By Talemoh Dah
Today, the 27th of July, 2025, is World Hausa Day, Ranar Hausa, set aside to recognise and promote the Hausa language, culture and heritage. This, undoubtedly, will preserve its use and heritage. Originally initiated by the Journalist Abdulbaqi Jari in 2015 and set on August 26th, it might have now been changed to July 27th annually, according to Hausa language sources. Whatever day it is, the Hausa language and culture merit adulation.
Hausa, the Chadic, and second largest Afro-Asiatic language, deserves honour for its tenacity, spread and what it has offered people. It is spoken in twenty-two countries of Africa, majorly in Northern Nigeria and Southern Niger. Like English and French, it is spoken not only by the Hausa people, but by many ethnic groups. Unlike English and French, it was not imposed on us but was imbibed by natural diffusion from harmless neighbours. Despite many influences, like massive infiltration by Arabic language, trans-Saharan slave trade, conquests and interactions with many other languages, Hausa has remained. It is spoken by many in the nineteen northern states of Nigeria, including the Hausa Bakwai, Banza Bakwai and now, one dare says, even the Wadansu Bakwai (my coinage for the other seven groups – Yoruba, Edo/Delta, Ibo, Ijaw, Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa-Ibom) to a much lesser extent. So, while Hausa people may number 40 million or so in Nigeria, the speakers of the language surpass 100 million in Nigeria alone, and 200 million the world over.
As a medium of learning, Hausa was the easier bridge to literacy through the Yaki da Jahilci (war against illiteracy). Through it, many people in the north became literate, first using Ajami and later using the Roman letters. This has meant to them a source of ability to be trained, to have financial inclusion and to communicate in writing. It meant the ability to read and write their religious texts.
Hausa lent itself to be used for religious activities, including training, instruction and worship. Christians and Muslims alike use Hausa for sermons, exhortations, songs and liturgy. For these, there are volumes and volumes of religious writings in Hausa, including the main religious books. Worship is conducted in Hausa, by people who are completely of different ethnic groups. These are not necessarily in classical Hausa Vernacular spoken in Gobir, but in forms understood by the users.
Hausa must be hailed for being the Lingua Franca among many ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroun, Togo, Central Afrique, Eritrea, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Sudan, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Eqypt, etc. As lingua franca, trading and commerce, social activities including marriage ceremonies, naming ceremonies, political campaigns, court sessions and almost everything are conducted among different ethnic nationalities using Hausa. ‘Changi don uban mutum’ was a political slogan we can’t forget in a hurry.
Hausa cultural dominance in Northern Nigeria, and now getting to the whole country, is mainly in dressing. The Kaftan and the Babban Riga for the men, particularly, have caught on. They are part of dresses Nigerians, Nigeriens, Malians, Senegalese, Gambians, Chadians and Camerounian are known with. For the women, the wrapper, top dress, scarf and veil make one set of the dignified dresses for women of influence. Other cultural influences are the Lalle (temporary tattoos on hands and feet) and the braids.
The Hausa language has given avenues of artistic expressions to many people from different ethnic nationalities, especially in music. Hausa lyrics are sung in Churches and many cultural rendezvous. Perennially popular stars like Mamman Shata, Dan Marayan Jos, Dan Kwairo, Ali Makaho, Shatan Almasihu (Sani Dabo), Sani Dan Indo are still listened to by those who love their music genre, like this writer. Younger stars include Jeremiah Gyang, Solomon Lange, Ruth Panas, etc.
Other art forms like snake charming, playing with hyenas, entering donkeys from anus to the mouth, etc are still being used for entertainment at markets and social events by these hospitable, kind, accommodating and nice people, the Hausawa.
Indeed, much more than we fondly quote our Technical Drawing Teacher in school, the late Mr Inedu, who defined it as a language of communication in the field of engineering, Hausa is the language of communication in northern Nigeria and Southern Niger in the art of living, and we hail it!
● Dah, a medical doctor, is based in Abuja. He sent this via WhatsApp.
