By Emmanuel Kwada
The people of Həba are ecstatic as they prepare for the coronation of His Royal Highness, Barr Alheri Nyako, the new Tol HƏba of Kilba Land, appointed by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. The Governor of Adamawa State, Rt Hon Fintiri, was recently honored with accolades of praise at the Nigerian Union of Journalists secretariat in Yola. Dr. Idi Aliyu Hong, the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the coronation committee, expressed his gratitude to Fintiri, describing him as a hero for restoring the traditional tool of leadership of the HƏba nation.
The coronation, scheduled to hold on Friday, 14th February, will feature the presentation of the staff of office to Tol Alheri, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Kilba people. The HƏba nation has a rich history, with a traditional leadership system in place long before independence. The people of Həba are civilized and have always valued their heritage, and the coronation of Tol Alheri is a testament to their commitment to preserving their culture.
The general public is invited to attend the coronation ceremony, which promises to be a grand event. Dr. Idi Aliyu Hong has called on everyone to come and witness the historic occasion, as the people of Heba celebrate the restoration of their traditional leadership and the appointment of Tol Alheri as their new leader.
HƏba people migrated from the Middle East through Egypt, Sudan, Borno, and Mandara Hill to their present location
The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the coronation, Hon. Dr. Idi Hong, gave the history of the HƏba nation as follows:
The Origin of the HƏba Tribe
According to Dr. Hong, the HƏba people are among the major ethnic groups in Adamawa State. Oral history indicates that the HƏba people migrated from the Middle East through Egypt, Sudan, Borno, and Mandara Hill to their present location. This migration occurred in two phases. The first set of migrants settled in the mountains and later established villages at the foot of the mountains. The choice of these settlements was strategic, providing defense and natural protection.
A German source, seized by the Soviet Army on May 8, 1945, from the Berlin Museum, suggests that the Kilba people, also known as the HƏba, have been in their present habitat since the 8th century A.D. These early inhabitants lived in clan-based mountain communities, each headed by a “Töl Kra ma”, who served as a secular and religious leader. Each “Kra ma” was an autonomous political entity, similar to the ancient Greek city-states.
Until the mid-14th century, there was no central authority uniting the HƏba clan-based communities
The “Tol” or King was supported by an administrative structure consisting of Yaduma, Bira’ol, Dzarma, Midala, Kadala, Kadagimi, and Batari. The mountain clan-based communities had several villages under a “Töl Kra ma”. This administrative structure had the advantage of bringing leaders geographically close to the citizens, minimizing conflicts, and strengthening social cohesion and unity.
HƏba Political and Governance Structure
Until the mid-14th century, there was no central authority uniting the HƏba clan-based communities. This decentralized system of administration changed when the second set of immigrants, consisting of Babbir Royal families who were hunters, joined and founded the present dynasty around 1356, with its headquarters at Hong. They took the title of Tol HƏba, establishing rulership over the first set. FurkudƏl, the leader of this set, was the brother of Yamta Wala, the founder of the Biu Royal dynasty.
Over time, through conquest and diplomacy, FurkudƏl extended control and centralized the administrative structure over all the clan-based mountain communities. The Royal family was eventually divided into two dynasties: Dawi and Gaya. After FurkudƏl’s death, the two dynasties established by his children rotated rulership until the colonial administration interfered with the system.
Under the Dawi royal dynasty were settlements such as Mathol, Daksiri, Thalbang, Zabir, Modllola, Mandzaa, and Dazal. Under the Gaya dynasty were Jambala, Dalangyang, Monyi’u, Biri, Motaku, Molata, Sokalmi, Gartsanu, and Kulinyi.
Dr. Johann Heinrich Barth, a German traveler and the first European to visit Adamawa in 1851, was impressed with the HƏba Kingdom’s centralized administrative structure and described it as a “well-organized pagan kingdom, second to none in Western Sudan, and resembles that of Ancient Egypt or Modern Europe.” The kingdom was divided into several units, to which members of the Royal family were sent as governors, and every month they would send reports to Yaduma at Hong, who would present these reports to the King for final decision.
well-organized pagan kingdom, second to none in Western Sudan, and resembles that of Ancient Egypt or Modern Europe
Hoba Chiefdom as Sovereign Entity
Dr. Hong continued with the chronology of the Huba Chiefdom, highlighting its rich history as a sovereign entity. From Tol Furkudel in 1356 to the short reign of Töl Umor, who was deposed by the British colonial masters, the Töl exercised absolute authority and full independence. According to A. H. M Kirk-Green, before the rise of the Fulani Empire, the Yedseram basin had four independent pagan kingdoms, namely Sukur, Mukole, Muviya, and Hong. However, only Sukur and Hong maintained their independence from the Fulani Empire.
