@beyond.naija: 1978. Zaria. The kakaki sounds. Long before the Emir appeared, people heard him coming. The kakaki is a long metal trumpet, the voice of royal authority across Hausaland. Its piercing call announced the Emir's arrival, marked ceremonial processions, and signalled that the court was in motion. This 1978 footage captures that sound in Zaria, Kaduna State. Alongside the kakaki, royal drums and praise songs for blacksmiths and farmers formed part of the musical life of the Emir's court. Music here was never just entertainment. It expressed rank, honoured labour, and kept tradition alive at festivals, royal occasions, and community gatherings. Nearly 50 years later, these recordings let us see and hear a living court tradition. 🎥 Footage credit: David Heathcote, Hausa Art in Northern Nigeria (1978) Follow @beyond.naija for more Nigerian history, culture, and tradition. #BeyondNaija #Zaria #Kakaki #HausaCulture #NigerianHistory #NorthernNigeria #EmirateOfZaria #AfricanMusic #NigerianCulture #HistoryReels

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Tuesday 03 November 2026 08:58:37 GMT