THE QUAKE: THE HAUSA CITY-STATES (Nupe)

           

NUPE CITY-STATE

The Nupe people may be regarded as distant relations of the Hausas. Nupe state is located around southern part of the Hausa Bakwai(pure Hausa states). The people of Nupe state were skilled craftsmen who made quality brass, silver and glass works, also they were renowned for their skill in boat-building.

At the beginning of their history Nupe state was not united. The state was made up of twelve clan-like separate groups. Among the twelve two became more powerful, Keyede which was located at Mureji near the Niger Kaduna confluence and Beni. The Beni group established sub-clans that played important role in resisting foreign invasions. One interesting thing about Beni was the full co-operation between the Beni clans, this allowed for a central leadership among these clans known as Nku located near modern Bida. Bayajidda tradition tells us that the people of Nupe states at their earliest history were tributary to the Ata of Igala who controlled a vast empire. The Ata of Idah (Igala) demanded an annual tribute of one male slave from each Nupe Family.

 Nupe began her march to greatness in the first half of the 15^th century when Tsoede (The Hero of Nupe land) united all the people of Nupe and won independence from the Ata of Igala. Tsoede was believed to be the son of a prince of Igala living in Nupe who married the daughter of the chief of Nku. Before Tsoede was born his father was recalled to Idah (Igala) where he became the new Ata. His father left his unborn son two presents; a charm and a distinctive ring. It was these two gifts that helped the Ata identify his son when Tsoede was sent to Igala as a slave-tribute of the royal house of Nku.

The Ata was overjoyed on seeing his lost son that he took him into his care. He provided all the needs of Tsoede making sure the boy was happy staying in his court. History tells us that at one time Tsoede saved his father’s life by being the only son among his step-brothers who was able to climb a tall palm tree to pluck the only fruit that has the power to cure his father’s illness. In the process of plucking the fruit Tsoede split his lip so badly that it became a mark of honor. Today any Nupe child born with hare-lip will be given the name Tsoede as an honor.

The successes of Tsoede in Igala incurred the jealousy of his Igala half-brothers. His aging father fearing for his life advised him to flee Igala to Nupe, his father also made him the ruler of Nupe areas. Tsoede left Igala a successful man, he was given different arrays of rich gifts and numerous symbols of authority and royal rank such as bronze ceremonial trumpets, bronze canoe and iron chains and fetters symbolizing judicial authority.

His departure angered his half-brothers that they took some men and pursued him. Before his flight from Igala he was given twelve slaves to accompany him, these twelve helped him escape the searching eyes of his brothers. They hid in the creek of Ega to avoid their pursuers, it was from here Tsoede began his war campaigns. First he defeated the people Nupeko with his few men and made Nupeko his military base. From Nupeko he launched many campaigns against the separate groups in Nupe land defeating and uniting the whole Nupe in the process. He placed the twelve companions with him as sub-rulers of the now united Beni towns.

Tsoede began to build a strong cavalry force, then he led a united Nupe through years of territory expansion. He subdued Yagba, Bunu and Kakanda peoples at the south of the River Niger. Tsoede also led his men into old Oyo Yoruba dynasty where he drove them out of their capital. To the North he expanded his authority over the people of Ebe, Kamuku and Kamberi areas. All this while he launched his attacks from his base at Nupeko which was also the capital of now expanded Nupe land. Nupeko was too small to support the needs of a capital befitting a large state, to remedy this he founded a new capital at Gbara on the lower Kaduna river. Gbara was still unable to accommodate the now large court, warriors and war-horses. A new settlement Dokomba was built in order to house his thousands of horses.

Apart from his successes militarily, he also brought new skills to the people of Nupe. He brought skilled blacksmiths, glass –manufacturers and bronze-casters from Idah to Nupe. He also introduced the technical knowledge necessary to build large canoes for war and trade. He introduced human sacrifices, bride price and many other traditions to Nupe. At the age of hundred and twenty years (120yrs) he died during a war campaign at the northern edge of his territory. The ruler of Nupe is now referred as ‘Etsu Nupe’, a derivation from Tsoede

We know little about Nupe after the life of Tsoede. Four of Tsoede’s sons were believed to be later rulers of Nupe land but none of them lived up to their father’s achievements. Nupe dynasty became a Muslim state during the reign of Etsu Jibrin who died in about 1759. The Muslim Nupe continued to wax strong under the leadership of Etsu Ma’aza but at his death in 1795 Nupe state fell into a state of anarchy.

