The interview was conducted by  zaharadeen Ishaq and written by Abdul muni Giwa.

The actual age of the town of Radda can only be estimated based on past incidences like drought and hunger or something similar known to have taken place very long ago. 

This place would be about 200 years old or even more. If it is not up to 200 years, then it would be about 180 to 190 years old. This is talking about when it's was set up. 

As you can see it is a place with with a thick forest from the South and another one from the North of the town. 

There used to be an Emir of Katsina about a century ago called Alhaji Muhammadu that used to come to this town to take a break from the bustles of Katsina town as well as administrative activities. He comes over to Radda for a break. 

Whenever he comes to Radda he stays at the residence of one Alhaji Ahmadu Bagware. He stays there to rest. When it is time for him to enter the forest for hunting he then leaves the house. He used to spend about two to three days, or the whole weekend. He used to come with a Land Rover Jeep from Katsina. 

There were times he stayed here for several days, such that they come seeking his attention when there is much waiting for him in Katsina.

The regular visit of the Emir to Radda town contributed to it's growth and development as many people have come to stay here as a result. That is why we say it would be  about a century ago.

Radda town is a town of farmers, there are also artisans and those dying textiles. You can see them around the town. People even come from different place to buy dying implements. Radda had become very established as a commercial as well as farming center since it's existence. 

In the past, history had shown that people from Radda travelled to Sokoto to buy textiles because they are not made here. They used to travel on donkeys because there were no cars then. Our grand parents have travelled to Sokoto to buy textiles, salt and other items and they used to spend days on the road. 

Q- What is the connection between Barebari and Radda ? 

A- There used to be a place called Barebari here in Radda, the Barebaris lived there for very long. Then later the traditional title of the place was named Barebari just like other place like Karofi, Katarfi and the rest. The names of the tradition titles of the rulers of the places are named after the places. 

Q- How many Barebari have there been since the begining of the title? 

A- I can only tell you about two that were from our lineage. There is one Barebari Sulaimanu who was succeeded by Barebari Mijinyawa. Barebari Mijinyawa hails from Wudil. He was a warrior and was invited to Katsina by the then Emir to help him fight war with some Gobirawas from Nigeria. 

After the war, the Emir of Katsina was impressed by the braveness of Mijinyawa.  When Barebari Sulaiman died, the Emir appointed Mijinyawa as the Barebari in Radda and also married his daughter Amina to him and asked him to stay there which he did. 

Amina was also known as Fulani. It was Amina that gave birth to our father. This is the reason why Mijinyawa settled down in Radda. He ran his affairs in this very palace in which we are. 

As a businessman, Mijinyawa continued with his financial activities and never changed. He gave birth to our parents as I mentioned earlier, some of who I am going to mention, like Alhaji Umaru, Muhammadu Na'iya, Alhaji Maikudi and Hajiya Bore among others. 

When he died, there used to be his younger brother Umaru who he came along with when he migrated to this place. He placed him in-charge of some of his businesses. He was an orphan actually.

Mijinyawa died and his younger brother Umaru succeeded him and also married his wife Amina. He then became the Barebari II while Mijinyawa was the Barebari I. 

He was in-charge for about 48 years before he died. After his death, my father was then thrones as the Barebari and was there for about 38- 40 years. He was succeeded by his younger brother Barebari Yahaya who was there for 28 years. 

I finally succeeded him when he died as the one in-charge of this Chieftain. This is the brief history of this place that I can tell you. 

This is the small history I can give you without engaging in other talks. 

Q- Now that the Emir of Katsina has upgraded this chieftain, and I can see that you have not made mention of a popular name called Gwagware while saying the history. What is the connection of Gwagware with this town? 

A- It is Barebari that is known. Gwagware came later due to some political reasons and activities of His Excellency the state Governor. These include patience and resilience during the politics. These are thing that need not necessarily be mentioned.  That was why the Emir of Katsina who identified that there is a traditional title of Gwagware. The title depicts a hero, a warrior and a resilient personality. This is not a title given to just anybody, it is meant for outstanding personalities. It is not also meant for the lazy. The Emir of Katsina saw in His Excellency these good qualities and the Emir Muhammadu Kabir Usman enthroned His Excellency Dikko Radda as the Gwagwarwn Katsina. 

From this, one thing ked to the other and the Radda Chieftain came to be upgraded. All these are as a result of his wisdom and personality. The title can now be referred to as "Barebarin Katsina, Hakimin Radda". 

He didn't touch the title of their family, he went ahead and got another title entirely new and the Gwagware was enthroned. 

Q- In the end I would want you to advise the public in your position as an elder in the Hausa community. 

A- In the recent past when the chieftain was elevated by the Emir, I came out and expressed my happiness. This is because I inherited the title of Barebari. This is a title given to a young intelligent person that is enlightened. It is a progress achieved during our own time. I was just a Barebari and the town was uplifted to Hakimi. It is something that we we look up to the Katsina Emirate that viewed this relationship and the modern ideas and lifted this chieftain from Magajinto Hakimi. 

Where the Dikko wa mentioned  is because of the real Dikko and not any in the market. It is because of the Dikko that this Gwagware was named Dikko. It is his surname and he is named after the Emirate's Dikko. 

He therefore changed the title by upgrading it to Hakimin Radda. He did not change anything from their family title. He rather created a new title that is good for the age. 

Seeing that he was given it was not that he was the only one given, it is given to all of us.  Or I can say, in my position as his father we are the ones that were given. We know him as a responsible person and will always seek our guidance. We know that he is well trained and would always do the right thing an where he feels he can ot do it he will seek for our support and guidance.

In the end, I will call on all those in Radda to know that they are all part of this progress. Anybody that is loyal to me will certainly be pleased with this achievement.  Why we should all be pleased with this is that I am Barebari, and he is Hakimi. There is his own house. This is his father's house. We should all support him and remain loyal. Refusal to do that is wrong. Whosoever likes us and refused to like him is not fair to us because we are the ones there just as we are the ones here. 

He listens to us and always seeks for our advise and guidance. He calls us to ask what should be done and how.  This will continue as we fade out and he is coming in until we move away and leave him standing. We wish him all the best because he is a hardworking person that is very knowledgeable. 

We wish him all the best and call on our people to see these as one. If anyone attempts to engage in any wrongdoing concerning this issue, he has engaged himself in the wrong act. Whosoever comes to me for anything other than to express happiness is here on a wrong mission. I have lost nothing. I have even achieved a lot because I have given birth to Hakimi. We got a lot, we got the Hakimi and the governor. 

We should not engage in any negative act. This is worthy of celebration and happiness we have a governor and we have a Hakimi. We hope to witness this coming event will. We wish him all the best. Thank you. 

It is a serious thing and it belongs to the Barebari family, Gwagware is from there as well. We wish the Governor all the best, what is before him is beyond this thing we are holding. I will use this opportunity to cal on the authorities to ensure that fertilizer is made available before the farming season. It is by this doing that you can be fair to the farmers.