I listened to the
story of grandma
The woman with grey
hairs
And experienced tongue
So as to learn
Her story painted to
me
The old Kano of
yesteryears
When the holy [1]Tsunburbura
palace
Was erected on the
grey [2]Dala
hill
With [3]Barbusse
as a go-between
The warrior and the
hunter
Who conveyed Tsunburbura
orders
The story painted
The annual spiritual
festival
Of the naked [4]Maguzawa
Who paid homage and prayed
to Tsunburbura
They believed in her
protection
As she bestowed luck
to their wars
I painted the story
As the Emir Aliyu Yaji
Brought the mortal
Tsunburbura down
New blood was infused
Into the vein of the
ancient city
Kano is no longer evil
The [5]Habe
put Kano in order
[6]Rumfa stood as Jupiter
In the universe of
development
With his twin spears
in his hands
To raise Kano to its
peak
Like a glistering
river
Kano invites visitors
Its name has adorned
the savannah
As time passed
I painted the story
The elephant was too
strong
Destroying its source
of plants
Danger upon danger
arose
Like the burning of
Troy
The great [7]Alwali
was wrecked
The new [8]sarewa was heard
Fulani sing the songs
Against the Habe
Who had a murderous
look
Malam Sulaiman
received
And fixed the [9]Fodio
flag
In the Kano of hope
Kano cried again
Arrows fell as August
rain
Men upon trembling
horses ran
Swords crossed in
rivalry
With the blood of
hatred
It was Kano civil war
The war with no refuge
holds
They fought to the death
My painting was red
and red
A new lion emerged
With a roar of
strength
His star outshined the
master
It’s [12]Alu
mai Sango
The Asoka of Fodio
Empire
His roar echoed in the
savannah
With a terrifying
sound
That felled mahogany
trees
With his pointed sword
The story painted
suppression
Kano arose at dawn
Kneeled and bowed
To the white-eared one
Indirect rule was imposed
on her
The new economic role
was diffused
With the stench of
colonialism
Rail lines were connected
to the ocean
To move what was good
for them
I painted and painted
in style
I painted the new Kano
of colours
With [13]Sarki Alhaji renowned for his talent
To synchronize
tradition and modernity
Kano balanced in its
development
All the gates of Kano
are opened
For the good visitors
Those who make Kano
proud
To boast the spirit of
its commerce
The star of Kano
Metamorphosed to a new
shining star
As Dr Ado Bayero
arrived
Kano outshined its
contemporaries
It captivating
monarchy
Always goes with
modernity
Kano is always
A land of milk and
honey
With a calabash of
nuts for all
May Allah protect Kano
and the [14]Kanawa
12th
March, 2012
2:41pm
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