Etsu Ma’aza’s death saw internal rivalry thus causing a steady decline of power. This rivalry caused the founding of Raba in about 1796 which grew into a flourishing trade center.

THE QUAKE: THE HAUSA CITY-STATES (Zaria)

                                                          

   Zaria City-State

Not much is known about the history of Zaria but one thing is sure, Zaria grew into a wealthy and prosperous state. At its height, Zaria became a leading commercial state within Hausaland because of her valuable commercial link with wealthy states near the forest areas. Zaria was different from her neighbors even though she was a Habe state. Unlike Kano and Kastina, Zaria was occasionally ruled by female rulers. Two of these female rulers are believed to be among the greatest rulers ever to emerge in the History of Hausaland. They proved the old adage right; what a man can do a woman can also do and even better. World history reverberates with tales of great female rulers who ruled with iron fist. Africa in time past had her own fair share of female warriors who knew no bounds in politics. They fearlessly took on their male counterparts defeating them both in battlefields and administration.

The first Habe ruler of  Zaria is believed to be Gunguma, grandson of Bayajidda. In 1505, Mohammed Abu visited Zaria. He introduced Islam to Zaria but unlike Kano and Kastina, Islam did not take strong roots in Zaria as it did in aforementioned states.

Zaria was once such state whose female leaders were so fierce no man was powerful enough to stop their march. We must know that Zaria’s rise to military power was due to the impact of two formidable female rulers.

Bakwa Turunku was a woman of strength and astute brain, she had a commanding and charming personality. During her reign she repulsed the invading Jukun army. In 1536 Bakwa moved the capital from Turunku area to what is still roughly the present capital of Zaria. She moved the capital from Turunku due to insufficient water needed for the growing commercial strength of Turunku. Bakwa Turunku died in about  1566 and was succeeded by a male formidable warrior Karama. History tells us that Karama took princess Amina, the eldest daughter of Bakwa on his campaigns.

Around 1576 Queen Amina became the queen and sole leader of zaria. Her ambitions kept her away from marriage even though she received lots of marriage proposals including one from the Sarki of Kano. She was so immersed in war that she cared less of becoming an ordinary royal wife. Queen Amina was known to lead her army into battlefields herself. She wielded her sword beside her troops killing as many enemies that dare cross her part and also acting as motivation for her troops. We know she never lost a battle and for thirty-four years Queen Amina continued to conquer lands after lands. After each battle was won, she will erect walled garrisons to protect the conquered lands from invasions. To this day some of the walls she built still stands in Zaria and serves as a tourist destination.

The lands she conquered includes areas between Zaria and the rivers Niger and Benue, this included Nupe and Kwararafa states. The expansion of Zaria provided her with abundant slaves for labor and also the control of trade route between Gonja. At the time of Queen Amina’s death Zaria was at the zenith of her power. Zaria controlled large share of trade in Hausaland and was a nation both enemies and friends feared to invade.

After the death of Queen Amina, Zaria lost her unchallenged might. Her enemies saw Zaria a sheep without a good shepherd thus they knew it was time to prey on the once strong and wealthy state. During the 17^th century, internal rift and weak leaders reduced Zaria so much that Jukun state resumed their raid on Zaria. These frequent raids by Jukun troops reduced the territories under the leadership of Zaria. Zaria also paid tribute to Sefawa and in 1734  Zaria eventually fell to the armies of Bornu.

Though Zaria fell to the armies of Bornu, she remained a prominent state in Hausa.

THE QUAKE: THE HAUSA CITY-STATES (Kastina)

                                                                                                                         

                                      KASTINA CITY-STATE

Earliest records show a group of people known as Durbawa occupying the area known as Kastina. Durbawa were the ruling class in Kastina as early as the twelfth century, then Kastina was just more than a village-state. The first recorded Durbawa ruler of Kastina was Janzama whose wife Daura gave her name to the capital. Still in the twelfth century, Kumayo a descendant of Bayajidda seized power and became the first Habe ruler of Kastina. After Kumayo’s death the right to the throne alternated between descendants of Kumayo and Janzama.

