Here is the English translation, summary, description, and literary analytics of the provided Hausa historical fiction text (Chapter 1 to part of Chapter 3 by Ayusher Muhd).

1. English Translation

Chapter 1

The palace was packed with people. Wherever you looked, festivities were taking place: some were horse-riding, others performed acrobatics, some played wind instruments, others sang, and some played the traditional kalangu drum.

There were various displays characteristic of ancient Hausa traditions, and everyone you saw wore a radiant face filled with joy. The servants were overjoyed because such celebrations gave them a chance to come out and mingle, while the praise singers were busy plying their trade.

This was the royal palace of Zazzau, situated in Zaria. Zazzau is one of the greatest emirates in Nigeria, having conquered many lands in the past. At its peak, the territory of Zazzau extended all the way to Suleja in Niger State. Furthermore, Zazzau stands out as the emirate in West Africa with the highest number of both modern and religious schools, which is why it earned the title Zazzau, the City of Knowledge. Zazzau is also one of the original seven Hausa states (Hausa Bakwai) founded by Bayajidda, making it a truly royal city.

The year was 1900, marking an era of royal rule under Abdulsamad, who had inherited the throne from his late father, Abduljalal. Abdulsamad was only 20 years old when he was crowned following his father's death. Though his father had many children, Abdulsamad was the son of Queen Kubra and was a very wise young man, which led his father to designate him as his preferred successor.

At that time, a wife was arranged for Abdulsamad: Safina, the daughter of the Waziri (Vizier). From the tender age of three, her father had ordered that she be trained in the strict etiquette and demeanor of a king’s wife. Consequently, she grew up to be a harsh woman with an intense aura of high-class arrogance. Surprisingly, even Abdulsamad would bow to her out of deference to her pride and authoritative presence. Safina married Abdulsamad at age 15, was crowned queen, and ordered that she be addressed exclusively as Magajiya (The Queen Mother / Sovereign Woman). Her younger brother, Hisham, later succeeded their father’s position, being appointed as the Waziri.

The marriage between Abdulsamad and Safina lacked any romance; it was purely an arranged marriage of command. Magajiya herself viewed life without love—her single mission was to marry the king and bear him a son who would inherit the throne. This was what her parents had drilled into her.

Now, after twenty years of marriage between King Abdulsamad and Magajiya, Allah had not yet blessed them with children. The king had taken 4 wives and had 9 concubines, yet there was still no news of even a missed menstrual cycle. This deeply troubled both the King and Magajiya. She had tried every remedy imaginable to no avail. However, she had sworn an oath that no one would ever bear an heir to Abdulsamad except her; if not through her, she believed no other woman was worthy.

That was the state of things.

Suddenly, Magajiya began exhibiting signs of pregnancy. She announced that the doctor had ordered her to stay strictly confined to her room without stepping out until she gave birth, and that her husband was forbidden from coming near her due to a weak womb. King Abdulsamad was unbothered by this restriction; his sole joy was the prospect of finally having an heir.

Magajiya stopped stepping outside completely, allowing only trusted servants to visit her, until her delivery month arrived. At that point, she declared that she wanted to return to her family home. Because King Abdulsamad could not exert authority over her, she packed up and left.

After she delivered, word was sent back to the King that she had borne a boy. The joy that consumed Hisham was beyond measure, as today was the naming ceremony for his nephew, named Abdulmajid.

While the naming ceremony festivities roared outside, deep inside Magajiya's room, she sat on a floor carpet surrounded by pillows. The room was exquisitely and lavishly decorated with expensive, high-end metallic furniture. She sat resplendent in her royal queenly attire, with Hisham sitting beside her. They were the only two in the room, as she had dismissed all her servants.

Looking at Hisham with an air of dominance and pride, she asked, "Brother, you haven't forgotten what I told you, have you?" Laughing, Hisham replied, "Aside from you, Magajiya, no one else will ever hear this secret. In fact, I've already warned my own wife, Sauda, never to dare step foot in this house. If she ever does, she must make sure she never crosses paths with Abdulmajid."

She smiled slightly and said, "With Abdulmajid, I have permanently closed the door to anyone else bearing a child in this house. No other woman will ever give birth, let alone spark a debate over who will inherit the throne." With a wicked smile, Hisham remarked, "Magajiya, your brain is truly working at its peak! How on earth did you come up with the fake pregnancy scheme right when I informed you that Sauda was pregnant?"

