When I informed a resident that Zhewun Madaki was dead, he was visibly confused. He thought I meant the town—Zhewun Madaki—not realising that the name is also the title of the man who founded and led the community.
The late Chief Bako Nagai, known as the Madaki (a traditional Gbagyi title) of Zhewun, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 87. His burial followed the customary Gbagyi rites for titled men: no coffin, no mortuary, and a nighttime burial attended only by men—women are not allowed to be present.
His daughter, Mrs Mariam Emmanuel Bako, shed light on the family’s long history. According to her, Chief Bako’s father, Nagai, migrated from their ancestral home in Zhewun Yeruwa—near Aso in the Mararaba area of Nasarawa State, about five kilometres from Abuja—roughly two centuries ago. Nagai had been in search of fertile farmland and found a large expanse of arable land about 27 kilometres from Abuja. He never returned to Zhewun Yeruwa.
Nagai’s son, Chief Bako Nagai, initially remained in Zhewun Yeruwa because he held the prestigious position of Madaki—a traditional chief. However, shortly before his father’s death, he relocated to the fertile settlement his father had discovered. At the time, the area was called Zhewun Kokolo.
The current ruler of the community, Chief Tenimi Nagnayi, also known as the Gede of Zhewun Madaki, explained in an interview with AkweyaTV how the name of the settlement changed.
“When Chief Bako relocated from Zhewun Yeruwa, he retained his title as the Madaki of Zhewun Yeruwa. So, whenever people from the original town travelled to visit him, they would say, ‘We are going to the Zhewun where our Madaki resides,’” he said. “Over time, the phrase stuck, and people began referring to the area as Zhewun Madaki.”
Under Chief Bako’s leadership, Zhewun Madaki grew into a thriving and organised community. The Gede, Chief Tenimi Nagnayi—who is also Chief Bako’s younger brother—described him as an honest and principled man. “He earned the trust of many, including non-Gbagyi settlers who bought land from him,” he said.
The passing of Chief Bako Nagai marks the end of an era, not just for his family but for the entire Zhewun Madaki community, which he helped shape in both name and identity.
Zhewun Madaki, as a community, is located in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. It is the home of the popular Alabama Hotels and Royal Model College.
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