OLD MURI: A Cradle of Civilization Abandoned, Time to Reclaim Our Heritage

 y: Kamal Hammajo Adam

Freelance Journalist | +2347069274878

In the quiet plains near the River Benue, where history still whispers through the ruins and salt pits of a once-thriving city, lies Old Muri, a cultural cradle and spiritual homeland to the Fulani of Muri and many other tribes who once called it home. Once a center of power, salt trade, and diplomacy, today, Old Muri sits in near obscurity, its potential untapped, its history fading, and its people scattered.

It is a painful irony that the very place from which the mighty Muri Emirate rose is now left behind. The question every Fulani son and daughter of Muri must ask is this:

“On jehi onn Muri na?” - Have you ever licked the salt of Muri?

This age-old saying isn’t just about taste, it is about connection. It is about knowing one’s roots.

FORGOTTEN HERITAGE, UNTAPPED TREASURE

Old Muri holds vast cultural, historical, and economic treasures:

• The historic salt pits, once central to trans-regional trade routes.

• The early palace grounds, spiritual and administrative seat before the Emirate shifted to Kunini later to Jalingo.

• Sacred groves, ancient wells, and burial grounds of early Fulani leaders.

• Relics of multicultural harmony where tribes like the Jenjo, Wurkun, Karimjo, Hausa and others coexisted in peace with the Fulani ruling structure.

Yet, despite its enormous potential for tourism, education, and cultural revival, Old Muri is being forgotten. There is no clear road leading to it, no official monument, no visitor center, and no festival in its honor. This is not just a failure of development, it is a collective abandonment of heritage.

TO THE MURI EMIRATE: Lead the Return

The leadership of the Muri Emirate, with its present-day headquarters in Jalingo, carries a sacred duty, not just to govern, but to preserve identity. The story of Muri is incomplete without Old Muri. If we forget the root, the tree itself will wither.

Now is the time for the Emirate to:

• Recognize Old Muri as a heritage town.

• Initiate cultural festivals to celebrate our Fulani and multi-ethnic past.

• Support documentation of the stories, sites, and artifacts that still survive.

• Rally the descendants of all the tribes, Jenjo, Mumuye, Wurkun, Karimjo, Bashama, Bandawa, Kona, Launawa, Nyandam, Hausawa, etc. who were part of Old Muri’s greatness.

Heritage is not a luxury, it is our compass. Losing it means losing our direction.

TO THE FULANI OF MURI AND ALL ALLIED TRIBES: Reconnect and Reclaim

The Fulani of Muri have always taken pride in wisdom, dignity, and history. Let us not allow the birthplace of our pride to sink into the dust.

Let youth movements, scholars, traditional title holders, and community elders begin the journey back to Old Muri, not just in memory, but in presence and projects.

This is a call to:

• Organize annual visits and storytelling events in Old Muri.

• Launch youth-led heritage mapping and clean-up campaigns.

• Create heritage preservation trusts to raise awareness and funding.

• Partner with historians, filmmakers, and tourism experts to document and celebrate the legacy of Old Muri.

TO ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS BORN OF OLD MURI PROVINCE: Return to Your Roots

Before the advent of modern State structures, the Muri Province was a unifying administrative entity under the Emirate. Today, the following local government areas owe their historical foundation to Old Muri:

• Ibi, Zing, Yorro, Karim-Lamido, Lau, Bali (Bakundi), Gassol (Mutum-Biyu), Ardo-Kola, Ibi, and Jalingo itself.

Each of these areas still bears royal houses and community structures whose roots can be traced to Old Muri.

We call on:

• The Chairmen of these LGAs to prioritize heritage-based development projects.

• District Heads and Emirs to reconnect with their original founding town.

• Cultural associations to organize inter-LGA heritage carnivals or festivals in Old Muri.

TO THE TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT: Build the Road, Unlock the Legacy

No place of such historical and economic importance should be cut off from the rest of the State. The road to Old Muri is not just a road, it is a path to economic revival through tourism, cultural diplomacy, and inter-generational healing.

We urge the Taraba State Government to:

• Include Old Muri in the State Tourism Development Plan.

• Construct and connect road links from Jalingo, Lau, crossover to Karim Lamido directly to Old Muri.

• Designate Old Muri as a protected historical site.

• Fund cultural festivals and tourism infrastructure in collaboration with the Muri Emirate and affected LGAs.

A FUTURE ROOTED IN OUR PAST

Old Muri is more than a location. It is a symbol of unity, enterprise, dignity, and resilience. Its salt once flavored the trade routes of the Benue valley. Its leadership once commanded vast respect. Its multi-ethnic harmony was once a model for coexistence.

If we build the road, raise the flag of heritage, and gather again to tell our stories, then Old Muri will live again, not as a forgotten ruin, but as a beacon of history, culture, and unity.

The time to act is now. Let us not be the generation that let our cradle disappear.