Musa Didam (14 April 1933 – 6 November 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 Nigerian traditional rulers, traditional rulers no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage ...

in southern

Kaduna State Kaduna (, جىِهَر كَدُنا; مدينة كدونا; , ; ) is a States of Nigeria, state in the northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna (city), Kaduna, which was the List of Nigerian ...

, Nigeria. 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 1st of October 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. Britain annexed Lagos in 1861 and established the Oil River Protectorate in 1884. British influen ...

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

, Nigeria, 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 originally ...

(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 The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, ...

(ABU),

Zaria Zaria is a List of Nigerian cities by population, metropolitan city in Nigeria, located at present time within four local government areas in Kaduna State. It serves as the capital of the Zazzau Emirate Council and is one of the original sev ...

where he obtained a B.Ed. in Mathematics. As a sportsman, he became the

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

and

hockey ''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...

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 (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

as his personal saviour and got

baptized Baptism (from ) is a Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three ...

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

Boys' Brigade The Boys' Brigade (BB) is an international interdenominational Christianity, Christian youth organisation, conceived by the Scottish businessman William Alexander Smith (Boys' Brigade), Sir William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun acti ...

and the

Scouts Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...

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 who is a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria), Peoples Democratic Party. He was governor of Kaduna State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007, and was elected S ...

, he was made the first Agwam Fantswam (Kafanchan) on 25 January 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 mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

and

hypertension Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...

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 25 July 2020 killing his wife, his brother (father to the Nigerian musical artiste, Joe El), burning down the house in the process.

References

External links

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