History of Relationship Between Ngizim and Kanuri ( Part 1) - By Inuwa Gishuwa Dabua

By Inuwa Gishuwa Dabua 

• Historically Ngizim and Kanuri are one family. 

Ngizim is a Chadic language spoken mostly in Yobe State of northeastern Nigeria. Specifically, it is a West Chadic language of the “B” sub-group and is closely related to Duwai and Bade. Before the Fulani jihad of 1804, the history of Ngizim people was closely linked with that of the Bornu Empire. 

By 1472, when the capital of Bornu Empire, birnin Ngazargamu, was established, the Ngizim had gained a reputation as formidable warriors. As they consolidate their influence over parts of modern-day Yobe state, their cultural capital Potiskum became a regional center. 

The history of the first 12 years of the reign of Mai Idris Aloama of Borno (1571-1583) by Imam Ahmad Ibn Furtua throws much light on the origin of Ngizim people. This history is contained in a document titled “tarikh Marfarma/masbama”. HR Palmer said there are various forms of this name which though they are distinguished seem to denote the same people – N’gizim, Ngujam, Ngazar, N’gissam. 

ElKanemi-1823-Reception of Denham and Clapperton, Kukawa, Borno State, North East Nigeria 

In another parts of the notes, he tells us that Birnin Ngazargamu was founded by Mai Ali Gaji Dunamani in about 1462 he is a Ngizim by tribe, who acquired the site from the Ngizim that lived in the region. The name of the capital is correctly spelled Ngazar-gamu or Ngazar-kumu. The first part of the word signifies that the previous inhabitants of the region where Ngazar or Ngizim. The latter part of the word ‘gamu’ or ‘kumu’ is the same as the first part of the word ‘Gwombe’ and means either (I) chief or king or (ii) ancestral spirit.

Ngizim have more in common with Bade than with any other ethnic group. In 1962, a paper by H.R palmer, a former resident of Borno province, identified the Ngizim as the inhabitant of the fittri region. However, the native of fittri were descendents of a fusion of the clan of kyari (also called zaghawa) and the Ngizim producing a new strain known as Bulala, people of the kingdom of Goaga or Gondola.

It is easy to believe that Ngizim are closely related to various other ethnics, going by various reports indicating that the Ngizim flowed in two main streams to their present homeland. This is why this people are classified into two groups of southern and Northern Ngizim. Whether northern or southern Ngizim, this people played enviable roles in the development of their environment. For example, even in the old kanem-borno empire, many Ngizim held exalted offices. These outstanding personalities of Ngizim extraction included GAMARU, NASR BULTU, WAZIRI KABIR KURSU IBN HARUN and SIR KASHIM IBRAHIM. Although the roles of Gamaru were not spelt out, Nasr Baltu was a mediator between western Ngizim and the Mai Idris Aloama’s government and Waziri Kabir Kursu Ibn Harun was a unique warrior, and was constantly given the enviable rank of commander-in-chief of the Army during the reign of the famous Mai Idris Aloama (1571–1585).

The Sudanese oral tradition and translation of a number of Arabic manuscripts relating to the central and western Sudan also gathered by Palmer, describe the Ngizim as “great people in the land of kanem” these sources also states that Ngizim were very numerous and strong in war. Palmer referred to the Ngizim as “people of saif” so also, the Ngizim people believes their ancestry lay in Asia, possibly Yemen, and that they are related to lord Aba Othman Ibn Affan.

Ngizim has a tradition of long distance migration from a place called birnin-badr, to the south west of Mecca. After a long sojourn, they arrived at the banks of the kumadugu, Yobe River. Linguistic classifies the Ngizim as Chadic group whose speakers are said to be the peoples inhabiting Borno and the area to the west of Lake Chad from time immemorial.

Another sources by leo-africana referred the group under the general name zingani and by the 16th C, the Ngizim were concentrated to the south and west of N’gazargamu. The southern Ngizim who lived in settlements like Muguram, Gamajan, and Daura (Dawura) were also generally found in the Gujba plain. While the western Ngizim or Binawa according to H.R Palmer lived in the region from teshena northeast wards to the banks of the lower Yobe. The Ngizim moved into Potiskum area in migratory streams from both the west and the east.

The earliest stream arrive Potiskum area from the west and settled at Ngojin and other places under the leadership of Mai Jalo who founded Ngojin in the 16th Century. 

According to some sources some under Kachalla Ngono Auwusga kayi and his brother Bilan Gadiyo moved from north eastern axis and founded Ngujam, Gidgid, Majewa and Gavdan. 

According to Professor J.E lavers, the Ngizim again moved from their main centres in Ngazargamu. They moved south to the Potiskum region where they met earlier migrants that settled at Ngojin.

 This latter group built KEISALA and evolved the institution of DUGUM AU or SARKIN HATSI.Another group of Ngizim arrive Potiskum under the leadership of BAUYA from Mugni