Mandaragirau (also spelled Mandara Girau) is a town in Borno State, Nigeria.
History
Mandaragirau was important in the history of the Pabir tribe and the present Biu Emirate. The history of the Dagil clan, direct descendants of Yamtarawala, the founder of Pabir and its kingdom in the 15th century, is to a great extent linked to Mandaragirau.
Yamtarawala arrives in Biu Reports written by European colonialists,particularly as found in the famous "Biu Book" (1954-1956) and the book "Emirates of Northern Nigeria" by S. G. Hogben & A. H. M. Kirk-Green (1966) established that Yamtarawala, the founder of the Babur tribe and its kingdom, came to Biu from Birni Ngazargamu in the early 15th century. He first settled in the Biu area at a place called Limbur, between Chikorkir and Mandaragirau, where he made his capital. He found the Bura people already in the area, at three main villages at Miringa, Diwar and Buratai, and defeated them with a strategy. He establed his kingdom in the area and ruled from 1535 to 1560.
The tribe name of the descendants of Yamtarawala, now "Babur", was actually "Pabir". The Pabir tribe is said to have been a mixture of the Bura clans, other tribes in the area and Yamtarawala's people, who came to the Viu (Biu) area in the early 15th century. According to Mr. J. G. Davies, District Officer of Biu (1935–1955) and author of the "Biu Book" (1954/56), the word Babur is a Kanuri/Hausa pronunciation. The spelling Babur was in use in 1906 and was made official in 1935, though the decision, according to Davies, was taken based on an incorrect fact.Davies 1954:V
Possibly Yamtarawala's kingdom soon split up into a number of small kingdoms (such as Mandaragirau, Gongdi, and Yimirdalang) of which the Babur kingdom was the greatest.Davies 1954:32 It was finally established that the two most important dynasties were ultimately formed by the descendants of Yamtarawala after his death, one at Kogu (Biu), and the other at Mandaragirau. Yamtarawala's tomb at Limbur and some of his regalia are in the custody of the people of Mandaragirau. Yamtarawala never lived at Mandaragirau nor made it his capital. The Dagil chiefs made Mandaragirau their capital. This place has a very significant position in the history of the entire Pabir dynasties.
The Mandaragirau kingdom Records from the British colonial rulers confirm that beginning circa 1740 in Biu area were kingdoms of Babur, Mandaragirau, Shani, Shelleng and some other village kingdoms like Kwaya Tera, Yimirdllang, Walama and Gusi. The Babur kingdom, which was rightfully controlled by Garga Kwamting when he was made Chief of Babur (Biu) in 1904, and consisted of the present village areas of Biu, Gur, Gunda, Garubula, Miringa, Buratai, Kida, Kwaya Bura, Hyema, Vina and Zira.(Davies 1954:57)
From the above statement made by Davies, it could be understood that even when Mai Garga Kwamting was made the Chief of Babur (Biu) in 1904 his domain did not include Mandaragirau area. Mai Mari, the Chief of Mandaragirau at that time retained his Chiefdom until he was deposed in 1911 by Mr. J H C Elder, the then District Officer in charge of Biu area under some controversial circumstance.
