Friday, October 27, 2017

POETIC WEDNESDAY - POET OF THE WEEK... NOT ME

In an interview for a promising bard on the northern landscape, I got mentioned by the poet under focus in recognition of my influence in his Haiku exploits. Feeling honored and humbled,  I decided to share the whole interview with you.

Here is Siraj A. Sabuke and what he had to say about his poetry...

***

We bring forth to you another amazing interview with this versatile artist and poet. It's a must read.

Bards, it's Siraj A Sabuke.

PW: Can you tell us a short bio of yourself?

My name is Siraj Abdulazeez Sabuke. I was born in New Bussa, Borgu Local Govt of Niger State. I went to Model Primary School, New Bussa after which I proceeded to AMMK III Science College New Bussa for my secondary education. In SS2, I switched back to Arts in Govt Day Secondary School, New Bussa when I realized sciences is not for me. As expected, there were oppositions within the family against my decision, but I was resolute and adamant.

After some glitches the previous year, I studied very hard the following year and got admission to study English Language, Instead of the Econmics I applied for at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The University has a reputation for changing courses, ambitions. I struggled to love the course for the whole session. Here we are today. I am a "certified linguist." A graduate.

PW: Congratulations on your graduation. You've had quite a Journey. Is your Journey to Poetry also upheaval?

Poetry came to my life very early. I didn't know it was poetry then. Growing up, my father, while back at home in the evening, will sit and sing some Arabic songs. It was later I found those songs to be Ishriniya and the Diwani of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse. I love the Diwani. By the time I started going to Zawiya it becomes the book of life to me. I find peace whenever Sharif Harazimi is giving us the commentary. It soothes my heart. It gives me purpose and elevates my soul. That was my first encounter with poetry.

I enjoyed a short spell in rapping, until when I went to Kebbi to resit for my O'Level that I met an Igbo young man, John Samuel Urama, who advised me to try poetry instead of wasting my talent on rap which my voice was not good for. I read a few poems and wrote my first poem.

Poetry was not difficult for me because I love her. After I got admission to study English, the first thing I asked was "are we going to read and study poetry?"
It was a dream come true. I could have graduated with a first class had I read my books as close as I read poetry. I was wildly extracurricular.

In 2013/14, I filled two 80 leaves note book with a poem a day. I was just writing then. I write anything and call it a poem. Then I begin posting on Facebook. Then dawn came. I was seen. First it was Kukogho Iruesiri Samson.

Later, I was found by Laura M Kaminski who since then has been nursing my poetry. It was from her I learn how to touch and retouch my poems. The University Library became my home. I read everything poetry. Shakespeare, John Donne, Wordsworth, Sylvia Plath, Keats, Yeats, Okigbo, Soyinka, Brutus, Lenrie Peters, Osundare, Ojaide, Raji, to mention but a few.

PW: The volume of poetry you’ve written is impressive. Are you working on your own anthology?

I have a co-authored collection published by WRR in 2016. Yes. I am working on two chapbooks which will be out in no time. (Laughs). "THE RIVER FLOOD US AWAY FROM HOME" and "LETTER TO DIJEH" are the chapbooks I am working on. The former is social and political. All in all. While the latter is love songs and mystical gyrations.
They may take a long time before they'd be ready. I am not in a hurry. We the upcoming writers should note this: Festina Lante!

PW: What do you think of Poetic Wednesday?

I see PoeticWednesday becoming everything this part of the world knows not. I see our poets becoming beautiful. The journey will be difficult and tiring. Don't relent. Invigorate the struggle. Having literary movement like Poeticwednesday in Northern Nigeria is a thing of joy. Let us not rush it because like fire, we shall burn to the basal of our frozen region.

PW: What's the secret behind your love for Haiku?

I love short poems. A good written short poem cuts you deeper. That's what the haiku does to me. The precision and sublimity. I have read some before. But the person that opened the door for me is Tijjani Muhammad Musa. Haiku does what hundreds of poetic lines could not.

PW: What are your thoughts on Literature as a tool for cultural preservation?

That is what educational books tell you. Those books will tell you literature is tool for social advocacy; a tool or medium for history or cultural preservation and what have you. But it is a lie. We mostly write for the beauty of it. We write to have fame. To become celebrities.

Look at all these writers winning prizes everyday. What have they done with the prize money? Take a close look at the $100 000 NLNG Prize, that is too much money for one man. The book that won the prize last year, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim's Season of Crimson Blossoms, is a good book that I believe could go a long way in changing the mindset of some people. But how many people read that book?