Before we look at few great leaders of Kastina we must establish the role of the Sarki. The Sarki was the title given to then rulers of Hausa city-states. In Kastina the Sarki held both political and religious power. The Sarki was seen as a divine ruler whose health and strength is believed to have strong impact on the state. A physically and mentally fit Sarki symbolizes fertility of the land and prosperity of the people. Once a Sarki’s health starts declining a successor is quickly named. The coronation ceremony involves the killing of a black ox over the head of the newly selected Sarki such that the blood of the ox spatters over him. The old Sarki was then strangled by a selected court official and his body wrapped in the skin of the ox before burying him in an upright position.

During the early centuries Kastina remained a state without walls unlike her neighbors, though without walls Kastina proved to be a strong and independent city-state despite attacks from Kano, Nupe and Gobir. Records show Kastina was invaded periodically, an example was the conquering of Kastina by Askia Mohammed.

Around 1490 Islam reached Kastina and was widely embraced by commoners. Around 1493 the Islamic scholar Al-Maghili visited Kastina and was able to convert the then ruler of Kastina Mohammed Korau to Islam. Al-Maghili helped him establish an Islamic styled leadership. Islam continued to foster in Kastina due to strong trade with North African merchants and also by the invasion of Songhai state. Islam continued to grow in Kastina though it was by choice, but during later years of the 16^th century Islam became obligatory for all living in Kastina.

One interesting thing about Kastina was the model of her growth. Kastina became a large and prosperous city-state in the later years of the 16^th century. The state was divided into separate residential quarters, there were quarters for people from Mali, Songhai, Gobir, Bornu etc. Also there were quarters for Islamic teachers, officials of the state and craftsmen specializing in various crafts.

As established above, the Songhai state invaded and occupied Kastina until 1554 when Kastina won back her independence. During this time there was an increase in trade between Tunis and Kastina thus making her a very wealthy state. With her independence and wealth the need for a well fortified state was hatched however it was not until the reign of Ali Murabus in 1560 that powerful outer walls were built around Kastina.

As Kastina increased in trade she made many powerful enemies. As we established in the last exposition on Kano, Kastina’s greatest enemy was Kano. Kano’s ruler Rimfa started The Eleven year war with Kastina in order to win sole control of Sub-Saharan trade. In the previous article, we established the fact the war continued after the death of Rimfa, however Kano was unable to wrestle the control of Sub-Saharan trade from Kastina. Kastina’s enemies also included Jukun and in 1670 Jukun warriors invaded Kastina massacring many people in the process. The Jukun ruthless advance was halted when their commander died from a kick by his horse causing his men to withdrew. Kastina unable to keep Bornu away from her gate became a tributary to Bornu.

We have seen Kastina as a city-state that suffered frequent foreign invasions yet her economic development soared. She maintained her lead in trade and Islamic culture in the old Hausaland. An example of her success was the flourishing Islamic culture and education, the famous Islamic scholar Dan Marina lived around this time in Kastina. Kastina's excellence was highly sought and thus became a model in both government and trade for her neighbors. The areas strongly controlled by Kastina included Maradi, Zamfara and Birnin Gwari.

Kastina began to decline slowly allowing most of her territories to fall into the hands of Gobir, a rising power. In 1807 Kastina finally fell to the Fulani thus ending their glorious history.

THE QUAKE: THE HAUSA STATES 2 (Kano)

                                                            

HAUSA CITY STATES

KANO

The earliest known inhabitants of Kano were the Negro Abagayawa. They were skilled blacksmiths and their most famous leader Barbushe also founded the community. Tradition says that the Abagayawa were conquered by Bagoda grandson of Bayajidda in AD999. Under the reign of Bagoda and his descendants the former small villages became a large and powerful state.

