In most places, snakes spark fear, but in Machina Emirate of Yobe State, they are treated with reverence believed to share royal ancestry with the kingdom’s ruling family.
Local tradition holds that centuries ago, a queen in the Machina palace gave birth to twins a human child and a snake. Unable to live among humans, the snake is said to have slipped away into the rocky hills behind the emir’s palace. From there, its lineage continued, just like that of the royal household.
Today, many residents of Machina believe the descendants of that snake still live in the area and maintain a spiritual connection with the palace, occasionally appearing during important family and community events.
The Emir of Machina, His Royal Highness Dr. Bashir Albishir Bukar (OON), the 77th Mai Machinama, affirms the long-held belief that the snakes are linked to the royal bloodline.
“Since that time, their generation has continued just like human beings,” the emir said, suggesting that just as there have been successive rulers in the human royal line, there may also be a parallel lineage among the snakes.
He recalled that during his father’s installation as emir, several snakes reportedly appeared at the palace entrance and mingled peacefully with residents and visitors.
According to him, attempts by journalists to photograph the reptiles during the ceremony were unsuccessful, as the snakes disappeared each time cameras were pointed at them. Palace children, however, were said to have taken pictures freely, as the snakes are considered part of the extended royal family.
The emir explained that the snakes are often seen during significant moments in the palace, including coronations, marriages, and childbirth.
“When I was turbaned, older snakes were present. When my wives are about to give birth, young snakes are often seen around the palace,” he said, describing their presence as a sign that an important event is near.
He also narrated how, shortly after he married one of his wives, a snake stayed in the house for more than a week without harming anyone, despite the initial fear among guests.
“They come out, rest on the walls, and later disappear. We live with them peacefully. They don’t harm anybody in Machina,” the emir added.
One palace courtier shared that a prince once found a snake on his bed and calmly moved it aside before going to sleep, a story often told as proof of the deep coexistence between the royal household and the reptiles.
Another incident frequently recalled involved the palace perimeter fence. When it was rebuilt without leaving an opening traditionally used by the snakes, the wall reportedly collapsed twice. It was only after a passage was created that the structure stood firm reinforcing local belief that the snakes must always have access to the palace.
While the story of Machina’s royal snakes may sound extraordinary, it remains an important part of the emirate’s oral history and cultural identity. For the people of Machina, the snakes are not symbols of danger, but of heritage, mystery, and a shared ancestral bond that continues to shape tradition in this quiet corner of Yobe State.
In Machina Emirate, Yobe State, snakes are not feared they are believed to be descendants of royal ancestry and are said to appear at key moments in the palace’s history and family life.
