(147): Dear Arewa Youth, Learn English

I initially posted this on Facebook. It should be here for other people outside Facebook. Enjoy!

We must address the weak argument that no country develops using a foreign language. Frankly, it does more harm than good to us. So many people cite it as a reason not to learn English or to dismiss this essential language. As a result, many miss opportunities, both within and especially outside Nigeria, due to limited English-language skills.

Nigeria was colonised. Like many other former colonies, it is a multilingual country. However, unlike Europe (where Germans speak German, French people speak French, Italians speak Italian, etc.), most former colonies comprise speakers of multiple languages, making it challenging to elevate one above the others without others objecting to discrimination and marginalisation. I know that Tanzania, among a few others, succeeds with Swahili.

The last time I checked, India had more English speakers than the United States. Even China has more English-language users than the United Kingdom. So, learning or using a foreign language doesn’t necessarily hinder development.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand have their indigenous languages. Embracing English (and French in Canada) did not stop their development. Today, in the Netherlands and the Nordic countries (in Europe), English is a lingua franca. They often use the language for official dealings, as is also the case in Singapore. They are developed countries.

The examples are numerous. I previously wrote about the role of English in Germany. I still struggle to speak German. However, I have always used English at my workplace (for teaching and research) and elsewhere. Could I have even got the job in the first place without English?

Folks, English is learnable. If our Southern (Nigerian) counterparts can do it and still progress, at least better than us in the North, why can’t we? Look at Lagos today. Look at Nollywood. Look at southern musicians, skit makers, startups, etc. Come on!

Needless to say, I am very proud of my Hausa identity. I feed on it and provide for many others - Alhamdulillah. However, I will continue encouraging people to learn English, alongside their other skills and businesses. Doing that opens doors of possibilities and opportunities for us.

May Allah bless our lives all the more, amin.

(143): On Connection Regrets: My Excruciating Experience

On Connection Regrets: My Excruciating Experience By Muhsin Ibrahim Khadija, nicknamed Kashe-Kala, who I ‘re-nicknamed’ KKK, was one of my dearest classmates during our undergrad at Bayero University, Kano. Honestly, KKK, a sickle cell patient, was pretty, posh, and from a wealthy family. Hence that sobriquet. So, admittedly, I believed she was out of my league. However, we became so close. Despite our closeness, we disagreed pretty often. About a year after graduation, I met the woman I would later marry. The day I told KKK about my newfound love, she jokingly bragged that I chose this girlfriend because she’s her namesake: Khadija. On hearing this, some friends thought she loved me. It’s not true; our relationship was platonic. I had visited KKK’s house countless times. I barely missed seeing her at the hospital. Her relatives know me. I can’t forget the day I was riding my motorbike to their house when I stopped by the roadside to answer her call. From nowhere, someone s...

(128): Gidan Badamasi: A Short Review of the Hausa Sitcom

Gidan Badamasi : A Short Review of the Hausa Sitcom Premiered in 2019, the defining criterion for the popular sitcom, Gidan Badamasi , is comedy. However, it tells much more such as several socio-moral lessons. That is not a surprise as Kannywood, the film industry whose members wrote, produced, directed and acted in Gidan Badamasi , are known for promoting such causes. An oft-repeated raison dêtre of Kannywood, some of its members argue, is to teach morality, promote Hausa culture and Islam, among other related goals. Whether or not they do that is debatable and, of course, outside the scope of this short review. The title, Gidan Badamasi [ Badamasi’s House ], implies where the drama takes place – the house of Alhaji Badamasi. He is a wealthy, wheelchair-bound businessman who had multiple marriages from which he got several children. As he ages, becomes more frail and sickly, he asks most of them – he doesn’t know all of them – to come for a crucial meeting. After their ar...

(168): Top 7 Kannywood series of 2023

By Muhsin Ibrahim & Habibu Ma’aruf muhsin2008@gmail.com As 2023 draws to a close, the closure of Kano Filmhouse Cinema is one of Kannywood’s most regrettable events in the outgoing year. Consequently, there was a significant decline in the number of cinematic releases. Nevertheless, amid this setback, a silver lining emerged as it spurred a notable shift towards series films, with prominent producers and directors venturing into the evolving market. From Labarina , Alaqa , and Manyan Mata to Fatake , Amaryar TikTok and Gidan Sarauta , Kannywood’s audience has been captivated by numerous enthralling TV and web series. While the series market faces criticism for potentially fostering second-rate productions, the following list highlights the best seven series films aired in the year. Please note that the numbering is not hierarchical in nature. 1. Labarina Labarina stands out as a household name among Hausa film enthusi...

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