How Christians, Muslims celebrated Christmas in Kano community

Refawa is a satellite village at Garin Gabas in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State.

 The inhabitants of Refawa, also known as Maguzawa, are both Christians and Muslims.

• MOVIE REVIEW: Back to the Outback does well tackling false impression
• Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka ‘interested in Liverpool move’

The people speak Hausa language more fluently than most Hausa indigenes of Kano who reside in the metropolitan areas of the state.

They live in an area that lacks basic infrastructures, especially good roads and electricity. However, they are a happy people. Despite their religious differences, they celebrated the just-concluded Christmas together with joy. 

The people were well dressed to relish the joy that usually accompanies the Christmas festivity as they thronged Bishara Baptist Church, Refawa to celebrate the yuletide.  

It is widely believed that Kano is mainly an Islamic state, but there are several other people who belong to other religions.  They live in both rural and urban settlements where they practise their religions and cultures.  But on Christmas day, the people of Refawa celebrated together without recourse to socio-religious differences.  

Apart from the spirit of celebration, record shows that the people of Refawa and its environs have been living in peace for many years despite their religious differences. They also share the same culture and beliefs.

Expressing gratitude to God during the celebration, The Reverend Emmanuel Yakubu Bature of Bishara Baptist Church said, “Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ. It is the day when Christians worldwide thank God for his mercies, favour and grace in their lives. 

“Even our Muslim neighbours join us in the celebration. They visit us and eat with us. We share together as a family. We are our brothers’ keepers.

“They come to identify with us whenever something happens to any of us, be it good or bad. We do the same to them. Whenever we are together, no one would identify our religious differences. When it is time for prayer they go and come back.”

 Some elders of the village, J P Murtala Ayuba and Ahmadu Dankaka, who also spoke on the cordial relationship among the people, said there had never been a time in the history of the village when the people were not at peace with one another.

“They are always striving and looking up to doing good to us. Likewise, we always treat them right, and by doing so, the relationship between us gets more solid by the day. 

 “We are always happy like siblings, courtesy of our forefathers who groomed us this way. We are indeed happy today as we celebrate the biggest day of every year.

 “Our district head and many elders around are all Muslims.  They always identify with us. You can see them wearing new clothes like us,” he added.

 While wishing all the Christians in his village a happy Christmas celebration, the district head of Refawa, Wada Na’iya,  prayed for God’s guidance, more intervention and everlasting peace among his subjects.