Hausa music
Encyclopedia
The Hausa
are one of the largest ethnic group
s in Nigeria
, Niger
, Sudan
, and in many West and Central African countries. Their folk music has played an important part in the development of Nigerian music
, contributing such elements as the goje
, a one-stringed fiddle
. There are two broad categories of traditional Hausa music: rural folk music and urban court music.
Ceremonial music (rokon fada) is performed as a status symbol, and musicians are generally chosen for political reasons as opposed to musical ones. Ceremonial music can be heard at the weekly sara, a statement of authority by the emir which takes place every Thursday evening.
Courtly praise-singers like the renowned Narambad, are devoted to singing the virtues of a patron, such as a sultan
or emir
. Praise songs are accompanied by kettledrums and kalangu talking drums, along with the kakaki
, a kind of long trumpet
derived from that used by the Songhai cavalry
.
Rural folk music includes styles that accompany the young girls' asauwara dance and the bòòríí or Bori religion
both well-known for their music. It has been brought as far north as Tripoli, Libya by trans-Saharan trade. The bòòríí cult features trance music, played by calabash, lute or fiddle. During ceremonies, women and other marginalized groups fall into trances and perform odd behaviors, such as mimicking a pig or sexual behavior. These persons are said to be possessed by a character, each with its own litany (kírààrì). There are similar trance cults (the so-called "mermaid cults") found in the Niger Delta region.
Popular Hausa music includes Muhamman Shata
, who sings accompanied by drummers, Dan Maraya
, who plays a one-stringed lute
called a kontigi
, Audo Yaron Goje, who plays the goje
, and Ibrahim Na Habu, who plays a small fiddle called a kukkuma
.]
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
are one of the largest ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, and in many West and Central African countries. Their folk music has played an important part in the development of Nigerian music
Music of Nigeria
The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of Folk and popular music, some of which are known worldwide. Styles of folk music are related to the multitudes of ethnic groups in the country, each with their own techniques, instruments, and songs...
, contributing such elements as the goje
Goje
The Goje, is one of the many names for a variety of one or two-stringed fiddles from West Africa, almost exclusively played by ethnic groups inhabiting the Sahel and Sudan sparsely vegetated grassland belts leading to the Sahara. Snakeskin or lizard skin covers a gourd bowl, and a horsehair...
, a one-stringed fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
. There are two broad categories of traditional Hausa music: rural folk music and urban court music.
Ceremonial music (rokon fada) is performed as a status symbol, and musicians are generally chosen for political reasons as opposed to musical ones. Ceremonial music can be heard at the weekly sara, a statement of authority by the emir which takes place every Thursday evening.
Courtly praise-singers like the renowned Narambad, are devoted to singing the virtues of a patron, such as a sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
or emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
. Praise songs are accompanied by kettledrums and kalangu talking drums, along with the kakaki
Kakaki
The kakaki is a three to four metre long metal trumpet used in Hausa traditional ceremonial music. Kakaki is the name used in Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. The instrument is also known as waza in Chad and Sudan, and malakat in Ethiopia....
, a kind of long trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
derived from that used by the Songhai cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
.
Rural folk music includes styles that accompany the young girls' asauwara dance and the bòòríí or Bori religion
Bori religion
Bori is a traditional animistic religion of the Hausa people of West Africa which involves spiritual possession.-Terminology:Bòòríí is a Hausa noun, meaning the spiritual force which resides in physical things, and is related to the word for local distilled alcohol as well the practice of medicine...
both well-known for their music. It has been brought as far north as Tripoli, Libya by trans-Saharan trade. The bòòríí cult features trance music, played by calabash, lute or fiddle. During ceremonies, women and other marginalized groups fall into trances and perform odd behaviors, such as mimicking a pig or sexual behavior. These persons are said to be possessed by a character, each with its own litany (kírààrì). There are similar trance cults (the so-called "mermaid cults") found in the Niger Delta region.
Popular Hausa music includes Muhamman Shata
Muhamman Shata
Alhaji Mamman Shata Katsina Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata Katsina Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata Katsina (born in 1923 in Musawa village, Katsina State, Nigeria, died on 9 June 1999. He is a well-known Hausa musician in West, East and Central Africa. His vocals are often accompanied by talking drums, known...
, who sings accompanied by drummers, Dan Maraya
Dan Maraya
Dan Maraya Jos is a Nigerian Hausa Griot best known for playing the kontigi.Dan Maraya Jos is a living legend in the hausa musical world. His songs are about life and living- External links :* via nigeria-arts.net...
, who plays a one-stringed lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
called a kontigi
Kontigi
A kontigi or kuntigi is a one- or two-stringed stringed lute used in Nigerian Hausa music. It is also found among Islamized peoples throughout West Africa . The best-known player is Dan Maraya....
, Audo Yaron Goje, who plays the goje
Goje
The Goje, is one of the many names for a variety of one or two-stringed fiddles from West Africa, almost exclusively played by ethnic groups inhabiting the Sahel and Sudan sparsely vegetated grassland belts leading to the Sahara. Snakeskin or lizard skin covers a gourd bowl, and a horsehair...
, and Ibrahim Na Habu, who plays a small fiddle called a kukkuma
Kukkuma
A kukkuma is a small fiddle used in Hausa music. It was popularized by Ibrahim Na Habu....
.]