Sukur Kingdom as the World Heritage site

1. It can be said that Sukur Kingdom first appeared on world record during the pre-colonial epochs - when Dr. Heinrich Berth, (1817) made mention of the mountainous settlement in his historical collections. Today, Sukur is located in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa state and the height of the settlr2ment has been estimated to be 3000ft above sea level. The pathway leading to the Plateau is paved with stone slabs which meander from the foot of the mountain to its top where the settlements are clustered within the proximity of each other.

2. The settlement whose antiquity dates back to the Stone Age and is one of the oldest in this part of the country. However, its evolution as political Kingdom is said to have spanned from 17th century A.D. to date. Sukur Kingdom is also said to have sustained its sovereignty because of several factors.

Firstly, it has a natural defense system; secondly, the community was able to consolidate its knowledge of meteorology which accordingly made it to be one of the most powerful settlements around the Mandara chain. It was no wonder therefore that the Kingdom was able to establish diplomatic relations with its neighbourings.

INTEREST IN SUKUR

3. Sukur has for quite sometimes attracted the attention of scholars and Researchers though reaching the plateau is usually a labourous venture as it can take between one to two Hours to reach Hill top settlement.

The interest of state Government in Sukur was first generated when the theme for 1990 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) which took place in Kaduna state was particularly on Traditional Metal Technology. It was against this background that the then Gongola state Arts Council decided to explore the Sukur Traditional method or smelting and smithing (meterology) to enter or participate a the NAFEST exhibition.

The exhibition package included the Iron Ore (Tin cassitrite), smelting and smithing process actually captured the interest of the public and scholars at the Gongola Stand.

4. It should be noted that during the Kaduna NAFEST 1990, that a Professor of Archaeology from Calgany University Canada indicated his intention to visit Sukur in company of some lecturers from the centre for Nigerian Cultural Studies (CNCS) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria . This was an observa­tional visit with a promise that the Professor Nicholus David would be returning so as to ascertain the antiquity of Sukur Kingdom.

5. In 1996, Professor Nicholus David and Judith Stanner arrived in Sukur and stayed there for three months. Through­out their stay, both conducted an ethno-archaeological research on the people's culture including their method of smelting metal.

The report of this research was presented to the state Governn1ent through the State Arts Council and also published in the Nigerian Heritage of NCMM. Sequel to this his findings, the state Government enacted an act on Sukur as state Monument in 1998 and this was followed by its declaration as a National Monument in (1999) by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), with a re­commendation to the UNESCO body to declare Sukur Kingdom as one of the World Heritage Sites.

After the Sukur Kingdom was visited by UNESCO officials, it was finally declared at its 29th session in Marrakesh , Morocco as a WORLD HERITAGE SITE when His Excellency, Governor Boni Haruna was presented with the flag and certificate of declaration in December, 1999.

6. Among some of the stake holders in this project are the Sukur community development Association (SDA) Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State Government, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the UNESCO, while the private sectors were also encouraged to be part of the venture.

It is interesting to note that almost all of these stake holders have in the recent past contributed their quota through some provisions eg. a piece of land had been made available for construction of charlets, recreational, facilities and this has already been surveyed. The layout plan is yet to be completed. Another effort by the host community was the construction of resting places at given intervals along the meandering pave way to Sukur.

7. Also, the NCMM has provided sign posts to guide visitors to the mountainous settlement. In addition they have erected a Mini exhibition gallery in the Palace of the Hidi (Traditional Chief of Sukur). Presently NCMM is constructing a ticketing office infront of the Sukur District Head House. A workshop for the Community to enlighten/sensitize them on the need to conserve and preserve both the cultural and Natural components that constitute, the heritage of the Kingdom.

8. On its part, the State Government through its newly established Agency for Museum and monuments (NCMM) Yola office had completed the restoration of all cultural property on the plateau settlement.

9. The State Government has provided some basic infrastructure at the foot of the mountain. Access road construc­tion and electrification have reached about 90% and 60% respectively.