Katsina Durbar

The Katsina Durbar is regarded as a more "rural" affair, not quite as fancy as the pomp and ceremony of the one in Kano. That said, it was a great family fun day, with the locals getting up close to the action and plenty of rides for the kids and street vendors etc. Personally, I thought it was a better day.

Young and old turned up in their thousands to see the festivities

plenty of fun for the kids

this guy was carrying this thing on his head all day... not quite an ipod, but hey

Part of the show of strength for each family involved a bunch of young guys with improvised weapons (some serious stuff - hoe made axes and swords etc) They'd mock-fight each other, and surprisingly, no-one actually got hurt.

The title of Emir is not a birthright - the successor being chosen by a group of wise folk called "the kingmakers" - it's therefore important for families to get their kids out into the public eye ASAP. So you see lots of tiny kids strapped to horses in the Durbars, I guess their parents are hoping that one day they might get a chance at the title...

The emir arrives under a fancy golden umbrella, surrounded by his guards etc

The emir give a rousing speech to the crowd!!

After the Durbar, we managed to get in to the palace and meet with the Emir's Prime Minister (the Emir himself is actually quite unwell at the moment, so he wasn't taking visitors)