Skip to content

Nigeria's spectacular horse parade closing Ramadan

Wedaeli Chibelushi
BBC News
Olympia de Maismont/AFP Two men in yellow headscarves are in the foreground - in the background you can see the emir on horseback.Olympia de Maismont/AFP

Booming gunfire, vibrant gowns and blaring trumpets have animated the Nigerian city of Dutse during the durbar.

This is a days-long horse parade held to mark Eid al-Fitr, a celebration for the end of the Ramadan.

Emirs - traditional Islamic leaders - usually parade through their territories with a huge procession of horseback riders.

On Monday, Emir of Dutse Hameem Nuhu Sunusi rode on a white stallion, shielded from the sun by a patterned blue parasol.

The emir told the AFP news agency that the festival showcases Nigeria's rich traditions.

Olympia de Maismont/AFP The Emir of Dutse sits on a white horse, shielded by a blue parasol. He is joined by horse riders wearing colorful robes.Olympia de Maismont/AFP

According to the UN's cultural organisation, the durbar is "a dexterous display of horsemanship and brilliant exhibition of a people's... heritage".

Olympia de Maismont/AFP A man attends to a horse dressed in a colourful mask.Olympia de Maismont/AFP
Olympia de Maismont/AFP A stable hand strokes a horse which is adorned in a blue satin clothOlympia de Maismont/AFP
Olympia de Maismont/AFP Three men in striped robes and turbans sit on horses, with their backs to the cameraOlympia de Maismont/AFP
Olympia de Maismont/AFP A man in a colourful robe and turban helps another adjust his outfit.Olympia de Maismont/AFP

Royal hunters fired guns on Monday to announce the emir's approach.

Olympia de Maismont/AFP A royal hunter - wearing sunglasses and a red and green robe - poses with his gunOlympia de Maismont/AFP
Olympia de Maismont/AFP Smoke and a bright orange light can be seen as a man, wearing red and green, fires a gunOlympia de Maismont/AFP

Dutse is just one area in Nigeria's majority-Muslim north holding a durbar - a centuries-old tradition. The festival takes places twice a year - during the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays.

Olympia de Maismont/AFP A woman, wearing a pink and green dress, arranges her veil. She walks in front of a patterned building.Olympia de Maismont/AFP

It is an occasion for all ages. In Dutse, members of the national scout association got involved.

Olympia de Maismont/AFP Young boys in scouts' uniforms stand on the road in a neat formationOlympia de Maismont/AFP

Horses were not the only four-legged creatures on show.

Olympia de Maismont/AFP A camel draped in a red, emroidered blanket bows in front of a man, who is dressed in whiteOlympia de Maismont/AFP

The durbar usually takes place over several days - the celebration in Dutse continued on Tuesday.

Olympia de Maismont/AFP A man and three children sit on a motorbike. An intricately-patterened building can be seen behind them.Olympia de Maismont/AFP

You may also be interested in:

Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News AfricaGetty Images/BBC

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts