Azaghvana E-Book 2003 - Flipbook - Page 54
As we travel down the western chain we soon reach Gwoza, which is the administrative
centre of the Gwoza LGA. Gwoza is only a small town and consists of an ethnic mix of
locals, Hausa, Fulbe, and Kanuri. A large section of the population is Lamang and Guduf as
they come from nearby. The Guduf maintain their beautiful traditional settlements in the
already mentioned mountain saddle, which is comparatively easy to climb on a footpath
leading up from east of Gwoza town, but they also settle extensively in the adjacent plain.
The Lamang-speaking groups have presumably occupied the western foothills and plains the
longest, but there is evidence of linguistic similarities with other Montagard groups.
Plate 5b: Little lake in Divili on top of Zelidva spur.
To the immediate southeast of Gwoza town, high up on top of the southern massif, we can see
Durghwe, consisting of three granite pillars reaching up into the skies. Durghwe is an ancient
landmark and each of the pillars stands for one of the three ethnic groups around it. The
northernmost pillar is for the Guduf, while the two others are traditionally owned by the
Chikiɗe and Dghweɗe. The latter still have their settlements on top of the southern massif,
and at that time it was quite densely populated other than on the Zelidva spur.
Plate 6a: View of Guduf saddle, Zelidva spur, and Gwoza town in the western plain.
52
