19/08/2026
SARKI MALAM SULEIMANA BINTA AND THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF KETE
Malam Suleimana Binta (1910–1934) occupies an important place in the history of Kete and in the wider history of the former Krachi State. He was a brother of Imam Umaru bin Abubakar of Kete-Krachi and, following the footsteps of Sarki Issa Lawla of Kete, became the Sarkin of Kete shortly before the First World War.
His period of leadership came at a significant moment in the history of the Kete Krachi. Under German colonial administration, the office of the Sarkin Zango was entrusted with considerable responsibilities. The Sarkin Zango was not merely a community leader; he became an important link between the colonial administration and the people. Among his responsibilities was the mobilization of people from the surrounding villages for communal labour. The various communities were also called upon to contribute men to the Police Force.
It was during this period that Sarki Malam Binta’s palace became much more than a residence or traditional seat of authority. It evolved into an important center of justice and administration for the people of the wider Krachi State.
One of the most remarkable chapters in Sarki Malam Binta’s history followed the German administration’s prohibition of certain Denteh fe**sh practices and the ex*****on of its priest. With the traditional system of adjudication significantly disrupted, there arose the need for a recognized institution capable of dealing with disputes involving the different communities living within the area.
Sarki Malam Binta’s Palace-Court consequently became a recognized place where cases involving Kaakyes, Kete and other communities could be heard and determined.
This was a remarkable development because it demonstrated that Kete was not merely a settlement of one people or one tradition. It was a meeting place of different communities, cultures and systems of belief. The Palace-Court became a place where people could bring their grievances, seek justice and have their disputes addressed under an organised system of authority.
However, the procedures and language of the court could be complex, particularly for Kaakye litigants. Sarki Malam Binta therefore recognized the importance of having someone who could understand both the language and customs of the Kaakye people and communicate effectively in Hausa.
That responsibility fell to Okuje Lenteh, a young man from Kantankofri, whose family originated from Akyan Achiase. Because Okuja could understand and speak Hausa, he was seconded to Sarki Malam Binta’s Palace-Court.
Okuja Lenteh became far more than an interpreter. He served as an interpreter, bailiff and adviser at the Palace-Court, particularly in matters involving Kaakye litigants. His presence helped bridge the linguistic and cultural gap between the court and the Kaakye communities.
Indeed, this historical interaction left a lasting cultural footprint. To this day, many young people in Kantankofri still retain the ability to speak Hausa a living testament to the enduring .
