ANA salutes the pioneer of Hausa literature

The 9th of July, 2009, could be described as ?The Abubakar Imam Day?. For it was the day in which the fond memories of the pioneer of Hausa Literature were ignited by the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, with an international colloquium in his honour. Precisely, the event took place on Thursday at the Kaduna State University under the theme, Promoting Writing in the Indigenous Language.
The event was heralded by a welcome cocktail on Wednesday evening at the senate council chamber of the university. The occasion was attended by the President of ANA, Dr. Wale Okediran, the university?s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ezeldin M. Abdurrahaman, the Katsina-based writer and patron of ANA, Labo Yari, Secretary-General of ANA, Denja Abdullahi, and participants from the various state chapters of the association.
In his speech at the occasion, the president expressed gratitude to the VC for hosting the event. He then went down memory lane, recounting the two previous international colloquiums organised by the association in honour of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe, respectively. According to him, "the Abubakar Imam International Colloquium, the last leg of this tripartite celebration of our literary icons in the life of this present ANA national executive, is meant to celebrate and immortalise the prodigious contributions of Abubakar Imam to literary developments in Nigeria through the indigenous Hausa language"
In his own remarks, the VC observed that Imam was instrumental to the development of indigenous literature particularly in Northern Nigeria. "He, therefore, deserves all the honour accorded him," he said, adding that by organising the colloquium, ANA has demonstrated its ability to advance the interest of indigenous literature in the North in particular and the country at large. He pledged the university?s support for ANA especially in the area of publishing the works of its members.
Labo Yari?s speech centred mainly on the need to revive the good old reading culture that "molded Imam into the successful writer he became".
It wasn?t just a night of speeches and humorous remarks, there were poetry recitation by ANA members, capped with generous refreshments.
Thursday, the main day of the event, witnessed a number of activities such as the opening ceremony, plenary sessions, excursion and gala night.
The opening ceremony, which took place at the Faculty of Science Theatre, was chaired by the Wazirin Katsina, Alhaji Sani Lugga. It had in attendance personalities like the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Salihu Tanko, representatives of the governors of Niger and Kaduna states and the Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers, Malam Tukur Abdulrahman, representing the Managing Director, Mr. Ndanusa Alao.
In the various speeches presented by dignitaries, the creative prowess and the significance of Imam in the development of indigenous literature was highlighted. The need to organize more events like the colloquium was equally stressed. In this regard, Alhaji Yusuf Jibo, Zonal Director, NTA 2 Lagos Network Centre and Chairman, Board of the Kaduna State Media Corporation, disclosed that the NTA would in collaboration with ANA organize an event that would focus more on Imam?s works. He also pledged to air the colloquium on NTA network free of charge and to revive the TV series based on Imam?s stories.
The Niger State governor, Dr. Mu?azu Babangida Aliyu, who could be described as the most writer-friendly governor, stressed the need for continued celebration of the country?s past heroes that have left behind enduring legacies so that the younger generations could appreciate the virtue of commitment and dedication. He expressed delight that ANA has organized the colloquium to celebrate a life devoted to service, high moral and ethical standards epitomised by Imam.
Represented by the state commissioner of Education, Dr. Peter Sarki, the Chief Servant pledged that the Niger State government would continue to collaborate with the association in promoting literary excellence.
The governor observed that if literary writers were grounded in indigenous language, Nigerians would become better users of the second or third language in their professional careers and as intellectuals. "This was the feat that Abubakar Imam attained during his life time which he devoted extensively to promoting indigenous language skills in Hausa and literary works in Arabic and English," he added.
The National President of ANA, Dr Wale Okediran, explained that the decision to honour Abubakar Imam was taken a few years ago, because not many people particularly in the southern part of the country knew much about the highly esteemed author. He stressed that though some people had come across Imam?s most popular literary text, Magana Jari Ce, the full import of the relevance of the author was not very known.
He added that apart from being one of the pioneers of Hausa literature, Imam was the first editor of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo, the first weekly newspaper published in Hausa.
Dr. Okediran said the purpose of the colloquium was to pay tribute to a formidable writer who as a trail blazer had set a very high standard in Hausa literature and brought to public domain the importance of literature in the indigenous languages, an exercise that is in line with one of the objectives of the ANA.
Highlight of the opening ceremony was the keynote address by Professor Ibrahim Malumfashi of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. The paper, titled Ibrahim Imam?s Contributions to Literary Development in Northern Nigeria, and presented by Dr. Salihu Bappa of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, centred on the life and works of Imam and his place in the development of the indigenous Hausa literature. The rich paper, made richer by the lively manner in which it was presented, addressed salient issues like Imam?s literary style, thematic pre-occupation and their impact on the present generation of writers.
The ceremony came to a close around 12 noon. After a short break, participants reconvened for the plenary sessions while a few others went on excursion to Imam?s ancestral home in Zaria.
Led by Okediran and ANA Financial Secretary, Hajiya Maryam Ali Ali, the team was received by Imam?s eldest son, Alhaji Mustapha Imam, other family members and family friends at the historic residence at Imam Road, No 19/20, Tudun Wada, Zaria. The imposing old-styled mud house was indeed a sight to behold; it stands out among the neighouring houses just as the personality of Imam himself towers above his contemporaries. The 41 years old building stretches over several square metres with numerous rooms, which now serve as a kind of museum, archives and library, where his works, pictures and other antiquities are preserved. After going round the awe-inspiring sights in the two-storey building, the team had mouth-watering meal courtesy of the Imam family.
In Kaduna, the plenary session went on smoothly. Topics of the papers presented in the first session included ?Abubakar Imam?s Literary Legacies and the Aftermath? by Professor Sani Abba Aliyu of ABU, Zaria, and ?Ethnic Minorities Languages and Literary Writings? by Moses Tsenongu, Benue State University, Makurdi. The second session featured, among others, ?Soyayya Novellas in the 21st Century: The Need for a Redirection? by Dr. Bala Muhammad, Director-General Adaidaita Sahu (Kano State Orientation Agency). The papers generated heated debates on morality in relation to creative writing, with particular reference to the Kano State government?s recent moves to censor writers.
The event was rounded off with a gala night at Gamji Gate where participants were treated to the cultural activities marking the Kaduna State Festival of Arts and Culture.

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