing"...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Gwandu Emirate in Kebbi State has announced plans to reintroduce its "Traditional Annual Horse Racing" event to promote unity among its people.
Alhaji Mustapha Usman-Adamu, Chief Coordinator of the Horse Racing Committee of the Emirate, revealed this during a press briefing following the inaugural stakeholders' meeting on the program, held in Birnin Kebbi.
Usman-Adamu, who also holds the traditional title of Sarkin Bargun Ka'oje, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the organization of the annual horse racing event scheduled for November this year.
He stated, "This is our first meeting to plan for a successful horse racing event in November. Horse racing is one of the activities permitted and legalized by Islam. Like other traditional games, this event will bring people together, mend relationships, and boost the local economy. It will provide an opportunity for those from the royal clan to gather, especially given the vastness of Gwandu Emirate."
"The emirate comprises 10 local government areas and 55 District Heads. This event will allow them to come together, get to know each other better, and strengthen their relationships."
Usman-Adamu noted that the decision to reintroduce the race was driven by the desire of Kebbi Governor Dr. Nasir Idris to revive the emirate’s cultural traditions.
"We are grateful for a governor who appreciates the value of traditional institutions and respects all people. He has provided the opportunity for the emirate to organize this event to purposefully foster unity among the people."
In a related interview, Alhaji Haliru Abubakar, Sarkin Sukuwan Gwandu, recalled that neighboring emirates such as Argungu, Yauri, and Zuru celebrate their respective festivals—the Argungu Fishing Festival, Rigatta Cultural Festival, and Uhola Cultural Festival.
He added, "While Gwandu Emirate used to host horse racing events in the past, they were discontinued. With the encouragement of the state governor, Gwandu will reintroduce its ancestral traditional horse racing this year."
Galadiman Gwandu, Alhaji Ibrahim Bashar, and Gatan Gwandu, Alhaji Faruq Umar, also commented on the event, noting that in addition to horse racing, there will be a traditional durbar and an agricultural show among other activities to entertain the public.
They emphasized that the meeting aimed to strategize for the success of the event and serve as a platform for disseminating information about it.
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