BAYAJIDDA: An African Legend

A 46-page comic book for children adapted from a popular Nigerian legend- Bayajidda: the progenitor of the Hausa people and legendary slayer of Sarki- the evil snake. Legend has it that Bayajidda was a prince of Baghdad who came from the Far East in search of adventure. He is considered the father of the Hausa people and is said to have slain a wicked snake that guarded the only well in the City of Daura (in present Northern Nigeria). The snake (Sarki) only allowed the villagers access to the well on Fridays and Bayajidda had come into town on a different day and needed water for his horse. After fighting and slaying the snake, he was offered riches promised to the slayer but forfeited them for the hand of the Queen in marriage whom he had fallen in love with. The Queen, who had refused advances from previous royal suitors, accepted his. Their offsprings are said to have established the seven traditional Hausa states of Nigeria. Cartoon art style used for comic book.