THIS YEAR‘s Machina Annual Cultural Festival (MACUF) observed from 27th January to 1st February 2026, was specially defined by the 31st January turbanning of a powerful Machina quartet that transformed the day into a historic one for the Emirate, its Emir, Dr Bashir Bukar Albishir Machinama, and the turbanned personages: Dr Kole Ahmed Shettima as Zanna Yuroma; Engr. Mohammed Kati Machina as Marafa; Dr Abubakar Kagu as Mutawalle; and Dr Usaini Mansur Ahmed as Danlawan; and memorable to the friends of the turbanned personages, and multitude of well-wishers who graced the occasion.
31st January 2026 was a royal platform for the recognition of outstanding Machina sons and worthy ambassadors excelling in academics and public intellectualism; humanitarian philanthropy and development practice; human mentoring and public service; social inclusion praxes and community service among others.
From 27th January to 1st February 2026, Machina’s calls reverberated beyond Yobe State, and the nation enthusiastically responded. But 31st January 2026 was dedicated for trajectorial intersections, recollections and royal directives. Different personalities from diverse backgrounds came to honour the Machina Quartet on that day.
On that day, Machina projected a rich historical trajectory, and constructively engaged the nation with its cultural tapestry, warmth and hospitality. The nation was momentarily spellbound, and all eyes gazed towards the Kanuri fiefdom, transforming it into a cynosure of national and across border attention. The massive turnout at the occasion reflected a wide appreciation of that rich cultural-historical heritage.
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31st January 2026 will echo for a long time in Machina Emirate and beyond. It was above all, a day of special gift presentations and palace revelations. The gifts weren’t horses or camels; royal regalia or swords; spears or financial. And were neither offered by the friends of the turbanned quartet, nor by the honoured personalities; they were presented by the Maimachinama, Dr Bashir Bukar Albishir.
The gifts were Machina’s invaluable and inestimable human treasures: Zanna Yuroma, Dr Kole Shettima, Africa Director, MacArthur Foundation; Marafa, M K Machina, Chairman Board of Governors College of Administration, Management and Technology( CAMTEC) Potiskum ; Mutawalle, Dr Abubakar Kagu, an Associate Professor of Law; and Danlawan, Dr Usaini Mansur Ahmed, a medical practitioner presented to Yobe state, the North East, Nigeria and the world at large to utilise their expertise to improve human life.
There is an interesting trajectory to the Machina gifts. They must have excelled either in local, national or global contexts to justify their appreciation and recognition at home. And they couldn’t have embarked on the worthwhile endeavours, without being well groomed at home. The Machina quartet didn’t disappoint. They must have outstandingly struggled in different contexts, for the world to transform them into inestimable human treasures, leaving indelible imprimaturs wherever they found themselves.
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In an encounter with the Nigerian and foreign friends of the turbanned personages in his palace, the Emir dwelt on who could be appointed Zanna Yuroma, Marafa, Mutawalle and Danlawan of Machina, underscoring the royal revealations on that day.
The Zanna Yuroma title is usually conferred only on the uncles, brothers, etc, of the Emir, because it is him alone who could point a finger to the Machinama and tell him the truth, no one could dare in the Emirate. The Marafa and Mutawalle titles are conferred on accomplished sons of the Emirate to advise the Emir on agricultural and legal matters, whilst the Danlawan title is conferred on a worthy son married to a royal spouse.
The success trajectory of 31st January 2027 is underscored by the answer to the questions: if invited who wouldn’t partake in the historic undertaking? Who wouldn’t respond to the royal call of the Emir of Machina? And who wouldn’t rush to the turbanning of Dr Kole Ahmed Shettima and M. K. Machina? It is only those with unavoidable commitments elsewhere, or ill-disposed on that day, who couldn’t partake in the undertaking, respond to the call or rush to the turbanning rituals.
Dr Kole Shettima is an exception to the rule that a Zanna Yuroma must be an uncle, or brother to the Emir. As a childhood friend of the Emir, and someone unofficially performing the role of the office, Maimachinama, Dr Bashir Bukar Albishir found him eminently suitable for appointment as Zanna Yuroma. An expert in identifying public developmental gaps and filling the void, would hardly miss similar and related gaps in the Emirate.
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Having risen to the apex of his career in Yobe State civil service, and as a practicing farmer make M. K. Machina a round peg in a round hole as the Emir’s advisor on agriculture. As a former judicial officer and legal scholar, Dr Abubakar Kagu’s appointment as Mutawalle is beyond reproach.
From 27th January to 1st February 2026, Machina’s calls reverberated beyond Yobe State, and the nation enthusiastically responded. But 31st January 2026 was dedicated for trajectorial intersections, recollections and royal directives. Different personalities from diverse backgrounds came to honour the Machina Quartet on that day.
Besides Nigerian and Nigerien royal fathers, commissioners, Local Government Chairmen and other political appointees from Yobe and adjoining states who graced the occasion, friends of Dr Kole Ahmed Shettima and M. K. Machina including Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former governor and minister; Dr Garba Abari; Barr A. B Mahmoud, SAN; Prof Jibrin Ibrahim; Dr Otive Igbuzor ; Engr. YZ Ya’u; Muhammad Umar Gombe; Mustapha Bukar Sabo; Comrade Abdulkadir Isa; Isiyaku Ibrahim; Saleh Mari Maina; Kadiria Ahmed; Auwal Musa Rafsanjani; Dr Husseini Abdu; Dr Dauda Garuba; Emmanuel Ebu; Comrade Abdullahi Shehu; Chief Oraiki; Zikirullah Ibrahim; Esther Yusuf; Dr Amina Salihu; Dr Faruk Gambo Lawan; Dr Charmaine Pereira, and my humble self among others, transformed the turbanning into a national affair. And the day invalidated a widely entertained erroneous belief that the only narratives from the insurgent geopolitical zone are scary.
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The success trajectory of 31st January 2027 is underscored by the answer to the questions: if invited who wouldn’t partake in the historic undertaking? Who wouldn’t respond to the royal call of the Emir of Machina? And who wouldn’t rush to the turbanning of Dr Kole Ahmed Shettima and M. K. Machina? It is only those with unavoidable commitments elsewhere, or ill-disposed on that day, who couldn’t partake in the undertaking, respond to the call or rush to the turbanning rituals.
Impressed by the royal demeanour of the Emir, during the visit of the friends of the turbanned personages to the Palace, and at the turbanning ground, reinforced by a dignified royal unassuming mien during the grand wrestling finale and the durbar at the Arena, many concluded that the Emir might not avail frequent grounds for the new Zanna Yuroma to point fingers at him.
Long live Maimachinama, Dr Bashir Bukar Albishir, whose proactive emirship maintained the peace in the Emirate, introduced the Machina Annual Cultural Festival in 2006, and appointed the Emirate’s golden fish: Dr Kole Ahmed Shettima, M K Machina, Dr Abubakar Kagu and Dr Usaini Mansur Ahmed as Zanna Yuroma, Marafa, Mutawalle and Danlawan of Machina Emirate.
Jahun, a public affairs analyst writes from Jigawa State. He can be reached on 07039038088.