Kanajeji 1390-1440, Ali Yaji’s son was a powerful ruler who expanded the power of Kano to a large extent of Hausaland. He revamped the army by incorporating many innovations such as equipping the Kano troops with chain mails and iron helmets. Kanajeji’s successors took Kano’s power to a new height. These great leaders opened Kano’s gate to other great nations abroad thus increasing their wealth.

A typical example was Sarki Dauda 1421-1438 who came in touch with the kingdom of Bornu. During the reign of Abdullahi Burja 1452-1463 formal trade was opened up between the now friendly Bornu and the kingdom of Gonja. Abdullahi Burja involved Kano in the Trans-Saharan trade thus increasing the wealth and prestige of Kano. At his death Kano fell into the hands of a more peaceful leader Yakubu. Yakubu labored to maintain internal and peace and also peace with Kano’s neighbors. Kano flourished under the reign of Yakubu, commerce thrived greatly due to Kano’s peaceful co-existence with her neighbors. Another notable act of Yakubu is his open arms to foreigners who bore new ideas. He allowed Fulani Muslims from Mali to settle in Kano. This new settlers brought Islamic teachings and literature to Kano.

In 1463 Mohammed Rimfa became the new ruler of Kano. He had a very long reign 1463-1499, his reign saw drastic changes in Kano. During his time Kano rose to her greatest height, her military reached its peak in power during the reign of Mohammed Rimfa. We know that Rimfa not only made Kano a super power but also a commercial hub of the then Hausaland. Rimfa commissioned the building of city walls to protect a larger area, he also strengthened already built walls. He introduced new military strategies and tactics to his army. He organized his army to advance with cavalry at the front protecting his infantry, this tactic is known as Dawakin Zaggi.

Rimfa began a conflict with the city state Kastina for the control of trade with the kingdom of Agades and North Africa. This war was known as the Eleven years war and saw the use Dawakin Zaggi in battles. Such was Rimfa’s vision that he increased trade within and outside Kano. He built a good number of markets inside the city walls, the largest was Kurmi market which was built to accommodate large numbers of traders. Kurmi is still in use today though not pivotal as it was in ancient Kano.

It was during the reign of Mohammed Rimfa that Kano officially became a Muslim state. He made huge cultural reforms in order to accommodate Islam. With the help of Al-Maghili and Abd-Al-Rahman he made Islam the official religion in Kano. He ordered the religious tree Shamuz to be cut down and in its place a minaret was built. He also forced most of his subjects especially those governing with him to convert to Islam. Rimfa began using Islamic laws to govern. He also introduced Islamic taxation thus he made Islam flourish in Kano. Rimfa overhauled Kano’s system of government, he made changes using Islamic laws as guidance.

After the reign of Rimfa Kano began a slow but steady decline. During the eleven years war with Kastina Rimfa won great victories however the eleven years war continued after his death but Kano had lost her hold on the Trans-Saharan trade to Kastina by this time. As Kano’s power began to wane his enemies became more daring, it was not long before her enemies were able to reach her walls. In 1512 Kano fell to the army of Askia Mohammed. Kano became a tributary first to shonghai and then to Kebbi.

For centuries Kano continued to be at the mercy of her neighbors. Jukun and Benue valley twice invaded Kano and ravaged the city in the 17^th century. Kano continued to be a tributary to her neighbors especially the kingdom of Bornu. Kano regained her power during the 19^th century when she became the most prominent city state in Hausaland. To this day Kano is the most elegant, commercially thriving and powerful city in Hausaland and the environs. A power developed and encouraged by great ancient leaders lives to this day.

MAN AND THE UNKNOWN

                                                         

I was watching IAAF indoor games at Brussels, the 100m fastest runner Usain Bolt was about taking off. He performed a small ritual, a cross sign starting from his forehead down to the front of his two shoulders. Funny enough, the world fastest man recognized the power of an unknown. He believed this unknown has the power to increase his speed and maybe retard those of his opponents, anyway he came first. Countless times I have seen footballers celebrating their goals with their foreheads on the turf. Have you ever seen a footballer about to take a penalty moving his mouth in prayer before taking a shot? Shifting away from sports to our citadels of learning especially during exams, the frenzy and flustered become calmed after prayers. A student who failed his exams can be seen asking “God why?” or Allah why?

