The Legendary History of the Great Dalla Hill

 photo credit–oldnaija.com

Dalla Hill (also spelled Dala) is a hill in Kano state, Nigeria. The hill served as a shrine for the religious activities of the early Kano people, and was named Tsumburbura shrine around the 7th century, until the religious system collapsed as a result of Islam dominance later in the 13th century. Kano was originally known as Dala, after the hill.

It is believed that Barbushe a mighty man of great stature, who hunted elephants with just his stick and carried them on his back to the hill, resided there hundreds of years ago, including his wives and seven children. He was the founder of the Tsumburbura shrine as he built it to worship a deity called Tchumburburai. It is believed to have been worshipped by the Hausa people before the arrival of Islam. 

   photo credit–pressreader.com

The only person that was allowed access to the shrine was Barbushe and anyone that entered it without his permission is said to have died mysteriously. He never descended from the Dalla hill except on the two days of an Idi festival. When the days drew near, the people that lived in the vicinity of the hill came with animals to sacrifice with the hopes of gaining favor with Tchumburburai.

Dalla hill was the center of power on which all rituals revolved. It is a crucial part of the history of the city of Kano. The hill also served as an area of dominance and refuge of the descendants of Barbushe. But to all (the Hausa people), it served as a sacred place where their god, Tchumburburai, dwelled. 

Source: Hallam, W. K. R. (1966). "The Bayajida Legend in Hausa Folklore". The Journal of African History.

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