Hyperbole as the building block of Hausa court-songs

Authors

  • Salisu Garba Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Department of African Languages and Cultures

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32690/SALC52.3

Keywords:

hyperbole, court song, durbar, Salihu Jankiɗi and the song (Bubakar Ɗan Shehu Bakadire)

Abstract

Hyperbolic expression is one of the most common and effective foregrounding expressions employed as a literary device in the form of eulogy across the literary genres. But the most common ground for its usage, among the genres, and where its usage is more effective, is poetry. Hyperbole is manifested clearly in praise-songs, which in Hausa take the form of court-songs. This paper explores the forms and effects of literary devices employed by Hausa court singers. Attention is mainly given to Salihu Jankiɗi and his song Bubakar Ɗan Shehu Bakadire (Bubakar, Shehu’s son of Qadiriyya Sect) eulogizing Sultan Abubakar III, but also extoling Sardauna and the Sokoto Caliphate on the occasion of the durbar ceremony in 1965. The presentation includes various forms of the devices, such as irony, overstressing some facts and possibilities, cherishing both the religious and political ideals of Sultan Abubakar III, Sokoto and Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Premier of the defunct Northern Region, for whom the durbar was organized.

The paper further highlights the ability of the artist to capture the political undertones of the durbar procession.

References

Abrams, M.H. A Glossory of Literary Terms (9th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Thomson Place, 2009.

Agyekum, K. Introduction to Literature. Accra: Adwinsa Publications Ltd. 2013.

Baldick, C. Oxford Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: Oxford University Press 2004.

Bargery, G.P. A Hausa- English Dictionary and English Hausa Vocabulary (2nd ed.). Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University Press Ltd. 1993.

Buratai, M.I. Performance as Arts and Power-durbar in India and Nigeria under Colonial Rule. Saarbrucken: Verlag Dr Muller 2010.

Buratai, M.I. “Public Spectating and Political Undertones in Durbar: The Emirate Court of Northern Nigeria as Instrument of Governance”. Matatu Journal for African Culture and Society 40 (2012), pp. 373-399.

Crystal, D. A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Basil Blackwell, Ltd. 1991.

Dikko, I. & Macciɗo, U. Ƙamus Na Adon Magana. Zaria: NNPC 1991.

Fagge, U.U. “Semantic Analysis of Single Word with Different senses”. Algaita. Journal of Nigerian Languages, 3, 1,(2004), pp. 104-113.

Fairman, H. W. “Ancient Egypt and Africa”. African Affairs, Vol. 64, Special Issue: African Studies Association of the United Kingdom (1965), pp. 69-75.

Furniss, G. Poetry, Prose and Popular Culture in Hausa. London: Edinburgh University Press, Ltd. 1996.

Garba, S. Salon Sarrafa Harshe a Waƙoƙin Aƙilu Aliyu. an unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of African Languages and Cultures, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 2011.

Gusau, S.M. Sarkin Taushi Salihu Jankiɗi. Kaduna: Baraka Press Ltd. 2002.

Gusau, S.M. Jagoran NazarinWaƙar Baka. Kano: Benchmark Publishers Ltd. 2003.

Gusau, S.M. Makada da Mawakan Hausa. Kaduna, Fisbas Media Services 2005.

Gusau, S.M. Waƙoƙin Baka a Ƙasar Hausa,Yanaye-yanayensu da Sigoginsu. Kano: Benchmark Publishers Ltd. 2008.

Gusau, S.M. Diwanin Waƙoƙin Baka. Kano, Century Research and Publishing Ltd. 2009.

Gusau.S.M. Wakar Baka Bahaushiya. Kano: Bayero University 2014.

Hallidy, M. and Hasan, R. Cohesion in English (3rd ed.). London: Longman Group Ltd. 1979.

Jeyifo, B. Wole Soyinka: Politics, Poetics and Postcolonialism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2004.

Kolawole, G. “The application of Linguistics to Literary Criticism: Controversy and Prospects”. Stylistics in Theory and Practice, ed. by A. Lawal, Ilorin: Paragon Books 1997.

Lawal, A. Stylistics in Theory and Practice. Ilorin: Paragon Books Ltd. 1997.

Leech, G.P. A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry. London: Longman 1969.

Mode, M.A. The ABC of Stylistics. Sokoto: Usmanu Ɗan Fodiyo University 2005.

Murthy, J.D. Contemporary English Grammar. London: Book Palace 2012.

Tsoho, M.Y. “Jarunta a Wakokin Baka: Nazarin Wakar Shago Ta Muhammadu Dan’anache”. HIMMA Journal of Contemporary Hausa Studies (2010).

Downloads

Published

2018-12-13

How to Cite

Garba, S. (2018). Hyperbole as the building block of Hausa court-songs. Studies in African Languages and Cultures, (52), 73–86. https://doi.org/10.32690/SALC52.3

Issue

Section

Articles