Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo
This paper proposes to reflect on the islamisation of Hausa poetry using the example of the wakoki (songs) of Maazou Dan Alalo. Maazou. Born between 1906 and 1910, at Kiyauka, Katsina in today’s Nigeria, he died on 29 November 2002. Though not a griot by birth, he became the bard of the chief of his...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Tydskrif vir Letterkunde |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/7629 |
| _version_ | 1828843850223845376 |
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| author | Abdou Salam Niang |
| author_facet | Abdou Salam Niang |
| author_sort | Abdou Salam Niang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper proposes to reflect on the islamisation of Hausa poetry using the example of the wakoki (songs) of Maazou Dan Alalo. Maazou. Born between 1906 and 1910, at Kiyauka, Katsina in today’s Nigeria, he died on 29 November 2002. Though not a griot by birth, he became the bard of the chief of his village and later court griot to the Sultan of Damagram (Zinder). Islam, introduced in African milieus and in their cultural expressions, generated new religious and linguistic elements, while also producing novelties in their artistic and literary creativity and productions. One example, in the case of Zinder and of Dan Alalo’s wakoki, is the annexation of Islamic virtues in the praise songs of chiefs in Islamised African societies, in which political and religious time came to overlap. Islam was pressed into service to legitimise political rulers like the sultan. However, the sociocultural and political role of the griot took on a particular hue under colonial rule. Public amusement, panegyric of the great and wealthy took place in the overcast conditions of colonial occupation. In this context, Dan Alalo’s wakoki allow a close-up view of colonial history as lived experience, complete with of a range of inside insights on social dynamics, including changes in the power pyramid, strategies of adaptation and preservation of the elite, of the community, and of people’s dignity in particular. In this enterprise, the griot played – and was aware of playing – an invaluable role: in social commentary, censure and distraction. His multiple functions included providing a sense of continuity, protecting the dignity of local rulers and of the community as a whole, through the catharsis of humour, in particular. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:53:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d02c4cc755bc4f2dab9c983424dcd6c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0041-476X 2309-9070 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:53:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tydskrif vir Letterkunde |
| spelling | doaj.art-d02c4cc755bc4f2dab9c983424dcd6c72022-12-22T00:12:21ZafrTydskrif vir Letterkunde AssociationTydskrif vir Letterkunde0041-476X2309-90702019-11-01422Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan AlaloAbdou Salam Niang0The Université Abdou Moumoui, NiameyThis paper proposes to reflect on the islamisation of Hausa poetry using the example of the wakoki (songs) of Maazou Dan Alalo. Maazou. Born between 1906 and 1910, at Kiyauka, Katsina in today’s Nigeria, he died on 29 November 2002. Though not a griot by birth, he became the bard of the chief of his village and later court griot to the Sultan of Damagram (Zinder). Islam, introduced in African milieus and in their cultural expressions, generated new religious and linguistic elements, while also producing novelties in their artistic and literary creativity and productions. One example, in the case of Zinder and of Dan Alalo’s wakoki, is the annexation of Islamic virtues in the praise songs of chiefs in Islamised African societies, in which political and religious time came to overlap. Islam was pressed into service to legitimise political rulers like the sultan. However, the sociocultural and political role of the griot took on a particular hue under colonial rule. Public amusement, panegyric of the great and wealthy took place in the overcast conditions of colonial occupation. In this context, Dan Alalo’s wakoki allow a close-up view of colonial history as lived experience, complete with of a range of inside insights on social dynamics, including changes in the power pyramid, strategies of adaptation and preservation of the elite, of the community, and of people’s dignity in particular. In this enterprise, the griot played – and was aware of playing – an invaluable role: in social commentary, censure and distraction. His multiple functions included providing a sense of continuity, protecting the dignity of local rulers and of the community as a whole, through the catharsis of humour, in particular.https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/7629IslamArabo-Islamic vocabularyHausa poetry, “Waka/ Wakoki” (Song)Zinder/DamagaramSultan of Zinder |
| spellingShingle | Abdou Salam Niang Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Islam Arabo-Islamic vocabulary Hausa poetry, “Waka/ Wakoki” (Song) Zinder/Damagaram Sultan of Zinder |
| title | Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo |
| title_full | Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo |
| title_fullStr | Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo |
| title_short | Reflections on Islamic values and the use of Arabo-Islamic vocabulary in the Wakoki of Maazou Dan Alalo |
| title_sort | reflections on islamic values and the use of arabo islamic vocabulary in the wakoki of maazou dan alalo |
| topic | Islam Arabo-Islamic vocabulary Hausa poetry, “Waka/ Wakoki” (Song) Zinder/Damagaram Sultan of Zinder |
| url | https://journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/tvl/article/view/7629 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abdousalamniang reflectionsonislamicvaluesandtheuseofaraboislamicvocabularyinthewakokiofmaazoudanalalo |