The Hausa blacksmiths (makera) were also established in lokoja right from the time of Musa Maigari. Their quarter is also known by their professional name. The first Sarkin Makera wos Hassan Makeri, the man who had many slaves and who at the instance of the Europeans, freed the men and turned the women into his concumbines.
After the death of Hassan, there followed a long period of interegnum the cause of which my informant could no explain. It is interesting to hear how tt was broken:
“All | know is that nobody was again installed as Sarkin Makera until during the time of Wakili Yakubu .1923. At that time the Europeans used to organise an annual festival during which occupational and cultural groups displayed thei talents. It was on one of such occasions when we different Displayed with fire, moulded Iron into one and \shapes and sizes with mere words of m ot the licked it while it was red-hot, that one end out European guests who was impressed . We performance requested to know our leader.
told him that our leader died long ago and we had no any other. It was then that Wakili Yakubu that installed Malam Audu Makeri as the Sarkin Makera..
Perhaps the fact that there was no Sarkin Makera for so long simply means that he had no real functions or authority.
The blacksmiths got their supply of iron directly from the European traders.
In addition, they also made use of wreckages of big European ships. People from Keffi, Nasarawa, and even Bida came to buy iron from them.
sarkin Makera Place of Origin /Period of Sarkin Makera of Lokoja. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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(1)Hassan Makeri from Kano: 1871-1896
(2)Audu Makeri from Kano: 1923-1959
(3)Alhaji Ibrahim Makeri ,Kano 1959-1977
(4)Alhaji Sule Ibrahim, Kano 1977
(5)Alhaji Adamu Alhassan from kano 1977-1990
Alhaji Tanko Alhassan adamu from kano ,1999 – October 2024
Source: HAUSA IN LOKOJA,1860-1966
