-By Asmau Abubakar
“Poetry is a form to voice all and speak the mind. We use poetry to transform lives, to pass messages,” young poet, Oyinkansola Adesewa Oyeyiola-Ourias, said.
The northern part of Nigeria is arguably conservative in terms of culture, religion and socialisation. As a result, it would not be out of place to relate the slow progress made by the northern females in comparison to the males from the region in terms of education and social participation.
This situation also plays out in the participation of region in the literal world, and by extension, creative writing in the English language – the crux of this write-up.
Creativity in the English language in the North evolved in the late 1970s and mid-1980s, when Northern writers in English language emerged on the Nigerian literary scene. Yes, one would be right to say that creative writing in the English language in the North witnessed a rather slower growth.
The likes of Muhammad Sule (1957) whose novel, The Undesirable Element came out in 1977, Ibrahim Tahir (1938) whose The Last Imam came out in 1984, same as Zaynab Alkali’s (1950) The Stillborn (1984) were some of the pioneer writers, who formed the nucleus of what began the tradition of modern creative writing in the English language in northern Nigeria.
However, the genesis of female writing in the region cannot be traced to none other than the daughter of the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Nana Asma’u (1793-1864). Asma’u, who was regarded as a feminist, teacher and poet, was an embodiment of knowledge and artistry. Her exemplary life was the precursor to what later became a common vocation among elite northern women, culminating into the ‘Soyayya’ tradition of Hausa literature.
It may not be out of place to say that the northern female may have embraced poetry as a way to voice her opinions in a region where it is almost unheard of for her to air her grievances regarding the happenings around her.
Here are some young northern female poets with interest:
Hauwa Shafi’i Nuhu is a young Nigerian writer who writes more poetry, even though prose is her first exposition to creative writing. She describes poetry as an art that goes beyond mere construction of words, and borders on divinity. She is a young writer resident in Minna, Niger State. Hauwa, who publishes with only her first name, is a hopeless addict to home and family, as well as to good poetry and great prose. She loves to read, and thinks there is something about sand that the world is yet to discover. She is a 2018 fellow of Ebedi Writers Residency.
“Pain is poetry. Pain drove me to poetry, but love kept me in it,” she said.
Hajaarh Muhammad Bashar was born and raised in Minna, Niger State. Nigeria. A graduate of Microbiology from Al-Hikmah, and has great interest in science, novels, art, and poetry, she is a budding writer who is about to have her books on different genres in literature published. Most of her works are on love, humanity, science, domestic violence, religion and nature. Some have appeared in online sites while others are soon to be published.
Sumayya Adam Ahmad holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. Economics from Bayero University Kano. Sumayya, who has been an ardent fan and student of poetry since then, is a member of various poetry forums such as Poets in Nigeria and For the Love of Poetry. She has served as a member of the organising committee of some poetry events and conferences such as the 1st Bilingual Poetry Contest, and also served as a critic/judge in some of them. Sumayya believes that words are weapons that can be skillfully handled to shape the mind. Hence, she loves poetry, and enjoys other forms of word play.
Aisha Muhammad Danpullo is a poet who is passionate about African literature. She studied English/Islamic in the Federal College of Education, Kano State. She has written a few poems, mostly free verse. She is an avid reader and is hoping to be a writer herself someday.
Mariya Abdullahi Sidi is a Medical Doctor who was born in Kano State. She is the Founder of For the Love of Poetry (a spoken word platform in Kano), and is the author of Theories of Me.
Naseeba Babale is a poet and medical laboratory scientist (Bayero University Kano) who has a passion for the arts, especially poetry. She is also known as the The Poet of Light. She is a budding poet and Secretary of Poetic Wednesdays Literary Initiative. She won 3rd place in the poetically written prose contest organised by PIN in 2018, and moderated the 2019 edition of the contest. In her leisure time, she loves to read, write and travel.
Amrah Aliyu is a winner of the 10 days poetry challenge organised by PIN. She has a collection of poems coming out in 2020. Her essays, prose and poems have appeared in print and online newspapers and magazines. She is a Global goodwill ambassador, and holds a B.Tech in Agriculture from Federal University of Technology, Minna,Niger State. She volunteers as a Bilingual Presenter & Reporter at search FM, she also reports for Neptune Prime Network. She is passionate about journalism and activism. She volunteers at the Regional Centre for Expertise Minna where she has contributed to planting of over 2000 trees across Niger State.
These are just a few of the young northern poets and creative writers who are determined to influence more northern females to sustain creative writing in the English language.