How would you expect a man or a girl-child who must labour or hawk from dawn to dusk so that they'd have a meagre meal or two a day to buy such a book? When we write, the market becomes our target not the readers.

Unless we change these attitudes, literature will not be able to serve its purpose in our society.

And for literature to do any society any good, education needs to be revived. How'd we achieve our goals with literature as a tool for society regeneration in a region where teachers could not pass primary four examination?

I do teach whenever I am on break, to God who made me, no literature could touch the hearts of those students because they cannot write and spell five letter words. And that is because their teachers know nothing as well.

If we want the meaning of literature to go beyond textbooks, we must redefine these;

1. Education
2. Writing purpose
3. Book Circulation

PW: Your favorite childhood memory?

Childhood memory? (Searching) Yes. Those days we walk around New Bussa every night looking for trouble. We stand by the road and wave Okada men to stop and afterward run away leaving them there. We'd go to the market calling mad men names they hate to be called just so they'd run after us. And those Harmattan mornings we'd gather twigs of broken wood, set fire on it and take places around it enjoying the warmth.

PW: Three poets that had the most impact on you?
Since you say three, okay. Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RTA), Maulana Jalaludeen Rumi and Laura M Kaminski. What they did to me, I cannot thank them.

PW: Favorite Poet of all Time?

It is Rumi. His poetry has explored all the untouched and mistouched corners of my being.

PW: One book you never get tired of reading?

Hmm! It is the Diwani of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RTA). Its verses heal and elevate my soul. It gives me peace and hope.

PW: One person from PW you'd love to meet?

Salim Yunusa. The brain behind all this. I want to meet him and drill deep into his head. What more ideas does he have hiding there? I wish him well!

PW: Three Facebook friends that have had the most impact on you?
Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
Farooq Kperogi
and my mother, Laura M Kaminski

PW: PW favorite poet?

My favorite PW poet is Maryam Gatawa. She is ferocious. Her poetic energy scares me. I want to become like her when I grow up. But I know that I need time.(smile)

PW: PW crush, and why?

I pray #Dijeh would not see this. I hate to explain things. My crush is non but the charming UmmyHajaar Abbah. She is everything I need in a wife.

PW: Favorite Author?

If you mean my contemporary favorite author, then, it is Amu Nnadi.

PW: What book are you currently reading?

I am reading "THE TAKING" by DEAN KOONTZ. After this I will read Ahmed Maiwada's "we're fish" then Ismaila Bala's "Our Country Held a Whip Against Us."

PW: Who would you choose to spend twelve hours in a desert away from any civilization with?

That would be a great opportunity. It will be Rahma Raji. And I am taking her because that'd give me a chance to address her cyber misdemeanors. Rahma, e je ata!

PW: Parents' treasure that keeps you going?

Humility, Hard work and Patience. My parents are many things I want to become. May Allah's grace be with them. Amin.

PW: Favorite food?

Beans. Dear future wife, it is beans and beans alone

PW: Hobbies?

Watching: people and movies and talking. I talk. I love talking.

PW: Any suggestions for PoeticWednesdays?

We need a name. A label. Poeticwednesday is what we do, right? If yes, then who are we? Since we are mostly from Northern Nigeria and among our aim is to rekindle the fire of creative writing here in our region, I think we should be called something like AREWA POETRY SOCIETY or AREWA WRITERS' COMMUNITY. Then whenever a question is asked about what we do, we'd say we do #Poeticwednesday.

We could create a website or have a magazine(online and subsequently print).
We could come up with prizes. Look at something like NANA ASMAU POETRY PRIZE or MAMMAN SHATA POETRY PRIZE. We'd consult and seek for sponsorship.

PW: Advice to budding poets/writers?

My advise to us is: Read, read, read, read, read and write and write. Don't just read a poem and walk away. No. Try to analyze it. Review it. When you do these, the poems will have a good effect in you. You will understand it more and may be start thinking of your own way of writing it.

Write and read to your friends. Disturb them with your poems. Everywhere you go, tell them you are a poet/writer and work hard toward actualizing it. Let the muse flow whenever it comes and if it is not coming, force it.

Share your work and be humble. Welcome criticism. It helps. And as Wordsmith said last week; steal, steal and steal.

Thank you for your time.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

GAMONMU NA KARSHE A DUNIYA - Tuna Tijjani Ado Ahmad

Mun gamu da shi gab da tafiyarsa a gidan Radio Freedom ranar Larabawa 20 ga watan Satumba 2017. Su na tare da Ado Saleh Kankia bacin kammala shirin Barka da Hantsi.