Mandaragirau was said to be a fairly large Babur village, situated near a rock which is called 'Kurting' from which the Biu Plateau is visible. The original settlement of the Mandaragirau Chiefs was a hilltop close to Virahyel along the Old Biu – Mandaragirau path. Davies confirmed in his book that the site was at that time still plainly visible containing the ruins of some 15–20 compounds (including the Chief's which was 50 yards across) and had fine views. In the plain below were remains of unfinished stonewall built against the Kanuri. In this original Mandaragirau ruled the Chief of Mandaragirau for he was a "Kuthli" (Chief or Mai) and not a Thlerima (Galadima).(Davies 1954:143) "'Kuthli' is the Babur word for Chief and this is the word used for all chiefs in the area such as Biu, Mandaragirau, Wuyo, etc."(Davies 1954:76)
The Colonial rulers stated that "little was known of Mandaragrau and its kingdom which at that time was almost as important as the Babur (Biu) kingdom for the Biu Chiefs had always minimized it to the Europeans; it split off from the Babur proper at an early date after Yamtarawala's death. It was founded by Ali Sokar, son of the 12th Babur Chief Mai Dawi and a brother of the 13th Biu Chief Mari Kwopci. (C. 1740). It became a separate kingdom helping the Babur in war but not subservient to it" (Davies 1954:35 & Whitely 1918:5)
The colonial administrators further stressed that Chief of Mandagirau was not regarded as a Galadima of Mai Biu, but his position was always independent. He had the title of Mai and was appointing his own Thlerimas (Galadimas) at places like Mandaragirau, Liya and Ngulde and appointed a Kadafur at Diwa. Being related to the Biu Woviri ruling clan (he was of the Dagil clan) he helped Biu in war but paid no tribute to it though he collected tributes from his own hamlets.(Davies 1954:143 & Whitely 1918:5, 6)
It was reported that only in one occasion during the reign of Mai Ali Paskur (1838-1873) that Biu fought against the 8th Chief (also called Ali) of Mandaragirau a relative descendant like him from Yamta the great. And this according to Davies was the only known case of a Babur Chief having to employ force against a Babur Village.(Davies 1954: 38, 143) Mai Mari Biya (1873-1891) who ruled after Ali Paskur was said to have been cautioned from waging war against Mandaragirau. The then Alkali of Biu narrated to Davies that during Mai Mari Biya's attempted wars around Mandaragirau, "he was warned by his Malam (Soothsayer) that if he continue war against Mandaragirau he would not win, but if he left it the chieftainship of Mandaragirau would die in the time of his grandson, in the time of the Europeans: and this in fact happened."(Davies 1954: 39,40)
Split of the Babur Kingdom According to oral tradition, during the reign of the 12th Babur Chief Mai Dawi, his elder son Ali Sokar was the heir apparent of the kingdom. At one time when Ali Sokar went to war on behalf of the kingdom, their father Mai Dawi died in his absence and when he returned, to his greatest surprise, he discovered that his younger brother Mari Kopchi had taken over the throne to succeed their father. Ali Sokar was said to become so upset on the incident and shouted angrily 'Wan viri' (this exclamation in Babur means "who installed"). i.e. he wondered who on earth could have put Mari Kopchi on the throne to become chief of the Kingdom! As he did not want to fight his brother over the matter however, Ali Sokar angrily left on a dagil horse with his followers and established his kingdom at a hilltop close to Virahyel. According to the oral tradition it was from the exclamation "Wan viri" that the rulers of Biu from Mari Kopchi to date are recognized as 'Woviri' clan, and those of Mandaragirau are of the 'Dagil' clan referring to the dagil horse that Ali Sokar rode from Limbur area to the hilltop close to Virahyel where he established his kingdom.
The lineage foundation of the two kingdoms (Biu and Mandaragirau) from the original Babur Kingdom can rightly be illustrated as shown below;
YAMTARAWALA - C. 1535–60 (Founder of Babur Kingdom) MARI VIRAHYEL DAWI DIRA NALA YAMTA AMBA MAI YAMTA KUPAYA WADI MAI MARI WATILA TAMPTA MAI YAMTARA BANYE 1680 MAI MARI LUKU – 1690 MAI JAKWA BIRTIKTIK – 1700 MAI MARI THLAMA BAHARA -1710 MAI MARI TAYAR WRINKI 1720 MAI DAWI – 1730(Father of Mari Kopci & Ali Sokar) MAI MARI KOPCI MAI ALI SOKAR 1740 (Biu kingdom) (Maidaragirau kingdom) WOVIRI CLAN DAGIL CLAN
It was reported that the first 5 chiefs are mythical rather than historical and that Mai Mari WatilaTampta is the first of the definite chiefs. Between him and Yamtarawala there were probably more than 5 chiefs. The dates given against chiefs no 6–13 were based on probable average of 10 years reigns. (Davis, 1954:273).
