Humans and serpents have been known to have a conflicting relationship, that of mutual fear for each other.
Biblically, the serpent is the enemy of mankind. However, in the Machina Emirate, Yobe state Northeastern part of Nigeria in West Africa, reversed is the case.
Snakes are regarded as brothers and also as royalty according to the myth of a Queen who gave birth to Twin sons, one a human and the other a snake.
And as such, till this day, snakes and human beings are friends and do not harm each other.
Located about 300 kilometres north of the state capital, the Machina Emirate is one of the remotest towns in Yobe State, Nigeria.
This emirate prides itself of a rich cultural and historical background.
It is believed in Machina, that royal blood runs through the veins of the snakes and In fact, thesnakes consistently pay homage to the Mai Machinama palace; where their ancestor was born, as a twin to one of their ancestral kings.
According to history, a queen in ancient times gave birth to twins in the palace, one a human being and the other a snake.
Because the other twin was a snake, it couldn’t stay long with its mother the queen; and as such it found its way into the rocks behind the emir’s palace; where it is said that its descendants still enjoy all the privileges that come with royalty.
It is also believed that, just like the Machina Emirate, the ancestor of the snake procreated Snake kings, queens and princesses; all who were of equal status with their human relatives in the kingdom.
According to the Emir of Machina (Mai Machinama), His Royal Highness, Dr. Bashir Albishir Bukar (OON); the twin snake started its generation like a regular human family immediately after it went into the rocks behind the palace;
“Since then, their lineage has continued, just like human beings. I am the 77th Mai Machinama, so there must be one snake that has attained the same position in their kingdom.
Credit: Nigeria Stories