Azare

Azare
Azare Town's Gate
Nickname:  Azland
Azare Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 11°40′27″N 10°11′28″E / 11.67417°N 10.19111°E / 11.67417; 10.19111
Country	Nigeria
State	Bauchi State

Azare is a town in Bauchi State, Nigeria. It was founded by Mallam Zaki who was put into office by Shehu Usman Danfodio during early 1814. Azare is the headquarter of Katagum division in Bauchi State, Azare town is bordered to the east by Damban LGA and Potiskum Yobe State and to the south by Misau Local Government, in the west by Jama'are Local Government, and to the north by Itas/Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State.^[1]

History of the creation of Azare

Azare was founded in 1803 according to the family of Mallam Lawan, father of the first and second emirs of Azare. Mallam Bonni was Mallam Zaki's older brother. Mallam Ibrahim Zaki was the first settler in Azare town, He was the son of Mallam Lawan who died at Yayu village near Chinade. Mallam Lawan first settled at Nafada in the Gombe emirate and later move down to Yayu where he had a son called Zaki. After the death of Mallam Lawan, Mallam Zaki went to Sheikh Usman Danfodio in Sokoto to take charge in Mallam Lawan's stead. In 1814, Mallam Zaki graduated from Sheikh Dan Fodio's Islamic institution at Sokoto, at about 1809, he first settled at Tashena, village about 90 kilometers away from the present Azare, Mallam Zaki started ruling from 1807 to 1914 he was succeeded by his brother, known as Sulaiman Adandaya from 1814 to 1816. The third emir of Azare Mallam Dankauwa resigned from 1816 to 1846, in Azare Katagum LGA from his reign not more than eight rulers ruled this region up to date.^[2]

In this respect, the dry season in Azare Katagum LGA lasts from October to April and the Raining season only occurs between May and September reaching its peak in the month of August rainfall ranges between 1300mm per annum. On the Other part soils, lateral soils characterized the higher areas of Azare Katagum plain. While more productive land lean to the flood plains provide fertile from land. The soil is favorable for the production and cultivation of cotton especially in some parts of northern Azare, which is conducive for cotton production.

However, Azare was agrarian society with majority of the populace depending on farming and animal husbandry as dictated by its climate and soil condition which favours the growing of cereal, Agriculture has great historical achievement in Azare. The rich Fadama being round the region provides fertile agricultural land for cereals, root crops, tree crops such as caltrops and a wider variety of vegetables, millet (Gero), late millet (Maiwa), Sorghum (Dawa), and groundnut and cotton which are the chief export crops and the marketing board recorded 22,271 tons of groundnut, the climate and soil condition also support the production of bean (wake) and cassava (Rogo). Agriculture is the main stay of the economy of Azare. This explains why the vast land coupled with high soil quality makes it possible for about 80-90% of its inhabitants to engage in food and cash crop farming. The major crops produced in the region include cotton, millet, later millet, groundnut and cassava as well as guinea corn.

Moreover, Azare is a pluralistic region made up of diverse ethnic and religious groups who have over the time or years cohabited and intermarriages into a burgeoning and vibrant fusion of many culture there over no fewer than three (3) or so ethnic groups in Azare these are fulan, Hausa, and Kare-kare. Hausa languages is widely spoken in azare due to their dominant, from the end of the 19th century, other different immigrants who have different varieties of occupation infiltrated the emirate in Nigeria to pursue various trades and commerce in Katagum emirate visitors are well received and given proper treatment by the 19th century Katagum emirate was predominantly Muslims, therefore there were not Muslims who observed some traditional practices such as worshiping of gods, trees and other creatures and engaging in human sacrifice. Over the years, since 19th century such practices have been completely eradicated. Islam has continued to be the predominant religion despite the fact that, the influx of immigrants has led to the introduction and propagation of Christianity and this resulted of the British colonial missionaries, as a result of this therefore churches have sprung up in most part of the districts of the emirate. However, as it has been said, the overwhelming predominance of the people are Muslim. Indeed, there are many mosques and Arabic schools (Makarantun Allo). There exist various Islamic sects such as Tijjaniyyah, Qadiriyyah, Shi’ah and Jama’atul Izalatul Bida wa iqamatus sunnah which were introduced as far back as 19th century.^[3]

People of Azare

Religion

The two main religions in Azare are Islam (approximately 99%) and Christianity (approximately 1%).^[4][5]

Culture

The culture of the people is mainly influenced by Islam respect, the marriage customs of the people is according to Islamic procedures. For example, Getting marriage and mode of dressings. Although, there are some cultures that are prohibited by Islam, like tashe^{[check spelling]}, Kidan Gwauro, which are mainly practiced by small children.^[6][7]

Agriculture

The area is a place that has a fertile land for good agricultural activities the main crops found in the area are millet, groundnut, maize, beans, Onions, wheat, cottons, vegetables, Dogon yaro (Bishiyar Maina). Rearing of animals is another agricultural activity common in the area^[8]

Air Pollution

The amount of particulate matter, especially dust, in Azare is significantly increasing. since of their small size and thickness, these particles can be dangerous to human health since they react chemically with the air.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Geography/Geology

Azare is located at 11°40′27″N 10°11′28″E / 11.67417°N 10.19111°E / 11.67417; 10.19111, at an elevation of 436 meters.

It's the largest of several nearby towns in the region including Jama'are, Misau, Bulkachuwa, Disina, Faggo, Zadawa Madachi, and Madara. Azare is home to the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, the Federal Government College Azare,^[13] and the College of Education Azare.^[14][15]Azare Airstrip lies about 10 km southeast of the town.

Geology

Azare is underlain by undiffirentiated rocks of the Basement complex which have been subjected to weathering that produced a fairly deep regolith^[16] The rocks are of Precambrian origin and consist of metamorphic and igneous rock types common among which are the granite descriptions; migmatite, gneisses and phillites. The granite dominates the structures, hence, is refer to as the Older Granites.^[17] In most areas underlain by the Basement complex is a thin, discontinuous mantle of weathered rocks.

Previous geological studies of Azare are few. However,^[17] have described aspects of the geology of the Upper Benue Trough, and the hydrogeology of parts of Bauchi State. The stratigraphic succession the upper Benue Trough consists of folded Cretaceous sediments called the Bima Sandstones unconformably overlying the Precambrian to Paleozoic Basement. This is succeeded by the Cretaceous Gombe sandstones which passes upwards into the Tertiary sands of the Kerri Kerri Formation. The sequence is terminated by the Quaternary Chad Formation.^[18]

Climate

The region of Azare experiences rainy and dry seasons rainfall for effective forming between May and June and terminate in September to October, the temperature is high throughout the emirate with a mean daily 220c from April to May (1991).^[19]

Vegetation

The vegetation pattern of the emirate can be classified into Sudan and Sahel savannah, the most prominent species commonly found are Shrub grass of Sabara Gabaruwa, Kargo (1991).

Demographics

The population has grown from 69,035 at the 1991 census to its 2007 estimated value of 110,452.^[20] In the last five years, the population has grown by more than 20%. It is also the largest growing town in the state and region. Growth is prominent in all directions with the creation of Bamako to the South-East, Unguwar Dankawu And Makara-huta Inuwa Dahiru Road to the North, Federal Lowcost-GRA to the Northwest and the extended growth in the south that sees the town engulfing places like Chilankori and Chara-Chara Yelwa.^[21]

The people of Azare are predominantly Muslim, and are primarily of hausa ethnicity. The town's primary economic activity is agriculture.^[22]

References