The big question is this; how important is the knowledge of God, gods and deities in our lives? Why religion? These two questions can only be answered through intense study and removal of biased or generally held ideas for the truth. From time immemorial man understood that apart from him and the animals within his sphere, a higher being existed. Some argue that the concept of God grew from man’s failure to give specific answers to some of nature’s phenomena. In fact down through ages every nation posses series of gods or definite god which they worshiped. Zoolatry, Pyrolatory, Idolatry, astrolatry, heliolatry and many more of such continued to be handed down from one age to another by departing ancestors.

 Imagine the beautiful state of ancient Egypt where civilization first sprung up. Religion was never a pushover for the citizens of ancient Egypt. Akhanaton emerging as pharaoh introduced Aman-ra the sun god as the sole god in whom all blessings and curses of which no mortal can reverse comes from. Mystics and some religious groups claim that Egypt’s Amen-ra  was the first sole god. They argue that Akhanaton was the first to introduce monotheism. Well man has his right to think freely but yet wrong thoughts and assumptions can be disastrous.

The Bible and scientists have been at war because of their divergent views on how man came to be. The truth is that the bible is also a good scientific handbook. If we are to follow biblical accounts we will come to a realization the Egyptians were not the first to introduce the supremacy of one God over all nature. For better clarification we must turn to the Quran which vividly stated that ancient Jews took from the earliest men(Adam included) a form of monotheism. The theory of Amen-ra contributed or gave birth to the widespread religion of the sun.

The Romans never left an inch of this theory as they wholesomely incorporated it into every form in their religion. They dedicated a day for its worship, this was done in reverence to the god Akhanaton instituted. The Romans due to their wide conquest assimilated other gods from conquered lands into the sacredness of their worship system.

The Greeks influenced other nations including Rome to adopt or modify existing religions in order to incorporate Greek ones. The Greek gods were believed by ancient Greeks to interact freely with humans such they even engage in sexual intercourse with their subjects.

Again most Mystics and historians hold Zoaraster of the Persian Empire as the initiator of the religion of good and evil. They believed Zoaraster was the first to put forth the theory that states thus “good and evil are in constant struggle which in the end good will prevail.” But we know that earlier writings such as those found in the bible counters this age old believe. In fact the bible with its account of creation made the above statement a copy cat.

The essence of the above brief history is to show how important God was for man and is still for man. The mystics believe that god is a mere force, that is, he is whatever you want him to be. He is created in the mind and then projected into the cosmos. Science excluded all theories that point to God from their archives of theories but the problem they face is this; can science through its experiments and theories prove the causes of miracles? Miracles as we believe are sets of unnatural phenomena which does not follow laid down Natural laws. Newton recognized the physical law of gravity that pulls all objects towards the center of the earth. Science strongly believes gravity cannot be altered unless with technology (ie. one cannot levitate or fly without the help of technology). Can science give us a scientific reason why someone will chant some unknown words and afterwards levitates?  Or the proven stories of immediate disappearance of one from his environment? Or the nonfictional stories of men, women and children they (doctors) declare dead coming to life before their noses? Have you not seen or heard stories of someone diagnosed of a deadly cancer and doctors gave the fellow few months, then suddenly one morning after prayers, incantations, fetishes and other unscientific ways the fellow became healed?

If you reside in your abode without researching and weighing information and generally held beliefs one can miss the road. We can only explain the above illustrations as super natural phenomena which can only be possible if there are unseen greater beings. This draws us to the conclusion that good and evil exists as expounded by Zoaraster and those before him. If there is good and evil then there must be entities behind them.

FROM THE BOOK ‘YOU AND SATAN (together on a path)’ written by Chisom Nzenwata

THE QUAKE: THE HAUSA STATES 1

                                                                                                                                     

  THE QUAKE

               

We have received many requests through emails urging us to do a piece on Africa. Since the director of Sparrowlite INC. is a Nigerian, collectively we have decided to start a series on selected tribes from Nigeria. We shall extend this exposition on Nigerian tribes to other African states but first, tribes in Nigeria will be looked at. This series is titled The Quake and we shall begin with a visit to Northern Nigeria.

