Aetiology and Morphology of the Architecture of a Migrant Town
摘要
This chapter presents a study of the role of migrants in the establishment of Wusasa and their impact on the unique architectural style that has become integral to the identity of the town. Wusasa is a Christian community in Zaria, the capital of the historic Muslim Zazzau Emirate, in present-day Kaduna State, Nigeria. Established by the Christian Mission Society in the early 20th century, Wusasa’s founding was a result of unintended consequences. The CMS missionaries’ original intention was to settle among the Hausa people in Kano, but they were expelled from the city by the Emir of Kano. After operating in a temporary base in Girku, they later settled in the Muslim walled city of Zaria in 1905. The combination of several factors led to the relocation to the present site (Wusasa), which has grown to become a Christian town in Zaria. Using empirical data from fieldwork and a review of existing literature, this chapter analyses and presents the historical account of this town, as well as how its unique migrants influenced its architectural characteristics. Critical to this study are the analysis of the conditions of the oldest surviving buildings and the comparative analysis of their transformations over time. Major findings are elucidated and presented with the aid of photographs taken during the fieldwork. The chapter concludes with a critical reflection on the influence of the migrants on the establishment of Wusasa and their impact on the architecture of the town.