President Kufuor to Attend Muslim Festival

SOKOTO, Nigeria, 19 June 2004 ? President Kufuor, a huge array of African heads of state, Islamic leaders and traditional chieftains are due in this northern Nigerian city over the weekend to celebrate the bicentenary of the Sokoto Caliphate.

It was not clear which of the invited leaders would be coming to Sokoto, but most are thought to be coming from west and north Africa. President John Kufuor of Ghana?s office confirmed he would take part.

The 200th anniversary of the founding of one of west Africa?s most illustrious Islamic kingdoms will be marked by two days of ceremonies, culminating in a durbar, a colorful display of traditional horsemanship.

Sokoto State spokesman Ibrahim Gidado said that Sultan Muhammadu Maccido and Nigeria?s President Olusegun Obasanjo had invited 11 African heads of state to join them to mark the historic anniversary.

?All the former heads of state of Nigeria will attend, some of them have already arrived,? he told AFP.

The Sokoto Caliphate once controlled a huge swathe of territory in northern Nigeria and was regarded as a center of Islamic culture and influence through a far larger stretch of west Africa?s parched Sahel semi-desert.

Nigeria is now run as a federal republic under an elected president, but the Sultan still enjoys great respect and influence as the symbolic leader of the nation?s Muslims, who make up around half Nigeria?s 130 million population.