For more information about Dr. Dan Wagner and NutriFarmacy, visit www.nutrifarmacy.com

THE TURBANNING CEREMONY FOR THE WHITE CHIEF OF NIGERIA
Dr. Dan Wagner recalls the mystique and wonderment of this timeless ceremony

Dr. Dan Wagner is a clinical and natural pharmacist from Pittsburgh, PA who does professional counseling with patients who take both prescription and complementary medicine. As an "integrative" practitioner, he believes in the health advantages of balancing conventional therapies with natural ones. His natural medicine pharmacy, called NutriFarmacy was established in 1997.

Over the past 2 decades, Dr. Dan has done extensive traveling with an emphasis on researching plant medicines in the rainforests of Belize, Cuba, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, and Africa. He has worked closely with some of the leading ethnobotanists and herbalists in the field and has incorporated his knowledge and experience into his natural pharmacy practice. He is president and founder of the Student Rainforest Fund, a non-profit, educational student organization that leads American college students, studying the health professions, on annual expeditions to the rainforest.

Dan has traveled to Nigeria eight times in 11 years. In 2004, he was first invited to visit the rural village of Azara, located in central Nigeria in the state of Nasarawa. During the following years, Dan was instrumental in developing annual diabetes screening clinics with his team. In 3 years they have donated thousands of doses of diabetic medications, vitamins, and equipment to help the village along in their absence. He also contributed to the cost of digging a new well (borehole) in Azara in 2006. The project was completed in 2007 and now provides clean drinking water to the village of 20,000 people.

It was announced in March of 2006 that Dr. Dan would be the recipient of a most prestigious honor by the Azara Traditional Council of Azara-Nassarwa State. They named him “Sarkin Turawan Azara (Chief of the Whiteman of Azara).” This is a distinctive honor given only to non-Nigerians who exercise distinct service to the common people of their village. The official ceremony was held on January 13, 2007.

The Ceremony
The day began with an early rise from the hospital guest house in Lafia, the closest large city to Azara, about 60 kilometers away. It was a beautiful, cloudless day - hot, but not extremely humid. The drive to Azara on about 30 kilometers of dirt road, far back into the bush country, was turbulent, but exhilarating. Miles of unspoiled savannah lay on each side of the crooked road. We arrived at Azara about 11am. Many of the village dignitaries were there to meet out car, all dressed in bright, colorful captons (garments), each distinct from the other. Large crowds of people, especially women and children, were gathering around the Chief’s palace. I did not know what I was in for…I was lead to meet the chief, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Azara, Chief Dr. Kabiru Musa Ibrahim II.

The history of the turbanning ceremony goes back many years. According to Ibrahim (Barrister) Azara, a lawyer and Azara committee member, it is the tradition of the community to justly honor distinguished people, especially outsiders, who contribute immensely to the socio-economic development of the community. Ibrahim is a close confidant to the chief and functions as the Nigerian coordinator for the World Health Mission. He states that Dr. Wagner's recognition as the Sarkin Turawan (Chief of the Whiteman) is in line with the history of Azara and completely under the jurisdiction of the chief, the Emir of Azara. The chief used the power conferred on him by his office to confer traditional title to those that qualify after satisfying the prescribed criteria.

The ceremony was timeless and magical. Strange music from horns, bugles, drums and instruments I could not identify filled my ears. I felt like I was time-warped back to an ancient ritual a thousand years old.

Many gifts were exchanged. The chief gave Dr. Wagner the elegant turban along with the traditional turbanning outfit (made with silk and traditional textiles). The turban was adorned in gold lace and the robe was pure white. One of the elders, a top assistant to the chief, took nearly 20 minutes to wrap the turban around Dan’s head while he kneeled in front of the chief and his throne chair. On each side of the chief’s chair were long golden spears, symbols of the older days when hunting wild beasts sustained the village. The chief also gave Dan’s daughter Danielle, and a colleague Dr. Heidi Weinhold, a naturopathic physician from Pittsburgh, beautiful traditional Nigerian outfits made for women. Dr. Dan presented the chief, who is a medical doctor, with an inscribed wall clock and weather barometer, a new lab coat, and an American book on Muhammad, "The Prophet".