The Huba Kingdom remained an independent sovereign political entity, as evidenced by a treaty between Nyabi and Fad-el-Allah, sons of Rabeh, with Tol Huba, Kuracha, in 1898. Article one of the treaty states: “We, sons of Rabeh, having escaped from French forces near Dikwa, came to Kilba Kingdom, which is independent from Fulani and Borno Empires, to stay at a place of your choice in a peaceful manner according to international law.” This treaty reaffirmed the independence of the Huba Kingdom, recognizing its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We, sons of Rabeh, having escaped from French forces near Dikwa, came to Kilba Kingdom
Hoba Chiefdom after Colonization
However, the period from the deposition of Töl Umor to the reign of Töl Alhaji Adamu Yerima Balla witnessed the systematic decimation of the status of Tol Huba to mere ungraded District Head. The British had divided the country into Provinces, Divisions, Districts, Villages, and Wards, and three independent Divisions were established in Adamawa Province, namely: Yola Division, Numan Division, and Pagan (Kilba) Division with Headquarters in Pella.
Gradually, from 1908 through intrigues and deception, the Pagan (Kilba) division, which was co-equal with the two other divisions, was merged with the Yola division. At a meeting over the merger proposal,
Töl Huba was systematically reduced to that of an ungraded District Head under Adamawa Emirate, despite the Zumo Treaty
The Resident made it clear that the merger was only for administrative convenience and would not affect the independence of the Chief of Kilba, who at that meeting stressed the need to safeguard his Chiefdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This was accepted by the Resident, G. S. Browne, and came to be known as the Zumo Treaty.
However, the reality was that over time, the status of Töl Huba was systematically reduced to that of an ungraded District Head under Adamawa Emirate, despite the Zumo Treaty. This was the situation up to the time when Töl Alh Adamu Yerima Balla died in 1993. The Huba Chiefdom’s sovereignty and independence were gradually eroded, and its people were subjected to the authority of the Adamawa Emirate, marking a significant turning point in the history of the Huba Kingdom.
Struggle for Status by Hoba Chiefdom
The Huba Chiefdom has been on a long journey to achieve independence and recognition. Initially, the three independent chiefdoms in Adamawa Province, including Huba, were answerable only to the British. The first Resident of Yola Province, Mr. G. N. Barclay, was impressed by the governance structure and recommended the Chief of Kilba for First Class status in 1902. However, the Assistant Chief High Commissioner’s Office approved Second Class Staff of Office for the Chief of Kilba and Chief of Bachama in 1906, but only the latter was granted.
Several approvals for upgrading the Kilba Chiefdom to Second Class status, including those by Governor Col Yohanna Madaki in 1986 and Governor Group Captain Jonah D. Jang in 1988, these were not implemented
Despite several approvals for upgrading the Kilba Chiefdom to Second Class status, including those by Governor Col Yohanna Madaki in 1986 and Governor Group Captain Jonah D. Jang in 1988, these were not implemented. Instead, leaders who fought for the independence of the Huba Chiefdom were harassed, intimidated, and punished.
Creation of Huba Chiefdom by H. E Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri
The turning point came with the emergence of H.E. Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as the Governor of Adamawa State. With his track record of fairness, justice, and transparency, he created the Huba Chiefdom along with six other Emirates and Chiefdoms in December 2024, bringing an end to a 120-year struggle. He also approved the appointment of Töl Alheri Bulus Nyako as Töl Huba and established the legal frameworks, administrative procedures, and structure of the Chiefdom.
On the 14th February, Töl Alheri Bulus Nyako will be presented with the staff of Office as the Töl Huba, and the Governor has created additional districts out of the Huba Chiefdom, bringing the total to fourteen. These districts include Hong, Shangui, Pella, Uding, Kulinyi, Hyema, Gaya, Hildi, Mugwahi, Mayo Lope/Gashala, Uba, Mufa, Dugwaba, and Yadul. This is a significant milestone for the Huba Chiefdom, marking a new era of recognition and independence.
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