The descendants of Mallam Abubakar Garba Ibn Abdulahi Sukatu, Mallam Muhammadu Bako and Mallam Mohammed Dan Kanbari, hailing from Sabon Zango, a suburb of Accra, galvanized last Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Makola market for “Adu-a” (prayers) to their ancestors and founders of Sabon Zango.
As part of preparations towards the grand prayer ceremony on January, 18, health walk was organized on January 12, 2020, followed by a football match on January 15, 2020, and subsequently, the main grand prayer ceremony on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The crowd was amazing as extended families from across Ghana gathered under one umbrella. For many, this is the first time to actually get to know each other.
The last time such an event took place at Sabon Zango was in the year 1992 and of course, significant members of the family are deceased and new members of the family are now adults.
Also attending the event, were representatives ofthe President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia as well as representatives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the spokesman of Mallam Garba Family, the best gift the descendants of this great family can give to the souls of their great grandfathers is prayers and ask for Allah’s forgiveness and endless mercies upon them.
An opinion leader and a member of the family Dr. Alhaji Usman Yunus popularly known as Dr. Oluman revealed that it has been the wish of the families to organize a prayer (Adu-a) for the late great grandfathers long ago but this is the time Allah Almighty made it possible for this wonderful and historic occasion to actually materialise.
Alhaji Sani Abdul-Rahim Abokin Ango, a Philanthropist, Islamic scholar and a member of the family divulged that Mallam Garba and his three allies lived a very good life as Islamic scholars worth emulating and succeeded in promoting Islam to the whole of Gold Coast.
He called on all other families within the Zango communities to emulate the unity these four families have showcased to improve their living standards and promote peace and unity in the family and curtail generational gap between the youth and the older generation.
Brief History of Mallam Abubakar Garba Ibn Abdulahi Sukatu
Mallam Garba originally settled in then Ussher town in Greater-Accra where his Children migrated from there to a new settlement to establish a community called Sabon Zango where majority of the settlers are his great-grandchildren.
Mallam Garba became the Imam of Greater Accra where he instrumented the Arabic studies in the community, most of the people refer to him as one of the few Muslims who fought a great fight to ensure the progress and development of Islam in Ghana.
Mallam Garba lived a good life to the admiration of all muslims non-muslims alike and almost all the colonial governors of Gold Coast.
He was a great ally to Mallam Nainno, whom he later succeeded as the second Imam of Greater Accra. His era as Imam resulted in tremendous achievements within the Muslim communities of Accra. In fact, his contribution to inner-city settlement (Zango) in Accra cannot be expunged.
Brief history of Mallam Iddrisu Nainno
Mallam Iddrisu Nianno is recorded in history as the first Muslim to settle in Accra in the 1870s and he is credited for founding the first Zango (Muslim Community) in the then Ussher Town in Accra as well as the first Imam of Accra. He was an Islamic scholar and teacher who ensured peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-muslims and various tribes.
Brief History of Mallam Muhammadu Bako
Mallam Muhammadu Bako is a son to Mallam Nainno and the fifth Imam of Accra, he is the founder of Sabon Zango and a renowned Islamic scholar and leader.
Mallam Garba upon his demise left behind four wives and fifteen children, namely: Baraka, Badamasi, Sanusi, Sa’a, Aayi Meikoko, Hawa, Naana Fatimatu Maduga, Hassan, Tahiru, Anti, Laadi, Jimma, Salisu, Buhari and Rabi.
These 15 children of Mallam Garba bear children, grandchildren and great grandchildren numbering into thousands some of whom are still alive.
Mallam Garba was the second Imam of Accra followed by Mallam Fulatu Borno, Mallam Uthman Kasina, Mallam Bako, Mallam Abdallah, Alhaji Mohammed Abbas, Mallam Jadal, Alhaji Nuhu, Imam Mukhtari Abbas and currently His Eminence Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu.
It was during the time of His Eminence Sheikh Usuman Nuhu Sharubutu that the position gain national and international acclaim due to his exemplary leadership.
Source: wadataonline.com/Muhammed Faisal Mustapha/ Issa Abubakar
