Musa Didam (April 14, 1933 - November 6, 2018) was a former District Head of the Fantswam (Kafanchan Kewaye) District, then in the Jama'a Emirate and later the first indigenous monarch of Fantswam (Kafanchan) Chiefdom, a

Nigerian traditional state There are many traditional states in Nigeria. A partial list follows. Although the traditional rulers no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage. Except where otherwise n ...

in southern

Kaduna State Kaduna State ( ha, Jihar Kaduna جىِهَر كَدُنا; ff, Leydi Kaduna, script=Latn, ; kcg, Sitet Kaduna) is a state in northern Nigeria. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna which happened to be the 8th largest city in ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

. He was also known by the titles "''Mallam Musa Didam,"'' ''"Mr. Musa Didam"'' and "''Agwam Fantswam I."''

Early life and education

HRH Agwam Musa Didam was born in Chen (H. Kurmi), Zikpak, Fantswam (Kafanchan), ''in the defunct'' Northern Region,

British Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain an ...

(''now'' Fantswam (Kafanchan), southern

, on 14 April 1933. His father, Didam Dadyi was a farmer and his mother, Ndwan Kuhyeb a housewife. Young Didam's educational pursuit began at the then

Sudan Interior Mission SIM is an international, interdenominational Evangelical Christian mission organization. It was established in 1893 by its three founders, Walter Gowans and Rowland Bingham of Canada and Thomas Kent of the United States. The initials original ...

(SIM), in Fantswam (Kafanchan) whereafter he proceeded to Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), Gworok (Kagoro), to complete his primary education. Following much encouragement by his father, on completion of his primary school education he advanced to Katsina College for his Grade III and II Courses between 1958 - 1964. Among his peers who attended the college with him were Mr. Micah Kalat, Col. Iliya Baba (late) and Mallam Abubakar Sanga.

Career

Didam began a career in education as a teacher, rising to become the headmaster of Primary School, Ancha then later on, Primary School, Watyap (Kaura) where he left landmarks. Being in love with education, he advanced further and acquired a National Certificate of Education at the College of Education and was among the pioneering students of the All Teachers College (ATC), Kafanchan. He then advanced to

Ahmadu Bello University Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria. It was founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, ...

(ABU),

Zaria Zaria is a metropolitan city in Nigeria which at the present time lies within four (4) local government areas in Kaduna state; it happens to be the capital city to the Zazzau Emirate Council, and one of the original seven Hausa city-states ...

where he obtained a

B.Ed. A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is an undergraduate professional degree which prepares students for work as a teacher in schools. In some countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, additional tasks like field work and research are required in order fo ...

in Mathematics. As a sportsman, he became the football and

hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...

captain of that very institution.

Family life

Didam married Miss Akamai Atyong whom he met while at Gworok (Kagoro) in 1954. The couple had ten children namely: Hauwa, Lydia, Victor, Angela, Simon, Usman, Serah, Gin, Tuman and Jang. Being a loving and caring father, he endured that his children were well educated. He was as well at the time of his burial, blessed with 22 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Faith life

Didam accepted the Lord

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

as his personal saviour and got

baptized Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...

in 1964. Growing in spiritual life, he became a member of the

Boys' Brigade The Boys' Brigade (BB) is an international interdenominational Christian youth organisation, conceived by the Scottish businessman Sir William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values. Following its inception ...

and the

Scouts Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpack ...

and also a keen participant in their activities. He was also a member of the church men's fellowship and helped in growing the church, for he was brave, courageous and served God and man with his entire heart.

Leadership roles

Didam was a leader among both peers and younger ones of his and participated in community development such as road and bridge constructions linking several villages around, and was always a leadsman. He loved to participate also in meetings aimed at developing the Fantswam community. These and more led to his selection amidst many others to be the first Fantswam District Head when the new district was created in 1991. His reign was marked by his listenership quantities where he gave ears to all regardless of ethnic or religious leanings. After the request by him and other Fantswam sons and daughters for the creation of a Fantswam Chiefdom and the creation of it by the then governor of

Ahmed Makarfi Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi (born 8 August 1956) is a Nigerian politician and the former Chairman of the People's Democratic Party. He was governor of Kaduna State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007, and was elected Senator for Kaduna North ...

, he was made the first Agwam Fantswam (Kafanchan) on January 25, 2001. Six additional districts were created to make seven for the chiefdom to ease administration and foster rapid development during his reign.

Ailment and death

Didam suffered from

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

and hypertension for many years, and after 17 years as Agwam Fantswam I, he died on 6 November 2018, at the age of 85. He was buried at his home in Zikpak, Fantswam (Kafanchan) on Friday 9 November 2018.

Wife's murder

It was reported by several news media that Fulani herdsmen invaded his home on July 25, 2020 killing his wife, his brother (father to the Nigerian musical artiste,

Joe El Joel Amadi, known as Joe El, (born 23 March) is a Nigerian afrobeats, afrobeat singer, songwriter, and performer, signed with Kennis Music. In 2006, he participated in the Star Quest singing competition in Jos and later on in the annual Kennis M ...

), burning down the house in the process.

References

External links

{{s-end Nigerian traditional rulers 1933 births 2018 deaths