WEST AFRICAN CULTURES

Who are the hyena men of Nigeria? This is one of the most extraordinary street gangs, this traveling circus uses an intoxicating mix of voodoo and dangerous animals to make a living. They call it magic. Protected by potions, charms, and amulets, an offbeat urban tribe in Nigeria entertains audiences with daring feats, which they perform with hyenas, poisonous snakes, and baboons. Predominantly comprised of Hausa people (one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa) they move from city to city, gathering large crowds wherever they go.

These men are mainly found in Kano, which is the second largest city in Nigeria after Lagos. Kano is the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria and is known for its rich heritage, vibrant culture, and agriculture. In the 1820s, Kano was the greatest commercial power in West Africa. It’s leather and cotton goods were widely transported Northward by caravans across the Sahara to places as far as Europe Almost the whole population in Kano speaks Hausa.

These men are mainly found in the remote areas of the city, mostly hidden from civilization. According to some of the hyena men, Ibrahim, says that all these costumes they wear, anyone that sees you with these costumes will know that they are traditional costumes. Ibrahim ties a lot of charms on his body and all those things they use to their bodies help to get close to the Hyena without having any issues and its help from God. The hyena men take out the hyena to their compounds, for displays. They put something on the hyena's mouth so that it doesn’t harm the audience.

The men not only stick their heads into the mouths of hyenas but also ride them like horses. They inch their faces dangerously close to the fangs of the snakes and sometimes stick the snakes’ heads into their mouths. The baboons are dressed in clothes and ordered to perform backflips. Why do they have such animals living with them? Why doesn't it harm them? Why do they live so far away from civilization? Where do they get these wild animals from?

The hyena men say they grew up to meet their parents doing this business; the Hyena business and they taught them how to go to the bush and get the Hyenas. That is why they cannot leave this business, they would keep on going with the business, and even their younger ones that are coming behind, they are still going to teach them how to get the Hyenas and do the business as well. They then train them and take them to the city to perform in their street circus. It’s said they use ancient magic to bring wild animals under their control. There are also rumors they have supernatural powers and some even believe they’re part hyena.

Kano holds so much history too. Way back in the 7th century, a residual hill in Kano called the Dala Hills, was the site of a hunting and gathering community that engaged in ironwork. Kano city also served as the southernmost point of the famous trans-Saharan trade routes and it's also home to where the richest black man in the world is from, Dangote.

There is also a remote village of Gabasawa which is 80km from Kano city. Here they also keep poisonous cobras and one bite from one will have a full-grown adult dead in seconds.

So how do they get the hyenas? They get the Hyena from the Bush and sometimes the Hyena is dangerous, they get it in a hole or somewhere, then have to wait for like 5 days for you to get the tactics of getting the Hyena because it’s not easy. It’s very dangerous when it’s not yet caught but once they get it, there are ways they do to manipulate the danger out of it. If they get the new Hyena, they will make sure they give it what it wants, the hyena eats milk and meat, so they would give him constantly till it is familiar to them.

They grew up to meet their parents doing this business, which is why every child in the family is familiar with the Hyena. They also show their talent in a display, every family shows their talent, what they acquired from their parents. For example, one man can drink insecticide, without harming him! Also, some can be cut by the blades of razors and knives!

In a week they have up to 5 shows it all depends on whether there is time. They do this Hyena shows to sell their medicine and more so the Hyena itself. From a very young age, they give their children concoctions to drink and put them in close quarters with the snakes, baboons, and hyenas. This is done to familiarize them with the animals and lose all fear of them. Some families would bring their children to sit on the hyena as they believe it is a medicine for spiritual attacks at Night.

The culture of the hyena men is hereditary. The tradition dates as far as a hundred years and is still being kept alive in small remote villages like this. According to them, it's a way of life and these shows are meant to promote the sale of special herbs thought to provide strength and protection from wild beasts and diseases.

Global animal charities have long campaigned against the capture and training of wild animals, pleading to countries to introduce laws to stop performances and asking tourists not to fuel the trade by giving money. The crowds the Hyena Men draw are mostly locals, however. Yet they too are facing increasing pressure regarding their customs.

I know a lot of people will choose to get upset about the welfare of the animals but this perspective usually misses the point. The deeper question is, Why do these men have to catch wild animals to make a living in a country as rich as Nigeria? Anyway I think this is such an incredible culture that deserves to be explored and protected