200 Year Old Pre-Colonial Palace without Pillars Discovered in Bauchi

From Paul Orude Bauchi

A palace built 200 years ago without pillars has been uncovered in Kafin Madaki, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The discovery came to light when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Bauchi Council, paid a courtesy call on the district head of Ganjuwa, Baba Mohammed Gidado, on Wednesday.

The journalists had earlier visited Sum Wild Life Park, one of the tourist’s attractions in the state and home to a variety of game, including giraffe, zebra, ella and other wild animals.

Baba Mohammed Gidado, District Head of Ganjuwa

The visits was part of a two-day workshop organized by the Chapel with support from the Bauchi State Government on Emerging trends in Journalism.

At the traditional ruler’s palace, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Auwal Hassan, explained that they were there to pay homage, saying the entourage, comprised, among other journalists, the Chapel Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed.

Mohammed explained that they scheduled to visit Yankari Game Reserve on Thursday as part of workshop to showcase the tourists’ attractions in the state.

Responding, the traditional ruler thanked the journalists for the visit, saying that besides Sumo National Park, Ganjuwa has many natural and cultural sites that are yet to be known to many tourists.

District Head of Ganjuwa Taking Journalists round the Ancient Palace in Kafin Madaki

Gidado thanked the journalists for the visit saying it will offer an opportunity for the world to know the huge tourists sites in the state, including Ganjuwa.

He revealed that the palace he is occupying was build 200 years ago by a local architect using local materials

 “You see this palace, it was built over 200 years ago,” he revealed.

“What is amazing is that there is no single road, or pillar in this structure you are seeing.

“The man who build it did not receive western education, he did not study engineering or building technology. He was an ordinary citizen that God gave us wisdom, blacksmiths, local engineers “

“The palace was built by one man in two years.

A Plague Shows The Palace Was First Built in 1860, over 200 Years Ago

“After constructing this palace, he moved to Bauchi to build the one of the Emir of Bauchi, from there he moved to Zaria  to build the palace of the emir of Zazau,  after that he moved to Birni Gwari , and after that he did not build any palace again before he was killed”

Taking journalists on a tour of the place, Gidado disclosed that the palace has the capacity to regulate alternate weather, which is said is one of the mysteries of the structure of the palace.

“As long as you keep coming to Ganjuwa, you will continue to see amazing and wonderful things,” he said.

The monarch expressed regret that the abundance of precolonial talents were destroyed due to constant conflicts among ethnic groups.

“The Sumo National parks is one of our tourists’ sites in Bauchi,” he explained.

“We discussed about the place recently with the permanent secretary of the Tourism board

“The governor wants to upgrade the park and has even constructed a dam. This is good news.

“The park can be a huge source of attraction for tourists from all over Nigeria and the world.

Many have never left their place of birth so Ganjuwa is an ideal place to come.

“When people come to places like these they appreciate God’s gift to Nigeria

“And thankfully, Ganjuwa is one of the most peaceful places in the state”