Tijjani Ado Ahmad duk da shike matashin dan jarida ne, in an kwatanta shi da wasunmu, amma mutum ne mai zurfin tunani, kamala da kuma girmama na gabansa. Shi ya sa kowa ya ke sakin jiki wajen huldar aiki ko zamantakewa da shi.

Kowannenmu cikin murmushi da fara'a mu ka tafa hannu mu ka gaisa na ce masa ashe ka dawo, ya ce mun e. Na yi ma sa lale marhabun da fatan Allah Ya sa hajjinsa maqabuliya ce, ya ce amin amin.

A lokacin muna tare da wakilan wata Kungiyar mahadatta alQur'ani wadanda su ka koma makaranta domin yin karatun Boko. Baba Ado ya nemi ya gan su domin buqata ta ayi hira da su a cikin shirin Barka Da Hantsi.

Baba Ado ya yi wa Tijjani bayanin abin da ke tafe da mu a matsayinsa na abokin gabatar da shirin kuma da nazarin fa'idar yin hakan nan take ya amince da dacewar ayi hirar da wadannan hafizai a kungiyance.

Aka yi mu su wasu muhimman tambayoyi don gina tubalin hirar shirin, su ka bada gamsassun amsasoshi. Ba tare da bata lokaci ba kuwa aka ce su zo washegari Alkhamis da misalin karfe 8 Na safe don ayi hirar da su. Sun kuwa zo an kuma zanta da su.

Bacin wadannan baqi sun tafi mu ka kama hira tsakanin juna. Baba Ado ya ce mun "Tijjani, Tijjani (ya nuna marigayi) hwa kudi garai. Tahiya Amurka zai yi. Dawowarsa hwa ke nan daga Makkah amma ka ji zai tai Amurka. Yanzu yace ba shi da kudi?"

Nan fa Tijjani ya kyakyale da dariya ya ce "Yallabai ina na ke da kudi..." kafin ya ci gaba Baba Ado ya katse masa hanzari ya ce "Ko da shike ya ce shi ya biyawa kansa kudin tafiya aikin hajjinsa, amma tahiya Amurka ai ka san sai wanda ya shirya ko ko? "

Tijjani Ado Ahmad cikin murmushi irin na sa ya ci gaba da kare kansa da cewa "Tafiya Amurka ai aikin jarida ne zai kai ni. Kuma ka fi kowa sanin cewa yan jarida na iya tafiye-tafiye da akan gaiyacesu kuma a biya mu su."

Baba Ado ya ce "Ka ji, ka ji shi ko... " Ni dai ina jin su. Zan yi magana wasu su ka kira Baba Ado ya juya ya nufe su ya na murmushi, shi kuma Tijjani mu ka yi bankwana da shi don lokacin fara gabatar da shiri na na Yello Soundz ya karato.

Ashe iyakar gamo ga da ga, ido da ido tsakaninmu ke nan. Sai ganin hotonsa da ya dauka a tashar jirgin sama bacin ya isa Kasar Amurka lafiya da ya dora a shafinsa na Fesbuk na yi. Na kuwa yi Laikin daga baya na sake ganin wasu hotunan da ya dora don masoyansa su ci gaba da ganin yadda ta ke kasance ma sa a can.

Yau da safe na ga kiran wani abokina, aminina ya bugo. Da na dauka sai na ji ya yi wata ajiyar zuciya, ya yi dum. Mu ka gaisa sai ya ce mun "Wai Tijjani Ado Ahmad ya rasu?" Na yi salati na ce "Yaushe aka yi haka?" Ya ce "Ga shi nan ana ta yadawa a social media"

Na ce "Subhanallaah! Inna lilLahi wa inna ilaihir raji'un. Ashe a can kasarsa ta ke?" Nan take na hau Fesbuk don in tabbatar, ile kuwa sai ga shi nan baja-baja. Babu abinda ya zo mun zuciya sai gamommu na qarshe.

Wasu su ka kama bugo mun don su tabbatar ba ni na rasu ba saboda wasu a kafafen sada zumunta sun dauka ni ne. Na ce mu su ba ni ba ne tukunna. Tawa mutuwar ta na nan tafe. Ta shiga tsakaninmu riga tawan. Allah Sarki Tijjani 😢

Gaskiya mun yi rashin ba qaramin ba wAllahi. Ya Allaah mun tuba, Ka gafarce mu Ka gafarce shi, Ka jiqansa da rahamarKa. Gaskiya na jiyewa yaransa, iyalinsa da kuma iyaye da yan'uwansa.

