THE TWO ROYAL FAMILIES THAT EXIST IN FULANI DYNATY OF AGAIE


TWO ROYAL FAMILIES  EXIST IN THE FULANI DYNASTY OF AGAIE.

These two royal families are both allowed to rule the emirate on a rotational basis. The are the Mallam Babba and Mallam Sulaimanu royal houses. These two royal hoses each had, and yet have, the exclusive right to produce a successor each time the demise of a serving Etsu is announced. The reason for this, as handed down by oral traditions, was that while Mallam Babba was the founder of the dynasty; Sulaimanu, his brother, was the one who volunteered to go to Gwandu to obtain the flag and permission to install Abdullahi as the first Fulani Etsu of Agaie. None among Babba's companions offer to go. This also explains why the two highest political ranks in the emirate, Etsu and Shaba, have always been domiciled in these two royal houses.

While the royal house of Mallam Bubba's lineage is labeled as "Tako", meaning "Down"; Sulaimanu royal house is referred to as "Tiffin", meaning "Up". These labels are derived from the topography of the two royal houses which the two houses are located in opposite layouts of Agaie Town. 

The rotational system of succession have continued to allow a balance of power; reducing rivalry and succession disputes between the two royal houses. 

The Shaba of Agaie used to be the heir apparent to the throne when the death of the serving Etsu was announced. However, the practice was altered with the accession in 1919 of Abubakar 2, the fifth Etsu of Agaie because he was the Kpotun ( only next in rank to the Shaba) at the time of his appointment.

Before then, Kingmakers were usually summoned by the Ndeji (also a kingmaker and leader of the council), to select a successor on the death of the serving Etsu. Unless he was old and unfit, the Shaba was selected. when the Shaba had been informed of the kingmaker's decision that he was the new Etsu, the appointment would then be made public, and a new Shaba would thereafter be appointed.

Usually, a few days after the selection, the turbaning ceremony of the new Etsu, usually after receiving confirmation from the Emir of Gwandu, would take place at the Agaie central mosque where the chief imam of the town would be requested to lead others in supplication.

over time, the influence of Gwandu upon the internal dynastic affairs of the emirate, especially the confirmation of the newly appointed Etsus, became more or less a formality.

The coronation ceremony was usually a big occasion attended by the Emir of Gwandu and sometimes the Sultan of Sokoto. During the ceremony, the Emir will rceive a staff of office and the Etsu will be clothed in specially designed traditional royal regalia

His traditional insignia of Authority included a flag, a spear, a sword, and an armoured gown. The Etsu would then, under the supervision of the Agaie Chief Imam, take the oath of office by swearing with the Holy Qur'an. Thereafter the Ndeji, Nnafene Sonfada, Kpotun, Makun, Ubandaki, Maiyaki, the Chief Imam, and the Alkali (Judge) would individually and publicly pledge allegiance to the new etsu. 

The new Etsu shall then pay a visit to the tombs of Mallam Babba and his brother, Malam Sulaimanu, and to the tombs of all the past Fulani Etsus of Agaie before proceeding to his palace.


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