A Peep at Durbi Takusheyi of northern Nigeria

NCMM Management, led by the Director-General, Olugbile Holloway recently received our Honourable Minister of Art, culture, tourism and the creative economy Hon. Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq. and a delegation from the Katsina state government to inspect and discuss the future of the artifacts discovered many years ago in Durbi Takusheyi.

Between Katsina and Daura in northern Nigeria lies Durbi Takusheyi, an ancient burial site of at least eight mounds, revealing the rich cultural crossroads of early Hausa civilizations.

First partially excavated in 1907 and later in 1992 by German researchers, these mounds unearthed stunning burial goods: metals, glass, cloth, cowries, and artifacts from distant Islamic lands.Dating back as early as the 14th century (625 years ago), Durbi Takusheyi captures the critical era when the Hausa city states began to rise and global connections expanded.

A 14th-century metal bowl bearing the oldest archaeological evidence of Arabic script found in northern Nigeria was carefully restored by the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum (RGZM) in Mainz. After its restoration and scientific study, it was proudly returned to Nigeria in 2014. Durbi Takusheyi is not just a site – it’s a bridge between ancient Africa and the wider Islamic world.

NCMM thanks the Honourable Minister and the delegation from Katsina for their visit and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring these priceless objects are safely returned and properly displaved in our National Museum Katsina.