Chapter 1: When Two Lions Roar

Southern and Northern Dynasties—just from the name, you go sabi say na time wey the country divide into two: the south and the north, just like how people dey talk of Biafra and Arewa days.

Ehn, the way dem take divide ehn, even old mama for village dey still use the story warn children say, "If una no fit settle, na so una go tear body like Biafra and Arewa days!" For people wey sabi history, just the mention fit bring gist full ground, with elders tapping snuff and young ones adjusting wrapper to hear am well.

The Southern Dynasties get their roots from the last days of an old kingdom, while the Northern Dynasties come out from the wahala of plenty small kingdoms wey dey fight for the north.

Dem say na that old kingdom, e resemble those ancient Igbo city-states wey get deep tradition, before politics and jealousy break them. For north, na like the Hausa and Kanuri emirates wey dey always test power, until one head strong leader rise come pack everybody under im hand. E resemble the way we get many LGAs today, each with their own wahala.

For 420, one strong man, Obinna Nwosu, tall like iroko tree, face strong like stone, no dey smile for anybody, carry power by force, start Nwosu Dynasty, end the old order and open road for the Southern Dynasties.

Dem still dey talk say the day Obinna Nwosu take over, thunder just strike for sky, fowl no lay egg, even market women pack their wares run house sharp-sharp. Mama Nkechi shout, "Thunder fire dem! Today, wahala don land!" Some elders swear say him shadow long pass palm tree that day, as if ancestors dey follow am waka.

By 439, the northern chiefdom, led by Emir Garba Danladi, don clear all the different warlords for north, join northern Nigeria together after many years of katakata. Na from here the Northern Dynasties begin.

They say Emir Garba Danladi sabi ride horse like say na part of him body. The way him warriors take dey respect am, even Fulani cattle no go cross him road without greeting. Na real ogbonge leader.

One for south, one for north—together, na them we dey call Southern and Northern Dynasties today.

Some old griots even compose song, dey praise the day both sides begin their own, say na two elephants start to dance for bush, and all the grass between dem suffer.

But "Southern and Northern Dynasties" na just name we dey use. Inside each side, dynasties dey rise and fall anyhow, new government dey always replace old one.

Na so e be for Nigeria, palace waka dey turn like danfo for Lagos traffic—one day e dey move, next day e park. People for market go just wake see new king, like say government na rain wey fit start anytime.

For the south, you get four: Nwosu, Okafor, Okechukwu, and Chima. For the north, you get five: Garba, Musa, Bala, Danladi, and Suleiman. Make we just arrange the main gist first before we enter inside details.

Omo, if person wan cram all the names, e go need groundnut for hand and pure water to clear throat. But all na the wahala of power.

To talk am simple:

The Southern Dynasties be like four big waves—Nwosu, Okafor, Okechukwu, Chima—each one dey wash the other comot for shore.

Dem even dey say say each wave carry im own wahala—sometimes e sweet, sometimes e bitter pass bitterleaf soup. You go just dey look how kings dey come, dey go, yet people still dey survive.

The Northern Dynasties start with Garba, wey later break into Musa and Bala. Musa later turn to Danladi; Bala turn to Suleiman. Suleiman come join north again, but na Sani dynasty finally scatter all of them.

You know say na for north their own succession dey scatter like dry egusi on market floor—na so Musa go, Danladi enter, next thing Suleiman show, finally Sani dynasty come pack all the leftover yams.

Na the Sani dynasty later clear everybody, join the country together and become the main oga.

For Ogbe market, one woman whisper, "Abeg, who dey rule now? My yam price dey change every week!"

Till today, if pikin stubborn, old mama fit warn am, "Na so Sani dynasty take end those ones wey no gree listen. You hear?"

Historians dey agree say the Southern and Northern Dynasties period start for 420. So, make we begin from there.

Dem even mark am for old church calendar that year, say na year wey everything change, even sky get different color.