An Open Letter to His Royal Majesty, Bugwam Kurmi III, Mr. Yakubu Iliya Sauri of Lere LGA, Kaduna State

Tom Garba

Sir, as I extend my warmest felicitations to you on the auspicious occasion of your birthday, I am reminded of the profound significance of your reign and the enduring legacy of your kingdom. May this day mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity, wisdom, and divine guidance, as you continue to lead your people with the fear of God. Congratulations, sir, on this momentous occasion, which serves as a testament to your unwavering dedication to the well-being and advancement of our beloved kingdom.

As a devoted and bonafide son of your kingdom, with a deep-seated genealogy that spans over six centuries, I am honored to express my unwavering loyalty, respect, and admiration for your majesty and our revered kingdom. According to the esteemed records of Coleman Buff, Professor of Nigerian History at Pennsylvania University, my ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Garun Kurama, and I am proud to claim this heritage as my own. The rich cultural tapestry of our kingdom, woven from the threads of tradition, history, and mythology, is a testament to the ingenuity, resilience, and perseverance of our people.

My letter to you, Your Majesty, is a heartfelt appeal to address a pressing concern that threatens the very fabric of our cultural identity. The Akurmi language, which has been the cornerstone of our communication and tradition, is rapidly disappearing, succumbing to the onslaught of external influences and the hegemony of dominant cultures. It is imperative that we take immediate action to preserve and promote our language, lest we risk losing the essence of our heritage and the uniqueness of our cultural expression. The Akurmi language is not merely a means of communication; it is a repository of our history, mythology, and cultural values, and its loss would be a tragic blow to our collective identity.

In light of this, I humbly suggest that your respected office establish a research-based institution dedicated to documenting, archiving, and innovating our language, incorporating modern methods of learning and communication that will enable us to thrive in an increasingly globalized world. This institution should be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed by experts in linguistics, anthropology, and cultural studies, who can work tirelessly to develop a comprehensive language preservation program. Furthermore, I propose that the clans within our kingdom be structured into a cohesive cultural leadership, empowering them to serve as guardians of our territories, traditions, and values.

The clans, with their unique cultural practices and traditions, are the bedrock of our kingdom’s cultural diversity, and their preservation is essential to the continuation of our cultural heritage. By structuring the clans into a cohesive cultural leadership, we can ensure that our cultural practices and traditions are passed down to future generations, and that our kingdom remains a vibrant and dynamic cultural entity. Moreover, the clans can play a crucial role in promoting our language, by using it as a medium of communication and instruction, and by developing cultural programs and activities that showcase our language and cultural heritage.

My Lord King, I commend your efforts to establish an annual Kurama day, a celebration of our rich cultural heritage. However, I respectfully suggest that this event be elevated to a more refined and sophisticated level, incorporating elements of education, entertainment, and tourism, thereby showcasing the splendor of our kingdom to the world. The Kuderu mountains, with their storied history and archaeological significance, offer a unique opportunity for us to harness our cultural resources and promote our heritage to a global audience. By developing a comprehensive tourism program, we can attract visitors from around the world, who can experience the beauty and richness of our cultural heritage, and learn about the history and traditions of our kingdom.

In addition, I propose that your office establish a cultural exchange program, which can facilitate the exchange of ideas, cultural practices, and traditions between our kingdom and other cultural entities around the world. This program can help to promote cross-cultural understanding, foster global cooperation, and provide a platform for our kingdom to showcase its rich cultural heritage to a global audience. By engaging in cultural exchange, we can learn from other cultures, share our own cultural practices and traditions, and contribute to the rich cultural diversity of the world.

By this I’m of the view that henceforth titles in your kingdom and reign be named in Ti’kurmi language. Names like Danmalikin Kurama, Sarki Sabtan Kurama, Majikiran Kurama, Sarkin Yakin Kurama, Yar lelen Kurama, and other titles you coronated to sons and Daughters of Kurama Land be renamed using the dialectal meaning of Kurama language. You may wish to use those kind of titles to a none Kurama Man, which which is not truly advisable because it will help in Face out our language values.

Respecting your revered office, I’m also of the view that the traditional royal regalia be designed in such a way to bear and carry our true identity. What we are using or many kingdoms or Chiefdoms are using is a borrowed attire of others kingdoms. In a way, I regard such as mental slavery and a willing subjugation of our identity because of foreign dominance of others.

Your majesty Sir, You can as well harness our good population to wether out the political displacement of our People. Let’s leverage in this simple fact that your people are well into Islamic, Christianity and tradition (Uchimtu) Worshipers. It’s a strength in disguise if we are United to score a point of unity, development and peaceful coexistence. Let’s leverage in this differences to drive home massive development than division. You can also deploy a talent hunt mechanism that Will bring out our talented youth into limelight. We have them in abundance in sports, Education, entertainment and arts.

In conclusion, Your Royal Highness, I offer my sincerest birthday greetings and express my deepest appreciation for your leadership and vision. May your kingdom continue to flourish under your wise and benevolent rule, and may your people remain united and steadfast in their commitment to our cultural heritage. I wish you all the best that life has to offer, and I remain,

Your loyal subject,
Tom Garba, ANIPR, FSPSP, FIMC, FBMC, MSBN, PLSC.