She offered a haughty smile, placed a finger gently over her lips for silence, and whispered, "Dear brother, I told you—my son is the one who will inherit this throne. If I couldn't bear one naturally, I had to use you—my own blood."

They exchanged a look of shared satisfaction over their plot. Hisham said, "I told Sauda to wait three more months before returning." Nodding in agreement, Magajiya said, "It's better she stays away longer so people don't look closely and realize she didn't have a visible pregnancy, especially since she is a patient woman who doesn't argue when we give orders."

Scratching the back of his neck, Hisham said, "If she starts acting up, we can just hand her her divorce papers." With a pleased smile, Magajiya replied, "Make sure you have more of that medicine sent to me; the supply I use to lace the food of his other wives has run out." Chuckling slightly, Hisham said, "Truly, Magajiya, you are unmatched. That is why I hold you in such high honor and respect. But don't you think even if we stopped giving them the medicine, nothing would happen? I feel their wombs have stopped working anyway." She gave a knowing smile, indicating she understood completely, but requested it anyway. As for me, I can only say hmmm...

As for King Abdulsamad, one glance at him told you he was overflowing with joy. Upon returning from his horse ride, he entered the palace and was informed by a servant that he had a visitor. He granted permission for the guest to enter.

And who was it? His closest, most cherished childhood friend, a native of Katsina whose father's work had brought him to live in Zaria for a time before they eventually returned home.

The friend rushed over to the king in utter excitement. The King signaled the royal guards with his eyes to step outside, which they did without hesitation. They embraced tightly in overwhelming joy. The King looked at his friend and exclaimed, "Amadu, is it really possible that I am seeing you?"

After they settled down, they began reminiscing about the old days. Eventually, the King asked, "Is this just a social visit, Amadu? It feels like you didn't come merely for my sake." Noticing Amadu lowering his head in distress, the King asked with concern, "What is the matter?"

Tears welled up in Amadu’s eyes as he spoke in a pitiful voice, "Your Highness, I am in a terrible predicament." Shocked, the King asked, "About what?" Amadu closed his eyes tightly and said, "My younger sister was raped in our homeland. Because of this, the families of both myself and my wife are in complete turmoil due to the spite and stigmatization directed at us."

In deep distress, the King asked, "Not your sister Basira?!" Amadu nodded bitterly and said, "Yes, her. That is why I realized she cannot stay there any longer; she can't even step outside. I came to beg you if you might ask your elder sister, Aunty Babba, to let her stay with her, even if just for a month. I have no one else I know in this city, and all her suitors have abandoned her."

With deep empathy, the King asked, "But how did it happen?" Amadu explained, "At night, my wife sent her out to buy fever medicine for my sick child while I was away. On her way back, she was ambushed and raped. Because of the darkness, she couldn't see who her attacker was."

The King sat in deep contemplation. Amadu continued, "Your Highness, if you have any trusted courtier or servant you think she could marry—because in our society, it is a massive disgrace for a woman to be raped, and you know she will never find a husband otherwise, save by a miracle of God—please, give her away in marriage to someone before she stays with Aunty Babba." (At that time, it was a terrible scandal and source of shame for a woman to be raped or to enter a husband's house without her virginity).

The King remained silent, deeply pitying Basira, who was a quiet and patient young girl. After a long pause, he looked at Amadu and said, "Because of the love your father had for mine, and the love you bear for me, I have made a decision: I will marry her myself. However, you must ensure that no word of the rape leaks out anywhere. We must bury the secret here, otherwise, she will face constant stigma in this palace."

Shock rendered Amadu speechless, and a hot tear rolled down his cheek. He shook his head and said, "I thank you for this offer, but I cannot allow you to marry a woman who has been violated outside."

The King smiled slightly and said, "My dear Amadu, what is the point of friendship? Do you think anyone else can guard your secret better than I? If we marry her off to some servant or guard, the moment he discovers she isn't intact, he will mistreat her. Even if we inform him beforehand, he will not treat her with kindness."

