Sukur, also known as the Sukur Cultural Landscape, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on a hill above the village of Sukur in Adamawa State, Nigeria. It is found in the Mandara Mountains, near the border with Cameroon. The site was added to the UNESCO list because of its cultural heritage, material culture, and naturally terraced fields. Sukur is the first cultural landscape in Africa to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Etymology

The word "Sukur" means "vengeance" in the Margi and Libi languages. In the Bura language, which is spoken by a nearby group and is similar enough for people to understand each other, "Sukur" means "feuding." The Bura language is closely related to the language of the Sukur people.

History

Items from the Iron Age, like furnaces, ore, and grindstones, were found at the site. These items are older than the time when Sukur existed. Some items from the Neolithic period were also discovered there. The recent history of the area begins with the Dur dynasty in the 17th century. The Dur people made the region an important source of raw materials for making iron, and this continued until the early 1900s. Between 1912 and 1922, Sukur was attacked by Hamman Yaji, the leader of Madagali called the pullo Lamdo. These attacks caused iron smelting to decline until 1960, when many people moved to the plains north and south of Sukur. The British, who ruled the area starting in 1927, did not change the cultural traditions of the settlement. Researchers Nic David and Judy Sterner collected information about the site, and more studies are being done to share its history with others.

In 1999, UNESCO added Sukur to its list of World Heritage Sites based on criteria iii, v, and vi. This recognition highlights the cultural heritage of the Hidi's Palace complex and village, as well as the natural terraced fields, which remain in good condition. UNESCO described Sukur as a place where a strong and lasting cultural tradition has continued for many centuries. Sukur is one of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.

Features

The settlement has two parts. The upper part, where the palace is located, is called Sakur Sama, and the lower part is called Sakur Kasa. The palace is on a hilltop inside a large area. It includes the home of the Hidi, or chief. The palace is a round building made from local granite, with dry stone walls and niches. The area around the palace has a bull pen and a horse stable. A building for the harem, near the palace, is in ruins. The entrance to the palace grounds has many gates. One gate is next to two large granite blocks and has doors. The path leading to the palace is paved with granite stones and comes from the north and east. It is 5.7 meters (19 feet) wide. Looking down the hill, the plateau shows large terraces used for farming. These terraces are a special feature of the site and are described as "sacred." The palace still houses the chief and his wife.

In the lower part of the settlement, the village homes are simple round structures made of clay. They have thatched roofs and woven floor mats. A group of these homes is surrounded by a low wall.

Near the palace, the burial grounds are simple stone structures that serve as cemeteries for specific clans and social groups.

Each home in the settlement that practices metalworking has ruins of iron-smelting furnaces. These furnaces are shaft-shaped and include bellows.

All these features show the heritage of the political and economic systems of the Sukur people.

Popular culture

In her travel book, Looking for Transwonderland, author Noo Saro-Wiwa visits Sukur and describes its effect on her.