                                HAUSA STATE 1

The Hausas are peculiar group of people occupying the plains of north-west and north central Nigeria. Their major language is Hausa, interestingly Hausa language is spoken widely across Africa even among those who are totally distinct from Hausa tribe.

Not much is known about the ancient lives of most African tribes, this is as a result of relentless efforts to portray western civilization in the brightest light and thus neglecting the study of Ancient African tribes. Apart from Egypt which has seen more archaeological excavations no other African country has seen a quarter of such archaeological interest.

From the little we know, the Hausas of old have a long history of city life. We can even equate such life to that of Greece though the later excelled more in philosophy and crafts. Hausamen are mostly farmers though they also have a good number of traders and craftsmen.

                               HAUSA ORIGIN

The oral tradition of the origin of the Hausas centers on Bayajidda(Abuyazida) a refugee prince from Baghdad. The Hausas are said to be descendants of this refugee prince. According to oral tradition, Bayagidda first settled in Kanem where he married the daughter of the Mai. The relationship between the Mai and Bayajidda began to wane causing the later to flee westward in order to save his life. On reaching Biram-ta-Gabas he abandoned his wife who later gave birth to a son. Continuing his journey he reached Gaya where he met a community of highly skilled blacksmiths, these blacksmiths forged a special sword for him. Bayajidda proceeded to the village of Daura where he killed a snake in a well which prevented the villagers from drawing water except on Fridays. He was allowed to marry the queen of Daura as a reward for killing the snake, thus he became the ruler of Daura.

Bayajidda fathered seven sons, the seven sons gave rise to the pure Hausa states. The seven sons founded the states which bore their names. These were; Biram, Daura, Kastina, Zaria, Kano, Rano and gobir, they are collectively known as the Hausa Bakwai or pure Hausa states. The seven sons were given specific tasks in the Hausa family; the youngest Gobir was the war leader, Daura and Kastina were in charge of trade, Kano and Rano were responsible for industry and Zaria was the chief of slaves.

Bayagidda also fathered seven illegitimate sons through a slave girl named Gwari. The seven illegitimate sons gave rise to the seven states; Zamfara, Kebbi, Gwari,Yauri, Nupe, Yoruba and Kwararafa.

The above story might not be true accordingly but we know it has a deep meaning. We must now take time to digest the above story to get its likely meaning. We know the role of oral tradition most times is to dramatically explain the important facts in the development of a people.

The story of Bayagidda may represent the Habe class who migrated to the areas now known as Hausaland. The Habe immigrants are believed to have met local dwellers who were organized into villages. The first wave of immigrants is believed to have settled in Daura where they gained political power through diplomacy and service to the community. The immigrants intermarried with the locals. They brought their culture to bear on the locals causing changes in the local traditions. This change in culture represents the slaying of the snake by Bayagidda. Some of the cultural changes might have taken place in religion, marriage, constitutional change from matrilineal to patrilineal succession.

In the coming parts of the first series we shall look at the different Hausa states and their dynasties……

THE LAND OF PALESTINE, WHO SETTLED FIRST? AN EXPOSITION ON ISRAELI CLAIMS 2....

                                



















In the first part of the article we established the presence of an Israeli Jewish state as early as 4000BC(an estimate). In this second part of the article we must look to further the establishment and also take a look at Israel’s captivities and the dispersion following each captivity.

We must try to look at every opinion presented here through the eyes of archaeology and accounts of notable historians. Mind you, we do not seek to create further enmity between the estranged relationship of the two major occupants of the land now known as Palestine. We urge our readers to set aside their anger and sentiments in order to fill the created void with an open mind willing to learn.

In the year 740BCE or sometime around 733BCE the Assyrian king Sargon 11 led an army towards the Northern kingdom of Israel. We know that this Northern kingdom of Israel was majorly made up of ten tribes out of the twelve tribes making up the prior united Israel. We might like to address these twelve tribes as twelve divisions of the ancient kingdom of Israel because of those who might not welcome the idea of using oral or biblical stories as a base. As established in the first article we had to find a balance in order to circumvent biblical accounts. We want everyone including atheists to look at our arguments with an open mind as the bible may create a problem.