Amadu fell silent. The King patted him on the shoulder and said, "Do not worry. Tomorrow morning, I will marry her myself, but I will keep it under wraps until the wedding guests disperse, as everyone is preoccupied with the naming ceremony."

Amadu broke down in gratitude. The King instructed, "Go back to your homeland tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will travel in disguise without anyone knowing, except those I trust." Overjoyed, Amadu offered thanks and said, "I will stay and wait so we can travel together for your safety." The King smiled and said, "If you stay, who will announce the marriage plans there? Besides, I do not want anyone to know I am traveling there. Let me have someone arrange a car to take you back, because I know you traveled here enduring dust and hardship." (In those days, if you saw someone with a car, he was certainly the child of a wealthy or prominent person, and cars back then were vintage models with rounded, enclosed boots).

They talked for a long time before Amadu bid him farewell, overflowing with gratitude and joy. As for me, I say hmmm, a new plot unfolds...

Chapter 2

The King sat deep in thought after his friend's departure. To his surprise, he heard Amadu's voice nearby, thinking he had already left. Amadu said, "But Your Highness, do you not already have four wives?"

The King opened his eyes, fixed his gaze on Amadu, and said, "Amadu, go and tell Barde to take you home, and I will come tomorrow." Hearing this, Amadu walked out with a heavy heart. His Highness closed his eyes again, sat in silence for a long time, and then called a servant, instructing him to summon his full brother (same mother and father), Kamal.

Kamal arrived shortly after, following the servant. Entering with a bright smile, Kamal said, "Your Highness, you sent for me while I was out horse-riding. I pray it's nothing bad." Abdulsamad focused his attention on his brother and asked, "Kamal, if I were to give you a woman to marry right now, would you accept?" Kamal nodded affirmatively and said, "Whichever type of woman she may be, as long as she is not of bad character or someone who has ruined her dignity and upbringing outside."

The King remained silent before asking, "What if she happens to be one of those categories you just listed?" Kamal smiled and replied, "Truthfully, I would marry her if it were a direct command from the King, but if it were merely a command from my elder brother as a sibling, I wouldn't."

The King stared at him for a long time before forcing a smile and asking, "How did it go with your son?" Kamal beamed and said, "Abdulmalik is fast asleep over there; today he'll have a well-deserved rest. Everyone is overjoyed for the King's heir." The King expanded his smile, basking in the joy of fatherhood, before dismissing Kamal.

After Kamal left, the King sat reflecting. (As history tells us, a king is permitted four wives according to Islamic law, alongside concubines acquired through war or similar circumstances who do not inherit the throne upon the king's death).

Today, he had made a weighty decision without knowing how it would all pan out, driven purely by the desire to protect his friend's honor. He thought of his youngest wife—his newlywed bride whom he married that very year. He decided to divorce her, not for any malicious reason, but because he knew her parents had done her a grave injustice by giving her away in marriage without her consent. She was only a 12-year-old girl whose father was an elder brother to the King of Daura; they had arranged the marriage to suit their own wishes. At 40 years old, he had been given a 12-year-old child, and everyone knew her rights had been compromised. That was why he had never even considered approaching her intimately.

Armed with this resolution, he stood up and gave orders to his servants to summon Magajiya to his private quarters (turaka).

Meanwhile, Magajiya sat in her room as well-wishers streamed in to offer congratulations. She did not bother replying to their greetings, merely nodding with supreme arrogance and pride.

Deep inside, she felt a thrill of intense joy because her ultimate ambition was on the verge of fulfillment: seeing her son, Abdulmalik, ascend the throne of Zazzau.

A maid crept close to her and whispered the King’s message. Magajiya rolled her eyes and let out a soft hiss inwardly. She hated being inconvenienced—why should she be summoned instead of him coming to her? It took her over thirty minutes before she finally stood up and walked out.

She headed straight to his private quarters where he sat on a cushioned mat (kilisa), walking right in without hesitation. The King looked up, and she walked over, taking a seat a short distance away. With an air of dominance, she said, "I am here, Your Highness." Looking at her, the King said, "Magajiya, I pulled you away while you were in the middle of a gathering, right?" Gazing at him with a slight smile, she replied, "You must have an important matter to discuss."

He let out a sigh and said, "Amidst all this joy, there is something I must tell you." She focused her attention on him. He continued, "I want to give Rabi'atu her divorce papers. I feel our injustice toward that young girl has gone on long enough."

