Sultan urges traditional rulers to document heritage

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on traditional rulers across Nigeria to document their own history rather than letting social media and unverified sources distort their heritage.

Speaking in Zaria on Wednesday at the public presentation of the book “Emirs of Zazzau” , the Sultan warned that failing to record accurate history leaves room for outsiders to rewrite their cultural narratives. The book launch was organized to mark the sixth anniversary of the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, on the throne.

The Sultan, during his presentation, stated that traditional institutions are in the best position to tell their own stories accurately.

The Sultan also stated that historians from all four royal dynasties of the Zazzau emirate contributed to the new publication to ensure its historical accuracy.

He challenged other emirates across the country to follow suit and record their legacies for present and future generations.

“We need to know who we are, where we come from and where we are going. We should not allow social media to write whatever they want and try to change the course of history,” the Sultan said.

During the event, the Emir of Zazzau, while speaking about the importance of documentation, stated that the book was necessary to correct existing historical inaccuracies, warning that any community that fails to preserve its history risks losing its identity and connection with future generations.