LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF: CHAPTER TWO... I promised you the story of my grandfather, Umar Nurudeen. He was the son of most famously known as Gatari (His Islamic name was Nurudeen), the 8th king of Gwana, a Jukun clan in the present Alkaleri Local government of Bauchi State in Northeast of Nigeria. Gatari ascended the throne in circa 1824 after the death of his father, Sarki Wuntani. Gatari ruled for 15 years and since his male children were too young to succeed him, his brother Wun Tanfyain took over as king. Under him, my grandfather Umaru, grew and was made chief (a minister) in the palace. He was given the title of Madaki in the palace which later became the name he was generally called. At that time, it was customary for royalty to marry only from royalty so he was married to girl that could have been about 13 years of age then. Her name was Horu, my grandmother who was baptized and named Ruth in the late 90s before she died in 2003. Her short story here is a lesson about early marriages. I was told that Horu gave birth to her first child when she could have been 15, at that time she was filled with her own youthful exuberance, she wanted to go out to play and meet with friends but the child was like hindrance to her. I was told often when the child cried, she would go and keep him outside and tell a few weeks old baby to tell her when hes done so that she could bring him back to the room. The child eventually died and she at first felt relief but when days went by and her mammary glands didnt get the memo of the childs passing so they were still supplying milk, she began to feel the loss of her child. The childs death matured her into a loving mother but there was no child to care for. Almost two years after loss of her first child, she gave birth to another, this time she was cuddly, loving and motherly, but she still lost the child too, this time around, she cried inconsolably. In her lifetime, Madam Ruth (as we used to call her after the baptism but Kukuru before that) buried 7 children out of the 10 that she birthed. Now I can only imagine her pains. The three are still alive with my Dorobucci singing mother being the eldest. I will tell of my grandfathers life in the palace in the next chapter.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:52:10 +0000
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