Gwandara Biography

It is generally believed that Gwandara people came from Kano state – Nigeria and later settled in their today’s various locations. They migrated at about 14th century to escaped religious persecution or force conversion to Islam. So they left Kano under their leader whose father was a king and they first settled at Karshin-Daji (Fadan-Karshi) in the present day Kaduna state and subsequently Gwandara became their name.

The original and full appellation being “Gwandarawa-da-Sallah” meaning rather dance than prayer. However, from Fadan-Karshi, Gwandara people spread to other chiefdom within and outside Kaduna state. However, from Fadan-Karshi, Gwandara people spread to other chiefdom within and outside Kaduna state. They have towns and villages numbering to over one hundred and fifty (150) across the five states mentioned below and  apart from other small settlements among other ethnic group in towns and villages which are not principally Gwandara. Gwandara are one of the Chadic-western speaking people of Nigeria living mainly in FCT – Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna and still related places like Taraba, Kogi and Kano. 

Traditionally, Gwandara people were grouped with the Hausa – Fulani people as the inhabitants of the city of Kano, Kano state – Nigeria. The Gwandara history relates that Islam was introduced into Kano in the fourteenth century. (Read a book by: His Royal Highness Dr. Silvester O. Ayih, the late Abaga of Toni and Sarkin Garaku in his journal “Gwandara Book of Fame” (2003) for more clarification about Gwandara origin).

Note that:
Gwandara were the major occupants of the Dalla Highland and Goron-Dutse and other related place which includes Dan-batta and Makoda area of Kano State. The Dutsen-Dalla (Dalla Highland in Kano state) was their traditional highland land where all their traditions and rituals are performed.

Reference: Alh. Jibrin Abdullahi – Karshi | Edited by Musa Muhammed-Mustapha