History Of The Zaar Sayawa
History has shown that the Sayawa are said to have come far from the east to the present Chad Republic between 9th and 13 century. It is believed that they migrated together with
the Jarawa, Warjawa in Ningi Local Government Area, Famawa, Angasawa, Surawa, Mgavul and Mupun in Plateau state; Kutumbawa in Kano State, Babur/Burra, Margi and Kilba in Borno and Adamawa states.
There is great similarities of language terms with Warjawa, Babur/Bura, Kilba, Margi and Terawa. The Sayawa language is one of the Chadian group of languages it is also believed that there was great relationship between Sayawa and Gobir (Hausa) because of the the similarity of tribal marks.
According to Professor G.F. Scott-Elliot (1971-246) the Libyo-Berber civilization is given by Palmer as existing from 500 B.C. to A. D. 406 in the Hausa states of today. These were raided by Yemen Arabs about A. D. 900 and in A. D. 1000 by some Nien race, again in A. D. 1349-1385 by the Mandigoes.
The Zaar (sayawa) left Ngazargamu with their relations, namely: Jarawa, Warjawa, Femawa, Angasawa, Surawa, Mwaghavul, Mupun, Kutumbawa, Babur/Burra. (Gunn, 1956:22), Margi and Kilba (Meek, 1931-137 and181) to various places but first briefly stopped at Biu to the wilderness now known as Duguri or Yankari area. The area then included the resent Alkaleri Local Government area and some parts of Bauchi Local area (Zungur and Galambi Districts) and also Kanam Local Government council in Plateau state. It was from this area that sayawa divided themselves into various groups and proceede to their present permanent settlements in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.
According to the interview with the Barayan Bauchi, Mallam Umaru Sanda in January, 1980, the Sayawa were formerly living in various hills before coming down to low land during the Jihad as result of peace treaty with the Jihadist. The first group went to Mwari/Bogoro hills; the second to Dazara Hills; the third to Sang/Marti Hills; the fourt to Wadi/Sara Hills; the fifth to Lusa/Sur/Dungah Hills;the sixth to Kulung/Gambar Hills; the seventh to Kundum/Wur Hills; the eight to Zari/Kwabti Hills and the last but not the least, Boi Hills. Almost every settlement in the hills, there were over ten clans(Driberg, 1931:123). Members of the firstsettlement included: Bogoro, Mwari, Gwarangah,Bijim, Gambar Zugum, Bar, Kurum, Bom, Tudun Wadan-Gyara, Gobbiya, Yola, Badagari, Mingil, Ragami,parts of Basanshi, Dunga, Malar, Dashem SongSong and Wandi. The second settlement Dazara is comprised of 16 hamlets in Boi village and Dinki hamlets in Bogoro village. The third settlement include: Sang, Marti, Zuya, Yabra, Tafare, Goshe, Lim Hamlets, Zango Malima, Rafawa,etc. The fourth settlement - Wadi/Sara include: wadi, Sara hamlets and part of Rafawa, Lafiyan Sara, etc. The fifth settlement- Lusa/Sur/Dunga, include; Lusa, Dungah, Malar, Sur (Tapshin),Gwaska, Ndit, Gizaki, Unguwar Galadima, Jigawa, etc. The Sayawa call Tapshin Sur, Because Sur is their original name and most of them migrated from there. There is another Sur very close to Lusa and it is believed that their offspring are the people of Tapshin. The sixth settlement- Kulung/ Gamar include: Gambar Lere and all the hamlets around Gambar and some parts of Bijim and Sabonlayi. The seventh settlement- Kundum/ Wur, include; all Kundum and Wur hamlets including the Sayawa speaking areas surrounding the hills. Wur in Sayanci (Sayawa language) means hill, the name Wur, therefore, denotes the people of the hill. The eight settlement- Zari/Kwabti include: All the surrounding hamlets, otherwise known as Barawa. Barawa is another name for Sayawa in Jarawa language, that is why the entire Sayawa ethnic group is known as Barawa. Also, our neigbours from the southern parts, that is Angas, call Sayawa "Morgi". It, therefore, depends on where one comes from. The real name for the ethnic group is "Zaar" the Hausa call the Sayawa; the Jarawa call them "Barawa" and the Angas call them "Morgi". Others from the eight settlement include Kwabti, Zari Babba, etc Zari is the only Sawaya town that is bearing the name of the community as well as its village. The nineth settlement- Boi, this include the remaining Sayawa speaking in Boi village, apart from the Dazara hamlets. Others include parts of Dashem Songsong, Malar Giji and Malar Daji. Many other settlements were later on established but they pay homage to the major settlements up to now. Most of the Sayawa tradition or culturalheritage are organized during festivals, marriage and burial ceremonies.
