By Malam Zahraddini Ibrahim (Mayana Safana)
History has shown that Emir of Katsina Abubakar have the title of Mayana to Ahmadu Rufai at his palace at Katsina.
This conferment of title took place after the coming of the colonialists to Katsina in 1904.
Mayana Ahmad Rufai is the son of that great fighter and royal, Machika Abdu Dogo, the son of the Emir of Katsina Ibrahim. He is also the younger brother of Emir Abubakar.
Mayana Ahmad Rufai received Islamic training while growing up, he studied jurisprudence under his grand father Imam Malam Sani, who is a renown memorizer of the holy Quran in a town called Kandawa.
Mayana Ahmad Rufai grew up under the guidance of Emir Abubakar, it was under him that he learnt everything about leadership and became entitled as the Mayana.
Mayana Ahmad Rufai was one of the few Dallazawas that remained and we're still influential even after they lost power to the colonialists. Some lost their positions, some were transfered to other positions while others honorably resigned as he did.
This was after the arrest and detention of Emir Abubakar by the colonialists, who placed him under house arrest, based on some accusations of atrocities, labelled against him that were clearly baseless.
Mayana Ahmad Rufai reigned between 1904 to 1919. It was in 1919 that Mayana Ahmad Rufai had a disagreement with the then Emir of Katsina Muhammadu Dikko and he decided to resign his position and left. However, Emir Dikko did not appoint anybody to that position throughout his reign. Also his son, Emir Usman Nagogo that succeeded him did not appoint anyone to that position throughout his reign too.
Mayana Ahmad Rufai died in 1957 during the reign of Emir Usman Nagogo.
The history of the Traditional title of Mayana in Katsina:
This traditional office was founded under the Azbi/Agadez Kingdom. Even as there are different views on the actual name of the office, but it is more generally accepted as Mayana.
Some historians define Mayana as the Emir's Son or the Emir's sole loyalist. In a similar history, it is said that the title is given to the son of the Emir that is the bravest warrior. It is such that even if one is a son to the Emir, he is not enthroned to this position unless he is known to be a brave warrior, because there were many wars then.
This has made the meaning even clearer, that the title can only be given to one who is a royalty by blood.
The relationship between Mayana Ahmad Rufai and the Emir of Katsina Maradi Koure.
After the swearing-in of Mayana in 1904, his first assignment was to represent the Emir of Katsina Abubakar at the Katsina Maradi Emirate to resolve the royal crises that devastated the royal children of the Maradi Emirate.
The crises was between Emir Mijinyawa, Naibo, Dachi, up to Emir Burja.
The crises occured before the coming of the colonialists, from 1890 to 1904 when the crises were finally resolved through the signing of a peace pact.
The crises started as a result of an agreement between Gobirawa of Island, and Katsinawa which instructed everyone to stay within their territory without trespassing into the others.
However, Emir Mijinyawa violated the agreement he signed when he supported a coup plotter in the other land. When he traveled for a battle at Daura, he was then toped by Emir Naibo. Later Kaura Hasau and Emir Burja at the Maradi Emirate at Madarumfa with the intention of toppling Emir Naibo. Initially they were not in good terms with Emir Koure.
This led to inviting the renown warriors of Katsina like Danwaire, Durbi Dikko and their likes. Mayana Ahmad Rufai led the team of warriors on behalf of the Emir of Katsina.
This led to a negotiation and peace pact that restored Emir Koure to his seat of power. This relationship continued betweent the two states up to 1920 when Emir Koure died.
History has also shown that when Mayana Ahmad Rufai resigned his position, Emir Koure travelled to Katsina on the matter. This led to a high class meeting between the Emir of Katsina Abubakar, Emir Koure and Mayana Ahmad Rufai, this took place in 1919.
Despite this, Mayana Abubakar did not change his decision to resign his position and because of that Emir Dikko did not enthrone anybody to that position until his death in 1944.
That was how a very strong relationship was established between Mayana Ahmad Rufai and Emir of Katsina Maradi. They sustained this relationship to the end of their lives.
In 1904, the Emir of Katsina Abubakar sent royal attires, many rams, horses and cows as gift to Emir Koure, he also gave a signed document signifying excellent diplomatic relationship between the two Katsina Emirates.
The history of this Emirate, the meaning of the position and the job of the office occupier under the Katsina Emirate, is indeed very interesting.
Nothing has changed in the context of the office, just like the way Hausa/Habe used to enthrone their children to succeed them, Dallazawas Fulanis did not alter it, they sustained the enthronement of their children to succeed them in order for history not to forget how everything started.
This has shown that from the onset of the Emirate, which was the Azbin, up to that of Katsina, it is an Emirate made up of the children of the royals and were all brave warriors that the people trusted and believed in.
This office of Mayana in the Emirate has now become a popular office in all the Emirates in the Hausa land. However, it is not one of the Chieftaincy positions of the Emirate of Katsina as it was in the past.
In other Emirates, this office of Mayana is given to outstanding individuals who have achieved alot in life, religious scholarship, governance and social responsibilities. People with outstanding records are usually given this position.
In conclusion, what history is telling us is that this position is only for brave warriors, and outstanding individuals that have achieved a lot in life and benefitted their people.
List of those who have attained the position of Mayana under the Katsina Emirate:
Hausawa/ Habe
1. Nuhu Kaskaro
2. Muhammadu Wari Served as Mayana before he became the Emir of Katsina.
3. Magaji Mamudu
There are no records of the period of time they occupied this position.
Fulani
1. Mayana Hassan the son of the Emir of Katsina Umarun Dallaje 1820-1825
2. Mayana Sada the son of Bebeji Gidado 1845-1856
3. Mayana Ibrahim (Halilu) the son of Mayana Hassan 1856-1888
4. Mayana Muhammadu Sani, the son of Emir Abubakar 1888-1904.
5. Mayana Ahmad Rufai the son of Machika Abdu Dogo 1904-1919
These are the names of those that have served as Mayana in the Katsina Emirate.
This position has impacted so much on the Hausa/Habe of the house of Korau, and up to date in the Katsina Maradi Emirate, it is only the children of the royals that inherit this office and in the Emirate of Dan Isa, it is only those that will inherit the Emir that are given this position.
Here in Katsina, this title had been given to Alhaji Abdulqadir Idris Faskari by the Emir of Katsina Muhammadu Kabir Usman.
More so, it is also used in Koda as the successor of chieftain of Charanchi
