Review: ‘Bayajidda: An African Legend’ by Claude Opara and Ibrahim Yakubu

Our reviewer describes ‘Bayajidda: An African Legend’ by Claude Opara and Ibrahim Yakubu as ‘a fantastic, thought-provoking read’. Read more for his insightful views on a retelling of a Hausa legend.

By Farid Obineche

A fantastic, thought-provoking read for this Nigerian comic fan at a time when Northern Nigeria is perhaps as firmly established in the global consciousness as it ever has been. Predating Netflix’s well-received Queen Amina film by four years, Bayajidda tells the fascinating story of the legendary founder of the Hausa kingdom.

Linking the Hausa foundation story back to the Royal House of Baghdad, and beyond to ancient Persia is a common thread in the etymology of many Northern African cultures and an interesting one to see examined, and illustrated in this way.

Though rich with historical facts and cultural anchors the story remains very accessible and is a valuable addition to both comic lore and popular historical entertainment on a few levels. First the purely historical, where it illuminates a little-known progenitor story of an important African tribal nation.

“Linking the Hausa foundation story back to the Royal House of Baghdad, and beyond to ancient Persia is a common thread in the etymology of many Northern African cultures and an interesting one to see examined, and illustrated in this way.”

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It also provides a delightful religio-cultural context to many areas of contemporary Hausa culture. Dan Iska, a term that literally translates to ‘Son of the Wind’ which in contemporary Hausa is widely – and lightly – used to mean ‘rascal’ is personified as a mischievous but well-intentioned imp-like dust devil that aids our protagonist on his adventure in the funniest of ways.

Both tales possess strikingly similar motifs of a righteous prince proving his mettle to his father by traveling through strange desert lands, a monstrous serpent, and sandstorms that confound pursuers. Both heroes are gifted a magical blade by a mysterious group of hooded guardians who have long prophesied the hero’s arrival. In both stories, the dagger is key to their eventual triumph.

Throw in another classic Herbert reference of a swarm of attacking rats and one wonders how much modern Western fiction takes our cultural histories as inspiration, even as we neglect those histories – and in Nigeria even the very idea of history – ourselves.

The parallels between an ancient Borno Empire whose citizens cower in hiding from marauders and the contemporary privations of bandit-run Borno State are unmissable and thought-provoking. Political and military machinations through ancient and modern times have meant the denizens of these states still live in conditions that have not improved in centuries.

Also, the poignant and fascinating inclusion of the water well and sword from the legend is as amazing as it is depressing. How many young Nigerians will ever be able to see these sites and objects imbued with legend and history?

Opara’s excellent comic – the first in his African Legend series – did a great job of introducing an important, entertaining story to the general public and sets the scene for foundation legends of the myriad Nigerian and African pre-colonial nations.

Obineche is the Creative Director of Shoreditch Townhouse, London

‘Bayajidda: An African Legend’, written by Claude Opara and illustrated by Ibrahim Yakubu, is published by African Legends Series, is available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback) in both English, and French.