Davies on page 108, 301 and 303 described the Dagil clan as the clan of Chief of Mandaragirau an offshoot of the Babur Kingdom. They are the main clans of Babur who came with Yamtarawala like the woviri clan. Davies stated that the Dagil clan were found in Mandaragirau, Viyukamda (Biu), Virahyel and Ngonga (Kida). The headquarters of the Dagil Kingdom was moved to the present Mandaragirau town probably towards the middle of the 18th century when the Chief defeated the original inhabitants of the Bwala clan and made one of them Thlerima (Galadima).
From the records of the British rulers in Nigeria (DCJ. 6) and particularly as found in the Notes on Babur tribe written by Mr. G.C. whitely, Assistant District Officer Biu (6/6/1917 – 28/10/1917), to the Resident Bornu province on the 26th January, 1918, nine (9) Chiefs ruled the Mandaragirau Kingdom in succession. The Chiefs were Mai Ali Sokar the founder (1740) to the 9th Chief; Mai Mari (deposed in 1911). The list of the Mandaragirau Chiefs as shown in the file (L. 6) was however believed to be incomplete. Legends put the number of the Dagil Chiefs at fifteen (15).
Also found in the file (L.6) are list of six (7) Galadimas of Mandaragirau. The Galadimas who were then known as Thlerma were Thlerma Dikotum (1st) to Aisami (7th)
LIST OF MANDARAGIRAU MAIS (as shown by the colonial masters) (Source: L 6, Appendix "C").
(C. 1740)
MAI ALI SOKAR (1) (brother to Mari Kopci of Biu) MAI MARI BOHILIA (2) (Succeeded by his son) MAI ARRI KOFALI (3) MAI DIFUMA (4) MAI DIMANTI (5) MAI MARI BIYA (6) MAI MARI MANTI (7) MAI ARRI (8) MAI MARI (9) (deposed in 1911)
KADALI (V. HEAD) The lineage chart indicates that the trend of succession from the 1st chief to the 4th had been directly from father to son, while that of the 5th to the 7th Chief were between brothers who were sons of the 4th Chief. The 8th and the 9th Chief were also brothers and sons of the 7th Chief. Kadali succeeded his father (Mai Mari the 9th Chief) who was deposed in 1911 but was relegated to the position of a Village Head under Biu.
LIST OF GALADIMAS OF MANDARAGIRAU: DIKOTUM TAPCHI HALSIN YAMTA YERIMA TAPCHI CHAPOLA JODA AISAMI
The Mandaragirau Galadimas who were then known as Thlermas were mainly from the Bwala clan. The lineage chart indicates that Thlerma Dikotum was the first Galadima and was succeeded by his son Tampci (2). The 3rd and 4th Galadimas were brothers and sons of the 2nd Galadima. The succession trend from the 4th to the 7th Galadima had been directly from father to son. It should however be noted that Yerma Tampci (5), Chapolajoda (6) and Yerma Aisami (7) ruled after 1918 when the Dagil clan ceased to be ruling Mandaragirau. The lineage chart produced by Whitely in 1918 was up graded later with their names. The list of the Galadimas did not however include those of Liya and Ngulde.
Some important places in the history of the Babur kingdoms Dlimbur, Tila Lake and Viukuthla village are some of the significant archaeological sites in the history of Biu and Mandaragirau chiefdoms.
Dlimbur As it has earlier been mentioned, Dlimbur is the place where Yamtarawala settled when he came to Biu area. It is also the site where his tomb was located. It was said that in the olden days any new Pabir chief (Biu and Mandaragirau Mais) undergo some sort of initiation and bapktism at the tomb. It was also a practice in those days that couples who had not begotten any child visit the site and offer sacrifices seeking for Yamta's blessing so that the woman could conceive and have a child as it was then believed. Usually such woman if she were lucky to give birth would name the child after Yamta if a male, and Awa (Awa Pacham, Yanta's mother) if a female. The Tomb and some of Yamtarawala's regalia are in the custody of a "Kadala" (the tomb caretaker) from the Zoaka clan in Mandaragirau. The site was however set ablaze by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on 20 November 2013.
Tila Lake