Zuma Rock is located at Madalla, Niger State which is about a 45 minutes drive from Abuja, it has a height of 725m above the surrounding area with a circumference of 3.1km. It is popularly referred to as the gateway to Abuja. Geologically speaking, Zuma Rock is a large monolith, an igneous intrusion composed of gabbro and granodiorite.
The naming of Zuma Rock goes back to the people of Zuba (Koros) who migrated to the present location of Zuma rock upon the instruction of their soothsayer in the 15th century (they had been told by the soothsayer not to settle down permanently until they reached one wonderful rock), they found out that the rock had got strong spirits.
As pagans, they took ownership of the rocks and started worshipping it and this went on for a long time because good things befell the Koros when they offered sacrifices around it.
Over time Zuma Rock became the go-to idol deity of Abuja and owing to its protective power, no war against the Zubas by any group, was ever successful; both within and outside Zuba chiefdom.
But even with all the events that had transpired because and around the rock the Zubas still hadn’t gotten around to giving the rock a name. It wasn’t until much later when they found out that there were many Guinea-Fowls within the forest where the rock was mounted that they named it “Ezumwa ba,” meaning: Place of catching Guinea-Fowls.
That was how the rock got its original name “Zumwa.”
Over time when Hausas came to the area, they had trouble pronouncing Zumwa so they simply said Zuma. The Europeans also continued this and helped solidify the name Zuma.
As an important monument in the Federal Capital Territory, Zuma Rock is featured on the N100 note.
The Rock can be visited at any time of the year and the trip is an opportunity to go hiking and rock climbing which takes about 4-5 hours and gives a magnificent view of the surrounding area, for safety purposes you should go along with items like climbing rope, protective headgear and hiking shoes.
Fun Facts About Zuma Rock
- The top of the Zuma rock catches fire during the raining season. It does this when it rains.
- Back in the days a clear audible strange sound of a door opening and closing is heard. When this happens, sooner or later news about the death of a big personality will be heard.
- It is believed by our forefathers in those days that Zuma rock is the home of the dead i.e. when people die they believe that their spirits go to the rock.
- It was believed by our forefathers that all masquerades come from Zuma rock since masquerades are believed to be spirits of the deads.
- No spirits at any place around or afar that are as strong as those at Zuma rock.
- It was believed by our forefathers that Zuma rock is the umbilical cord of the earth.
- Our forefathers believed that Zuma rock is sitting on a very large source of underground water, that if the rock is pulled down, the water that will come out of it shall submerge an unimaginable expense of land.
- Our forefathers believed that before the end of time, Zuma rock shall be at the centre of a very large and densely populated settlement. Movement of The Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja, and recent developments at Zuba, Madalla, Chaci, Zuma, Suleja, Gauraka, Kaduna Road, Dokwa, Dei-dei, Kubwa, and others is confirming this local belief.
