FACES OF

KATSINA

PORTRAITS FROM THE PALACE

CAPTURED BY MUHAMMAD SHEHU

WRITTEN BY TEE BAKER

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Portraits From The Palace

KATSINA, NIGERIA

NOVEMBER 2025

Morning dawns in a cascade of colour within the courtyard of the Katsina Emir’s Palace. Here, Hausas gather in vibrant finery for the Eid Durbar festivities. Drawn from time-honoured tradition, the Durbar was originally an assembly of noble people from across the emirates, united in a proud pageantry of loyalty, strength and martial readiness. Today, it is a living tribute to the endurance and splendour of the Hausa culture.

Pictured are portraits from the Eid Durbar in 2025.

A woman with dark hair and earrings, posing with her hands behind her head, wearing a cream-colored sweater against a gray background.

Tee Baker is the founder and editor of The Spillbook. An MA graduate in screenwriting, her work spans cultural commentary and narrative-led digital storytelling across industries. She is the author of Bark & Ink (2020), a debut poetry anthology. Away from the page, she spends her time outdoors, often on foot or on horseback.

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