✍🏾 *Madalla Kadiri, Zaar Activist*.
*Introduction*:
Zaar land is located in the southern part of present Bauchi town, precisely in the south west. Administratively the area is divided into two Local Government Areas: Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government. The whole area used to be known as Lere District. The area shares boundaries with Dawaki and Kabwir in the southern part of Plateau State. The Zar (Sayawa) and the Angas are neighbours in Kabwir and Dawaki. They often engage in a joking relationship, each claiming to be the “master” while the other a “slave”. Dass Local Government is located in the West and Bauchi Local Government in the North. The most dominant feature of the area is the Gongola River which together with its tributaries such as Lere, Maijuju, Jarawa and Bagel rivers forms the main drainage pattern of the region Dauda (2012).
The Zaar live in dispersed indigenous villages in a typical Nigerian savanna of the Bauchi area. Their houses are made of mud and hut like any other traditional African setting. Politically, Seng Wari was traditional rulers who heads the administrative affairs of Zaar villages, the Priest Chief (Seng Wari) System is regarded as Ancient Traditional institutions in Zaar land which date back to centuries. The military activities in Zaar land were based upon the use of traditional weapons such as bows and arrows, while the economic activities range from agricultural to non-agricultural occupation such as faming, black smith, hunting, pottery etc.
*The Priest Chief (Seng Wari) System*.
In the olden days period, all Zaar villages practiced the Priest Chief System known as the Seng Wari who serve as the traditional Ruler of Zaar villages.The Seng Wari was a custodian of cultural heritage who exercised Spiritual, political power over the Zaar society.
Every family or clan appointed its own traditional ruler (Seng Wari) who acted as its Spiritual, political head. The appointment was based upon criteria such as dedication, loyalty, hard work, bravery and acceptable moral virtues approved by the most elderly know as (Magaji Gari in Hausa) based on the recommendation of the Elders (Mhn Varanshi) of the village. Magajin Gari currently is
a senior royal title holder and also Kingmaker in Zaar Villages.
The Zaar elders were the kingmakers in Zaar Villages.
Under the Zaar culture the decision of the Elders who are the kingmakers was final in regard to Zaar traditional selection right of Seng wari and any other decision which the community may take. The Youth and adult age grades didn't have right to challenge the decision of Elders.
The selection of new traditional ruler (Seng wari) was solely the duty of the elders (Mhn Varanshi) headed by the most elderly in the village, the process was done secretly through the performance of some certain rituals.
The traditional Ruler (Seng Wari) was assisted by the elderly class (Mhn Varanshi) who served as an advisory body and Masquerade (Mumtsi) who enforce legislative and executive functions/decisions with
members of specific Age grade groups.
*How Colonialism Effected Traditional institutions in Zaar villages*.
The British conquered almost all the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri areas in 1903.
According to Moses E. Ochonu in his book "Colonialism by proxy: Hausa Imperial agents and middle belt consciousness in Nigeria" During the Jihad years, under Muhammad Nya,the jihadists led forces to the Benue/Taraba areas to penetrate Tiv and Jukun country but were unsuccessful in 1875 - 1895,same as successful resistance in present day Southern Bauchi, Southern Gombe,Plateau and Adamawa
It took the British till the 1930s to conquer the Middle Belt and merge it with the North.
During the colonial era, due to ignorant of the British colonial masters about the history of cultural identity and diversity of the Minority tribes of the Middle belt, the British regroup the tribes of the Middle belt and merge them under the Emirate for proper tax administration without taking into cognizance the effect it may cause to the cultural heritage of the people. The regrouping and merging of the Middle belt tribes under the Emirate change the entire traditional institutions political system of the middle belt.
In Zaar land during the merger, the office of Seng wari was abolished and replace with office of Sarki (Ghun), The Priest Chief (Seng Wari) System was tagged as animist and outdated political system, Emirate titles holders were adopted such as Madaki, Ciroma, Waziri among others to replace Elders as advisers.
Gradually, The Priest Chief (Seng Wari) System was relegated to the background and absorbed completely by the Emirate.
*Conclusion*.
It should be noted that although Seng Wari political system has disappeared, however, it represent modest form of political administration that kept the virtue of Zaar society.It is in this way that many African Communities put in place a cohesive social institutions, and were able to maintain law and order, and social harmony.
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