Silence resumed in the hall.

 

“At first I was confused,” he continued. “But when I withdrew into myself I got the meaning of the sign and what it stood for, I got the answer in my pulse.”

 

The voice faded for a while then erupted again.

 

“The pulse is the rhythmic throb of the heart which controls the circulation of blood in the body system. In the context of the sword I understand the sword to mean Sakkwato.”

 

“Sakkwato?” questioned one of the councilors.

 

“Yes, the caliphate was a geographical as well as a political entity, Sakkwato was the seat of the caliphate and from there, blood was distributed to its nooks and crannies. This blood is the intellectual milk made in Sakkwato, thus, Sakkwato is the pulse of the caliphate. This pulse lies in its history and tradition which are embedded in its symbology.”

 

By now the spellbinding voice of Djibo has suppressed the frightening clouds of silence in the hall.

 

“There are three major icons in caliphate symbology. The first is the Pare (ceremonial trumpet). It was among the booty realized after the battle of Tabkin kwatto against the Gobir army. It was given to Sultan Bello and since then it has been part of the Sultan’s ceremonial regalia.”

 

“Mmmh, tabban (truthfully),” commented one of the councilors.

 

Then the Kuge (ceremonial rattle).  It was a court rattle used to announce to announce the arrival of Sarkin Gobir (chief of Gobir). Today it is in the Sultan’s personal archives.”

 

Mighty drops of silence precipitated in the hall.

 

“The last icon is but the sword of Yunfa. The sword was confiscated after the Battle of tsibiri, it is believed to be of German origin and it possesses some mystical powers. Oral tradition has it that the sword is the bridge between a Sultan and his successor. A Sultan passes it to his successor before his death; it has been so from Sultan Muhammadu Bello. But the tradition was short lived, it stopped with Sultan   Attahiru I.” he stopped   briefly to clear his throat.

 

 

“The colonialists occupied Sakkwato during his reign; he fought them gallantly at Giginya, but   his army was no match to the colonial army. With a large following the Sultan left Sakkwato with the intention of migrating to the holy land, but he died at Burmi in present day Bauchi state after a fierce battle with the British, some of the survivors of the battle of burmi, undaunted went ahead to fulfill the Sultan’s intention, for most of them, the journey ended at Mai wurno in present republic of Sudan. My grandfather, who is also the son of Sultan Attahiru, was among those whose journey ended there.”

 

Chants echo from all corners of the hall: God is great! God is great! A descendant of the great Attahiru? God is great!

 

Normalcy returned to the hall as soon as Djibo resumed talking.  “Sultan Attahiru passed the Sword to my grand father; my grand father passed it to my father who in turn passed it to me. The sword is described in the masterpiece: Bayan al wujubul hijra. When the late Sultan saw the sword he collected it, it has been in his custody, he returned it to me four nights ago, with the instruction that I present it to the Majalisa after his demise.”

 

“Where is the sword?” demanded the Waziri.

 

“It is here”, Djibo said pointing to his body. He quickly raised the sleeves of his Alkyabba (Royal gown) and behold there it was, sheathed in a 17th century leather; The Sword of Yunfa.

 

  The whole Majalisa was silent. All eyes cast a probing      stare at the Sword, in wonder and awe.

 

Then something strange happened. The door of the hall opened and a young man in royal robes who on getting closer was recognized to be the Sultan’s personal secretary walked up to Djibo and barked.

 

 “Unsheathe the Sword.” Djibo hesitated.

 

“Unsheathe it I command!” the young man repeated.

 

 

With shaky fingers Djibo unsheathed the sword. As soon as he did so, simultaneously lights went off, a violent explosion occurred, the building vibrated as if it was going to collapse and a hazy smoke from nowhere engulfed the Majalisa . There was confusion.

 

Then something happened again. The vibration ceased, the smoke vanished and peace was restored. It was a miracle. Many still don’t understand the events of that Wednesday and many never understand.

 

Three hours later, (Sultan’s Inner chamber) the Waziri was addressing the Majalisa in the Barayar Sarki: “Based on the unanimous decision of this council I hereby present you the 31st Sultan of Sakkwato.