Some towns are marked on maps, while others pulse through the veins of their inhabitants. Machina—the ancient, steadfast, and proud—falls into the latter category. Situated within the northwestern sands of Yobe State, this emirate has upheld its traditions with a reverence that has persisted through the ages. Historical records indicate that its formal leadership can be traced back to 980 AD, when Mai Hariyu Bolo Kandira assumed the throne, initiating an unbroken lineage of guardianship akin to a desert baobab standing resilient against the sands of time.
Machina is far more than just a location; it embodies a heartbeat. A memory that thrives. An inheritance that refuses to fade. Renowned author Chinua Achebe noted, "a people are as strong as the tales they tell of themselves." The narrative of Machina is one of resilience, dignity, and a vibrant culture that glimmers like embers lighting up the Sahel night.
Seven Days When Time Stands Still in Machina
Every year, Machina issues a call for its sons and daughters to return home, regardless of how far their journeys have taken them. For a week, this city transforms into a vivid tapestry of color, rhythm, and ancestral reverence. The Machina Annual Cultural Festival (MACUF) serves not only as an event but as a spiritual homecoming. It draws prominent figures including Kole Shettima, along with scholars, traditional rulers, journalists, activists, and admirers from across Nigeria and beyond.
The current year’s festival resonated with a deep significance, marked by something historic. Anticipation swept through the desert winds as Machina prepared to honor one of its eminent sons—Dr. Kole Ahmed Shettima. The city became a hub, welcoming activists, civil society leaders, academics, politicians, and cultural guardians who gathered to witness an occasion destined to be immortalized in the emirate’s history.
On January 31, amid the watchful presence of ancestors and the elated gazes of his people, the Emir of Machina, Bashir Abishir Bukar (OON, L’ONN), adorned Dr. Kole Shettima with the traditional turbans, granting him the title Zanna Yuroma. This event crowned MACUF 2026 with significance.
The emir spoke with heartfelt sincerity, expressing that this recognition was not just an acknowledgment of Dr. Shettima’s service to Machina, but also a tribute to a man whose compassion extends beyond his native land. His love for humanity, the emir asserted, is broad as the sky above the Sahel.
On Sunday, February 1, during the festival’s finale, Machina brimmed with life. It felt as if the entire Yobe State cabinet had gathered within the emirate. Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Secretary to the State Government, former governors, and more than 40 emirs from northern Nigeria attended the historic occasion, with security forces diligently ensuring order amidst the throngs of well-wishers ready to witness this monumental celebration.
A vital aspect emerged distinctly; although Machina is a Muslim city, it embraces its women. Clad in resplendent traditional dresses, they danced gracefully, filled the atmosphere with delightful scents, and added joy reminiscent of Senghor’s immortal praise: “Naked woman, black woman… your beauty strikes me to the heart.”
Kole Shettima: Commitment to Service and a Lasting Legacy
Dr. Kole Ahmed Shettima has dedicated over thirty years to intertwining scholarship, philanthropy, and public service with the quiet dignity of a true leader, understanding that authentic leadership is measured by the lives created and touched, rather than titles. His journey has been steady and understated, resembling the desert wind that meticulously shapes the sands, adjusting landscapes patiently over time.
From academia to the frontline of development efforts, Dr. Shettima carries a philosophy rooted deeply in empathy. He believes knowledge should benefit humanity and privilege should gravitate towards justice, and his work embodies this belief.
Through the Kole Shettima Trust Fund and the Machina Emirate Development Association, he has established a legacy that transcends generations:
\- Providing scholarships to hundreds of undergraduates to ensure they have opportunities.
\- Offering nourishment to those facing poverty, not out of charity, but affirming human dignity.
\- Clothing orphans not just in fabric but in hope.
\- Building places of worship to unite communities in prayer and reflection.
\- Developing water points to support communities where clean water is a daily challenge.
\- Covering medical expenses so illness does not become a death sentence for the needy.
\- Mentoring youth, guiding them with wisdom and fatherly affection.
\- Paying fines for impoverished individuals, liberating those imprisoned solely due to poverty.
\- Enhancing educational conditions for secondary school students, understanding that education is vital for emancipation.
These acts are not mere gestures of kindness; they serve as a reminder of his unwavering connection to his community. Dr. Shettima often reflects, “What truly matters is being grounded in my community since my primary school days.” His rootedness serves as a guiding principle, maintaining his connection even as his influence extends globally.
His leadership has forged institutions, fortified governance, and inspired generations of thinkers and activists. His philanthropic contributions manifest in tangible stories—stories of children who continued their education thanks to his belief in their potential. Stories of families finding solace during despair. Stories of communities whose prospects transformed because one individual chose to act.
The words of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o resonate, "writers and scholars are the memory of a nation." In many dimensions, Dr. Kole has become part of Machina’s living legacy—preserving its values, elevating its possibilities, and embodying the pinnacle of its ideals. His life exemplifies the profound truth: service signifies the most enduring form of greatness.
Machina Celebrates
As the turban adorned Dr. Shettima’s head and the esteemed title was conferred, Machina did more than cheer—it breathed out. A collective sigh held for generations was released into the desert’s embrace. The joy that followed transcend beyond ephemeral festival excitement; it was a profound pride shared by a community witnessing the homecoming of one of its distinguished sons.
The city transformed into a vibrant organism—its streets danced with energy, courtyards buzzed with eagerness, and skies resonated with celebratory sounds. Men, women, elders, youth, and children converged upon public squares, responding to an ancestral call, as if the very ground beneath them awakened to partake in the festivities.
The celebration exuded the magnificence of an epic:
\- Drums resonated like rolling storms signaling abundance.
\- The Kakaki trumpet sliced through the air with regal notes echoing centuries-old traditions.
\- Dancers twirled in colorful garments, their attire catching sunlight and radiating vibrant hues across the ground.
\- Wrestlers stepped forth, exuding pride, embodying the strength and honor of the land.
\- Snake charmers captivated the audience with fluid, ancient movements—echoes of an era where culture intertwined with magic.
\- Praise singers wove Dr. Kole Shettima's name into Machina’s rich historical tapestry.
\- Music flowed like a river, connecting strangers and kin through a shared rhythm.
This celebration was not just a festival; it represented a renaissance.
Machina shone with an unprecedented unity—farmers alongside scholars, traders dancing with civil servants. Children expressed delight while elders nodded in approval, their eyes glistening with echoes of past celebrations. The air was infused with incense, dust, perfume, and the unique essence of festivity—an aroma cultivable only in a city deeply in love with its heritage.
Even the desert seemed to pause. The wind softened, appearing attentive; the sun lingered on the horizon, reluctant to fade from such a moment. When night finally cloaked Machina, lanterns and fires illuminated the darkness, transforming the emirate into a celestial wonder.
This scene evoked memories of grand communal gatherings chronicled by Achebe in Arrow of God—a people unified not by necessity, but by pride, remembrance, and a shared destiny. Machina did not simply celebrate a title; it reaffirmed its legacy, lineage, and essence. In honoring Dr. Kole Shettima, Machina honored itself.
A Tribute to a Worthy Son
By recognizing Dr. Kole Ahmed Shettima, Machina upheld the values it treasures—service, humility, scholarship, and humanity. The title Zanna Yuroma extends beyond recognition; it symbolizes a covenant between a son and his homeland.
In unison with millions across Nigeria, we celebrate High Chief Dr. Kole Ahmed Shettima. May his tenure as Zanna Yuroma usher wisdom, compassion, and advancement for Machina and beyond.
May he serve long.
May Machina continue to prosper.
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