History of the Arewa

In the past there was an opposition between the religious power of the first Azna inhabitants and the military authority of the Sarkin Arewa. The Azna religious power was located at Lougou with the Saraouniya and Bagaji with the Baura, and the political and military autority of the Sarkin Arewa was based in Matankari.. The fragile balance between these two forces was broken in favor of Sarkin Arew by colonialism.

The conquest was carried out by the column Voulet and Chanoine in 1889. It was composed of a few French soldiers and numerous soldiers from already colonized countries. The brave warriors, equipped with bows and arrows, were called by the Saraouniya Mangu to defend Lougou and it could not prevent the village from being burned and the population from being scattered.

Resistance against the abuses of colonialism and of the managing classes has always been strong in the region

The religions of the Arewa

The population is mainly muslem but the traditional animist religion Azna is still influential. The whole history and culture are gathered in the Azna Pantheon where local divinities, the Doguwa, are protective when they are respected and fearsome when they are forgotten. The Azna religion evolves towards new cults such as the Bori, based on dances of possession and a closer relationship between the individual and the spirits.
There is a small Christian community also.

The traditional culture of the Arewa

Some original aspects characterize this culture such as the balance of power between men and women. The key example is the power of the queen and priestress, the Sarouniya of Lougou.

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