Ibrahim Azara introduced Dan to the chief's group of ministers, who serve as his "cabinet" in helping to undertake the governmental aspects of Azara. Most of these ministers are elderly; they numbered about 75, and are experienced religious and civil leaders in the community. He read aloud the curriculum vitae of Dr. Dan, his awards, accomplishments in America as well as in Nigeria. He spoke in both English and the traditional language of HAUSA. The chief responded, also speaking in both languages. He welcomed everyone and introduced the 2 visiting chiefs (one on each side of his throne chair) who were invited to attend the ceremony. The chief mentioned that the gift exchange is a very important part of the ceremony and serves to show appreciation of the cultural values of divergent societies in the world as well as to serve as souvenirs.

It was time for my official response. I was nervous and alert to the situation. I thanked His Royal Highness most humbly for this honor on behalf of myself, my two colleagues, my medical mission and the American people. I thanked him on behalf of the many friends (health professionals) I have made in Nigeria since I first visited in 1995. Many of the pharmacists and doctors I know made the long journey to attend the ceremony. But most of all, I mentioned to His Royal Highness that I have come to Nigeria to serve and not to be served. I vowed continued assistance to the village of Azara and all its inhabitants for as long as I am able. I quoted a short passage from the Koran stating that "any man who earnestly helps one human in need, it is as if he is helping all of humanity."

After the ceremony (that lasted about 50 minutes) Danwas led outside the palace to a huge waiting crowd of cheering people. The chief's musicians were playing their instruments loudly. He was lifted onto the chief's horse, ornately decorated with colorful material, and led through the streets of Azara by two of the elders holding the reigns of the horse. There were thousands of men, women, and children lining the streets. The children were shouting to the new white chief "Zeike! Zeike!" Zeike in the Hausa language means "the Lion."

I was asked to respond to the people by holding up a firm fist in front of me with my thumb sticking up- a fitting acknowledgement to the crowd. The horse ride lasted about 20 minutes as my horse led me through the winding small streets and open roads of the village. We passed the borehole to which I had contributed to and many people cheered when my caravan passed by.

It was a magical moment. I disembarked from the horse and walked a few yards into the middle of the crowd, mostly children, screaming, laughing, and having a great time. My daughter took a picture of me surrounded by hundreds of gleaming children. An expression of joy on my own face was a moment in time that will also be endearing to me.

Danielle and Dr.Heidi had been walking behind the caravan along the route. They entered the chief’s residence and had lunch with a select group of the chief’s cabinet, and the musicians (still playing their ancient instruments as the boisterous music careened around the entire village).

After lunch I was ready to dis-robe, and we went back into the streets to walk to our waiting cars that were taking us to the edge of the village where our team screened about 400 villagers for diabetes. We met with the chief at the health clinic and he introduced us to a nurse who was in charge. Our team donated blood pressure kits, diabetic medications, glucose meters, strips, and ancillary products.

As darkness of evening approached, we got back into the car to drive back to the city of Lafia, where we had volunteered in the hospital the day before. The ceremony was now a memory, like a dream, a wondrous fairy tale. I thought once more as the car drove away from Azara. “Has any American been bestowed such a unique honor?” “How many Westerners have witnessed such a timeless ceremony?” “Was I deserving of such an honor at all?”

This golden moment in time taught me that all men are brothers, and even though our cultures are different, we all can truly get along! The words of Mark Twain entered my mind as the village of Azara faded into the distance....

“Travel is lethal to prejudice.”

**2008 Medical Mission to Nigeria
March 15-30, 2008
Click here to download a pdf with details and tax deductible contribution form

See photos from our previous trips:
2007 Nigeria Photo Gallery
2006 Nigeria Photo Gallery
2005 Nigeria Photo Gallery

Read more about the WORLD HEALTH VISION and our past trips to Nigeria.