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The North is known for many things, but a unifying and significant symbol for and of the northern region of Nigeria is the Northern Knot. But many people do not know that the symbol, the mark, the identity of Northern Nigeria today; the Northern Knot is an ancient form of a North African Christian cross. It is originally a Christian cross used by North African Christians. The records of history do not reflect many skirmishes even when the area decided to become Muslim with the subsequent contacts with the Arabs and subsequently, the choice of Sardauna Ahmadu Bello and his comrades to adopt the symbol for Northern Nigeria. According to historians, there used to be among our kings of yore days around Gobir a certain one that was referred to as Sarkin Gobir Mai Sak’andami meaning, Gobir king who wore a cross. There hasn’t been much doubt that there were indeed a significant number of Christians around at that time. Another proof of this fact is the existence of a Christian group called the Isawa. The term, which might have come from the Arabic form of Jesus, which is Isa. It is also possible that Muslims named them so after learning of what they stood for faith-wise.
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More Facts about the Origin of the Northern/Celtic Knots Celtic knots are a variety of knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration used extensively in the Celtic style of Insular art. These knots are most known for their adaptation for use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts, such as the 8th-century St. Teilo Gospels, the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels. Most are endless knots, and many are varieties of basket weave knots. According to the works of Kenny Joe of 1983, The Catholic Church in Tropical Africa 1445-1850. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, and references made by Umar Habila Dadem Danfulani in his paper, Religious Conflict on the Jos Plateau, that the Northern Knot is a residue of Christianity in present Northern Nigeria after the Nubians attempted to introduce it through mission work between 1512 and 1514. Ibrahim Waziri also adds that It should be remembered either that as far back as 325AC there used to be a very influential priest in Christendom by the name Arius who was originally a Libyan. Libya shares a border with Niger and is so close to Hausaland. As far back as 373AC, there was a bishop consecrated by Athanasius in Nubia which is an area in what is now partly Sudan and partly Egypt. Yes, Sudan is a walking distance from Hausaland in those years. Although some may argue that at that time the Hausa were non-existent the area may have been peopled by humans who knew how to practice a faith. Reference https://newsrescue.com/ Ibraheem A. Waziri, On the Northern Knot: What is it? KadunaVoice.com Featured image: Minastones
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