The Bible has a more elaborated account on the Assyrian captivity which took place about 740BCE (this date is more likely). For those whose minds are more open to new knowledge and bear no resentment against the bible or Torah, you can read the book of 1 Chronicles chapter 5. It has an expounded account on the Assyrian invasion and the subsequent Jewish captivity. Outside the Bible we can find an agreement to this story on the walls of the Royal palace at Dur-Sharrukin(Khorsabad). Below is the translation of the inscription.

In my first year of reign**** the people of Samaria****to the number of 27,290 I carried away. Fifty chariots for my royal equipment I selected. The city I rebuilt. I made it greater than it was.

The number 27,290 may seem so meager but historians believe that the numbers are greater than that. Historians include those who fled the city before the invasion began and also those who died defending the city. We believe the invasion was swift which led to the deaths of many defendants. Another point to consider is the Assyrian brutish character towards prisoners of wars, many must have been executed prior the dispersion(27,290 recorded by Sargon 11). Considering the above assumptions historian place the number of both captives and those who fled the city around hundreds of thousands.

These captives never found their way home officially as no known edict urging them to return was ever passed until the time of the Medes and Persia. History tells us that Babylon conquered Assyria then Medes and Persia took Babylon, there is likely hood that the later children of Assyrian Jewish captives who retained their identity might have followed the exodus back to Judah when Cyrus gave the edict.

We must now take our attention to Babylon where the next captors emerged from. The invasion of Judah( Jerusalem was the capital of the kingdom Judah) by Nebuchadnezzar’s army is a well known story. Nebuchadnezzar who was the prince and co-ruler of Babylon marched his army to Judah, after defeating the Jewish kingdom he led the city to waste. We must again avoid the bible in order to keep the minds of our readers at ease. The bible gave a more expounded account on the invasion and subsequent captivity. It mentioned not only the name of the invading king but also that of Judah king Jehoiakim. To plunge deeper and to bring to limelight Judah’s captivity we must turn to king Jehoiakim. Outside the bible is the report of rationing ordered by king Nebuchadnezzar for the feeding of king Johoiakim and other meaningful captives such as royals and skilled workmen. The Jehoiachin( probably a rendition of Jehoiakim in aramic) rations tablet contained rations giving out to these captives. The Jehoiachin ration tablet was excavated by Robert Kidewey near the Ishtar gate at Babylon.

The abridged translation reads………

1 and ½ sila(oil) for three, 1 and ½ carpenters from Arvad apiece. 11 and ½ for eight wood workers form Babylos……………………10 sila to Jakuukinu, to king of Judah’s son. 2 and ½ Sila for the five sons of the Judan king.

Another evidence of the siege and capture of Judah is seen in the Babylonian chronicles. The Babylonian chronicles consists of series of tablets which contains accounts of major events in Babylonian history. According to these chronicles there is clear evidence historically on Judah’s siege and subsequent fall in the hands of Babylon.

This is a passage from the chronicles………

In the seventh year, in the month of kislev, the king of Akkad mustered his troops, marched into the Hatti-land, and encamped around the city of Judah and on the ninth day of the month of Adar he seized the city and captured the king. He appointed there a king of his own choice and taking heavy tribute brought it back to Babylon.

We know the captives were later allowed to return during the reign of Cyrus the Persian king. Though the bible clearly made mention of this, however to keep an open mind we must continue to use archaeology to strike home our facts.

The Cyrus cylinder dates around 6^th century BC is a cuneiform containing the exploits of king Cyrus and was discovered in the ruins of Babylon. It is now on display in the British Museum.

This is a passage from Cyrus cylinder.......... 

To Assur and from Susa, Agade, Esnunna, Zabban, Me-Turnu, Der, as far as the region of Gutuim, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris, whose sanctuaries have been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of the gods, who have resided there(Babylon), to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned them to their dwellings.

The Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem is a well known story thus we are going to spend little time here. Titus with his second in command Tiberius Julius Alexander besieged and laid the city of Jerusalem to ruins. Jerusalem at this time was under the governance of Jewish rebels who maintained strong holds on the city. The siege took place in the year 70AD and ended on August 30.  The siege ended with the deaths of more than a million Jews according to the first century historian Josephus. This supposed high number was due to the convergent of Jews from different lands (ie Egypt, Greece, Rome etc) for the Passover feast. The Jewish rebel defendants were zealots who preferred deaths to surrendering, they fought with all they could muster yet internal rift gifted the Romans a better pedestal against them.

We see an Israeli kingdom living in both troubled and serene times thousands of years ago in areas collectively known as Palestine today.

We must stop here. We have seen the city of Jerusalem belonging to a Jewish State with no mention of a Palestinian state or nation. This we can trace in all history book to the year 70AD. What happened next? How come a Palestinian state now? What changed the history of Jerusalem?

Keep coming back to Sparrowlite, we are here for you……….

Concise Steps To Live Above Challenges

Life is full of ups and downs, one day you are on top of the mountain and the next day you are down in the valley. The funny thing is that life in the valley seems to last longer than on top of the mountain. I have not seen one who can boldly say that he had not spent time in the valley. Each person has his or her valley. It all depends on our mindset, what we call need and our greatest wants. There are individuals who are in dear need of kids. Some might have been in marriage for 15 years or more, at this time the mind rings like an alarm bell. To them it becomes a child or nothing. They cannot digest any other thing no matter how pressing except the concept of having a child. Our Western readers may not understand the pressure childlessness brings, but our African readers know greatly about this.

I have seen men who are ready to visit hell in other to get rich. They in their lonely times are besieged by the pain of poorness. “I don’t mind being a conman even if I will be rich for 12 years before the police gets to me” a friend once told me. The drive for richness transcends all in Africa. A man is counted successful if he is very rich in Africa, living in a place where education and its alliances are seen as nothing if the possessor is not rich can be challenging.

There are countless varieties of valleys in people’s lives around the world, just as we established above, your valley may not be the next man’s valley.

We have concise steps on how to live above these valleys. These steps are proven not only by us but also those we taught. We have seen women near breakdown due to lack of a child become patient and full of life. This full of life is as a result of simple application of the steps we formulated. We may claim that we formulated these steps but the truth still reverberates through all ages, these steps have been. They are effective as those before us have proven.

1.       Seek out stories that reflect what you are passing through. There is no valley out there without a story of someone spending time there. We are lucky, the internet affords us with countless stories of real life persons who passed through our present valleys. These men and women in time past had a taste of whatever we are tasting today. They persevered and thus became victorious at the end. There are stories of women who gave birth to their first child after their 15^th year of marriage, if they could do it how much more you.  We can read stories of men who stood strong no matter how huge their challenges were. Steve jobs started it rough before he hit big with Apple, J. K Rowlings told  us how her rejections wanted to keep the story of Harry Potter away from us. J. K Rowlings today is among the richest celebrities with a net worth more than $70million because of the book Harry Potter. She saw Rejections stare her down yet she found that little push to go on. There are numerous stories of people who survived cancer, they told themselves come what may victory is ours, they stood firm and life rewarded them. In the face of deadly diseases men and women have kept their heads held high, they were in the valley of sickness and came out victorious.. The big truth is this, your valley is not a stranger to this world. Someone has been through it and came out great. Find their stories and read them, it will surely motivate you to push on.

2.       Share your burden. An old adage says “Two heads are better than one”. Most times your ideas are not enough to propel you out of your valley. Share your problems with people you trust and let them help you out with ideas.

3.       Try and be happy. Come on dear, that gloomy face will take you nowhere. The more you worry the more clogged your brain will become. Science tells us that the brain functions best when you are happy, so why don’t you try and be happy? No amount of worrying can set things right. No matter how deep the valley is, BE HAPPY!!!

4.       Do not despair no matter the situation. Wise men say that the darkest hour of the night gives way to morning light. At that point you think it is over remind yourself of someone who pushed through at the darkest hour.

Remember to read about others who during their stay in the valley did not give in to despair. They persevered and thus where victorious. Remember to share your worries with trusted friends and family. Remember to be happy no matter the situation because worrying does not save a thing. DO NOT DESPAIR EVEN IF THE WORLD IS COLLAPSING…….