The Relevance of Traditional Belief System among the Fakkawa of Zuru Emirate

Abstract

Fakai kingdom is located in the western part of Zuru Emirate in Nigeria. The peoples of the kingdom though historically varied, are collectively referred to as Fakkawa and their language as Fakkanci. Before the 19^th century, the predominant religion in the area of Fakai Kingdom was traditional in which people believed in what is called Magiro. This system of belief was said to have developed from the recognition and reverence given to the spirit of the ancestors. This explains the reason why Magiro is also addressed as Baba (Father). Although the adherents of Magiro belief do not invite people of other tribes to it, the belief was said to have spread to other areas because of peoples’ migration and intergroup relations. This paper, therefore, examines the influence of traditional belief on the social, economic and political aspects of the society of Fakai kingdom. It was found that the Magiro doctrine was not merely a belief system as some individuals come to believe, rather, it is also a political institution established for the maintenance of law and order in society. The belief also influenced the social and economic undertakings of its adherents.