Staring at him in shock, she said, "I don't understand! Have you ever heard of a king divorcing his wife?" He replied, "Today, it starts with me." She retorted, "If you divorce her, do you think anyone else will marry her?" Abdulsamad said, "I will divorce her, but I will not let her leave this house. I will keep her under my protection until she finds someone she wishes to marry, and I will arrange her wedding."

She stared at him, nearly speaking her mind before stopping herself. At this point, nothing else mattered to her; she had secured a son, and whatever else happened could unfold as it pleased. Seeing her silent, he took it as tacit agreement. He wrote a single pronouncement of divorce, handed it to her, and said, "Tell her to move her quarters either to your section or to Hajiya Umma's (the King's mother) section." She replied sharply, "To Umma's section then, because I don't like drama."

Though her remark slightly irritated him, he kept his composure. She took the divorce paper, stood up, and left.

As for Rabi'a, when Magajiya sent word and informed her of the situation, she was entirely unfazed. In fact, she felt a profound sense of relief and happiness at the prospect of remaining within the palace, as her primary fear had always been her father's wrath.

The naming ceremony celebrations were magnificent—money was spent lavishly, townspeople enjoyed the spectacle, brilliant horse-riding displays filled the grounds, brave men showcased sword-fighting skills, and handlers of wild hyenas/animals entertained the crowds. When it concluded, everyone returned home, and Magajiya summoned her trusted attendant.

The following morning, after performing the Subh (dawn) prayer, King Abdulsamad summoned his most trusted driver and announced they were going on a journey. He had earlier informed his palace guards that he intended to take a brief ride around the town to check on the welfare of his subjects.

Knowing this aligned with his customary habits, no one suspected anything amiss. Once outside the palace, they immediately set their course toward Katsina.

Over in Katsina, Amadu informed his household that Basira's marriage would be solemnized the following day immediately after the Zuhr prayer at the mosque.

Basira had no words left. Ever since the traumatic incident, she had completely stopped talking. She didn't even bother asking who her prospective husband was; she simply stood up and retreated inside.

Amadu's wife walked in and found her sitting on the edge of a metallic bed, asking, "Basira, are you not pleased?" Basira shook her head to indicate no. Drawing a breath, the wife said, "Basira, you need to let this burden go. It has been a month and two weeks since this happened. Neither of you nor I have stepped out for leisure since, and you refuse to speak unless forced. Don't you think it's time to put this behind you?"

A forced smile crossed Basira's face as she stood up. To Aunty Karima's surprise, she began packing her clothes into a suitcase. Karima stood up with a heavy heart, deeply pitying the young girl. Amadu had refused to reveal who the groom was, and Karima worriedly prayed the girl wouldn't end up facing further hardship, finding solace only in the fact that pregnancy had been averted since she had already experienced her subsequent menstrual cycle.

Basira silently packed her clothes, finished, took a bath, and lay down on the room's bed, unable to process her thoughts any further as she simply closed her eyes. A deep, heavy slumber overtook her.

Around 12:00 PM, they arrived. Cars in those era lacked modern speed, making long-distance travel quite lengthy.

Not knowing Amadu's exact house, they had to ask for directions since streets were not named back then. After some minor difficulty and asking locals for "Basira's house," they finally located it.

They arrived around 1:00 PM. Amadu was outside, anxiously peering south and west, hoping to spot them. The moment he caught sight of them, he breathed a massive sigh of relief, fearing something might have gone wrong.

Abdulsamad didn't even step inside the house; he immediately said, "Let's go straight to the mosque to get this done so I can return; leaving the palace without a solid excuse is risky." Amadu nodded, and they headed to the nearby mosque where Amadu had already alerted the Imam. After prayers, the marriage between Abdulsamad and Basira was solemnized. The Imam stood as Abdulsamad's proxy, while Amadu acted as Basira's guardian (malami/wali). The marriage was contracted with a dowry of 200 Naira.

And that was that...

Chapter 3 (Excerpt)

Before they emerged from the mosque following the wedding rites, a crowd had already gathered outside. Word had spread that a strange stranger, whose identity was unknown, had married Basira.

