Gwandara is a West Chadic language as earlier stated from our previous articles written by Sani Musa Sarkinpada as referenced Dr. Sylvester O. Ayih, and the closet relative of Hausa. Its several dialects are spoken in Northern Nigeria, predominantly in the North Central Region of Nigeria with over million people. Gwandara are situated among areas like; Nasarawa State, Federal Capital Territory – Abuja, Niger State, Kaduna and more also in areas like communities across the northern part of Nigeria such as Kano (founding state), Taraba state, Kwara state, Kogi State, Plateau State and Katsina state. The former governor of Nasarawa state Umaru Tanko Al-Makura popularly known as Ta’al is the first Gwandara person to become a governor in Nigeria after the era of Alh. Muhammadu Danladi Gwandara (He was sworn in as Deputy Governor of plateau state to: Solomon D. Lar on October 1st, 1979).
History will not vindicate us if we fail to mention here that Karshi is the 1st recognized Gwandara town by Government in Nigeria as well as the first Gwandara town to receive the highest tradition status of 1st class Emir. This great honor will forever remain a reference point for us and generations yet unborn.
History According to Dr Sylvester O. Ayih (the late Abaga of Toni) in his book titled “The history of Gwandara towns, wondering and hunting for a group of Gwandara people of Karshi led by Danbaba to reach and settled in the site called Karshi kupai. Where they establish a permanent settlement and as time went by, they built a large empire which extends to the river Benue in the South and river Niger in the West. The Gwandara people of Karshi are the notable and the most influential Gwandara people in Nigeria. When we talk of the Gwandara heritage, amongst the cultural trait to be considered, language is the most important. In Gwandara Kingdom, language is the most important cultural heritage of the people. This is because it has not only endured but also survived through ages. Our Gwandara indigenous language has been transmitted from the ancient times through to the present generation of Gwandara people. It may be interesting to note that whatever danger that modernization has posed to the language, the Gwandara people still continue to exist and the language is still spoken widely to the people. The language is the most important heritage of the Gwandara tribe of Northern Nigeria.
Note: Religion, a cultural threat which goes back to the beginnings of human species, is a cultural heritage considering its antiquities. In Nigeria, religion especially that which is known as traditional religion, is as old as the societies and cultures in the country, it is therefore a true Nigerian cultural heritage.
Reference: HRH (Dr.) Sani Mohammed Bako III, Edited & Posted by: Musa Muhammed-Mustapha.