As the King attempted to step out, his trusted servant blocked his path, bowed, and briefed him on the tense situation outside. Amadu’s body went cold with anxiety.

Then he heard Abdulsamad say, "You all go out first, and I will step out afterward." Amadu protested, "Your Highness, you don't even know the house!" The King replied, "It's fine, I will follow behind you."

Hearing this, they stepped out first. The onlookers stared in open-mouthed astonishment at the servant, whispering among themselves. Some speculated that he must have been compelled to marry her because he was poor; others assumed she had been given to him out of charity, which was why he couldn't refuse.

As they walked ahead, the King mingled within the crowd behind them, overhearing every remark being made. His heart grew heavy; he realized without a doubt that he had performed a profoundly noble act by marrying the girl, as it was clear no one else in that town would have accepted her.

Only when the crowd saw them reach the house did they disperse. King Abdulsamad stepped inside. Once they were seated, Amadu's wife served them cold fura accompanied by maize couscous (dambu) mixed with peanuts. Abdulsamad ate a little before looking at Amadu to say, "Amadu, I will not take Basira to my palace right now."

Amadu's heart skipped a beat, and he stammered, "Do you have regrets? About marrying her? I—" Cutting him off, Abdulsamad explained, "I am protecting her from three major hazards by keeping her away for now." Taking a deep, authoritative breath, he continued, "If she enters the palace right now, she will suffer immense misery behind my back. Even Magajiya would not spare her. Consider this: yesterday was her son's naming ceremony, and today I bring home a new bride? On top of that, I divorced a wife just yesterday, making it look like I am obsessed with marrying anew, without even informing them. All these factors would lead them to torment Basira, especially since she knows nothing of palace politics or how to defend herself."

Amadu remained silent before conceding, "That is true. I honestly didn't think of that. My greatest joy is simply that Basira has married someone I know will care for her even if I am no longer alive."

The King smiled faintly and said, "I will give you directions to a property I own within the town. I will inform the estate staff so that by tomorrow, you can bring her there. I will assign maidservants to look after her and teach her everything she needs to know..."

2. Summary

Set in the historic royal city of Zaria (Zazzau emirate) around the year 1900 during the reign of young King Abdulsamad, the story explores palace politics, deceit, and nobility.

• The Palace Deceit: Magajiya, the arrogant and calculating queen who has been barren for 20 years, fakes a pregnancy to secure the throne exclusively for her lineage. Aided by her brother, the Waziri Hisham, they plan to sideline other wives and control the succession through a newborn boy named Abdulmajid, while secretly plotting against the other wives.
• The Noble Rescue: Meanwhile, the King's close friend from Katsina, Amadu, arrives in distress because his young sister, Basira, was brutally raped—a devastating social stigma at the time. To protect her honor and save her from lifelong rejection, King Abdulsamad selflessly decides to marry her in secret, divorcing his neglected young bride Rabi'a to make room for her, and safely housing Basira away from the toxic politics of the main palace.

3. Description

• Setting: The royal palace of Zazzau (Zaria) and Katsina during the early 20th century (circa 1900), capturing rich traditional Hausa culture, royal pageantry, horse-riding displays (hawan doki), drums (kalangu), praise singing, and strict traditional social hierarchies.
• Genre: Hausa Historical Fiction (Kainuwa Historical Fiction).
• Themes: Power, betrayal, female resilience, social stigma, true friendship, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of traditional polygamous palace life.

4. Analytics

• Character Dynamics & Archetypes:
  • Magajiya: The classic Machiavellian antagonist—power-hungry, manipulative, arrogant, and ruthless in securing her status.
  • King Abdulsamad: A benevolent, progressive ruler who balances royal authority with deep empathy, justice, and personal sacrifice (as seen in his defense of Basira).
  • Hisham (Waziri): Magajiya's co-conspirator, representing internal corruption and nepotism within the royal administration.
  • Basira & Amadu: Victims of circumstance and societal cruelty, whose plight highlights the vulnerability of women in historical settings and the protective nature of true loyalty.
• Cultural & Historical Context: The text vividly reflects pre-colonial and early colonial northern Nigerian societal values—such as the supreme importance of virginity, the heavy stigma attached to sexual assault, the dynamics of royal concubinage and marriage alliances, and traditional arbitration by Emirs and Islamic scholars.