Abokan aikinsa musamman Gidan Radio Freedom da ma'aikatansu duk inai mana ta'aziyar rasuwar wannan bawan Allah. Har hawayenki na zubo mun wAllah. Rabona da in yi hawaye don rasuwar wani ba jinina ba, tun kan Sheik Ja'afar Mahmoud Adam.

Allah Ya jiqansu duka, Ya kyautata makwancinsu. In taking ta zo Allah Ka sa mu cika da imani, amin thumma amin.

BAN KWANA GA TIJJANI ADO AHMAD -
...ta Tijjani Muhammad Musa

Ikon Allah ke nan
Ana tunaninta a can
Mutuwa kuwa ta na nan
Mutum ya yi rayuwa a nan
Kasar rasuwarsa ta na can
Ku gamu yanzu yanzunnan
A ji shelar rashinka jim kadan.

Tsoro lamarin duniya ke ban'
Ace ko a yau ko cikin Ramadan
Ba makawa lallai sai ta shaqan
Matsalarta ba ta notis, abadan
Duk wanda ya yi sake da shedan
To, bonensa don mutum ko aljan
Mai yanke 'kauna ta zamto ajalan.

Yanzu aminina, wadata ko tagajan
Mai kaunata daga Kano har Landan
Ga dubun fara'a, kalmarsa wahidan
Takwarana a sunansa har Mudan
Badan-badan ba da na yi ma kukan
Amma ba ka so hakan ba "Gogan"
Gafara, jinqai, Firdausi su ne fatan.

(c) 2017 Tijjani  M. M.

Friday, September 29, 2017

TAJAJJINI RAGON LAYYA

Da sunanKa Ya Allahu 
Wanda Ka aiko Rasulu
Ga bawanKa mai sahu
Tajajjini Muhammadu
Takobi mai kaifi biyu
Mai waqoqi, mai sulhu
Mai "Allah Ya hana babu"
Yunwa kin gamu da waku
Ga gida, ga mota, ga lambu
Maigida, babbanwa ga tuzuru
Mai Kwandala, ci da marayuu
Uban 'yanbiyu, mai aljihu biyuu
Ga dattijo mai karancin shekaru
Mai Hausa da Turanci, sha karatu
In ta kama, a kowanne kai rubutu
Raba dalibai da yawan sumbatu
Ragon layya wa kai da bunsuru?
Sana'a goma maganin dabaru
Gida biyu maganin gobara du
Baban Nafeesah, gatan Aliyu
Mijin Bilkisu, angon Haulatu
Mai kama da kamala, sannu
Ka haifi maza har da Habuu
Cikin matan ina su Imanuu?
Mai miqa hannu la-la dungu
Damo mai haquri, ass burgu
Kogi, bahar maliya har tekuu
Sannu Tajo, mai begen Nabiyu.

A dade ana yi, sai gaskiya... 😃

*Murtala Isah*

Dubu jiran mutum daya
Takun dai dai kana sangaya
Kayi gaba baka waigen baya

Tafi dai mu je jarumi
Mai hikima ya alkalami
Mai gidan kwandalawa malami

Ka yi ta ka ka yi ta rago
Rugurguzasu kamar zago
Mai tausayi da son ya yi ungo.

Allah kara lafiya TJ

Monday, September 25, 2017

DO YOU KNOW WHAT SMEH-SMEH MEANS?

Hackers hacked his Facebook account and demanded all sort of things from his e-friends, money, recharge cards, including sex from girls.

Flabbergasted, he could just imagine the monumental crisis at hand and knew he has to do something real fast to nip the nuisance in the bud. Emergency situations demand for prompt approach. So he sends in an SOS! to yours truly.

"Teejay! Someone has hacked into my account and is making mincemeat of my hard earned and well guarded reputation! Pls how do I stop him?"
.
My reply "O that's simple. Just Sign Out of your FB account and then Sign I again. But when signing in, click on 'Forgot Password'. FB will request for the email with which you opened your account and to it they will send you a link.

Go to your email and click on the Link provided. It'll take you to a platform where you'll be requested to change your Password.

Input a new, different password and confirm it. Once you do that, regain access back to your FB Wall and you'll discover the hacker has been hacked out.

Next? You'll have to do some damage control and crisis management by reaching out to all your friends, male and female explaining to them what has just happened to you.

Tender a sincere public apology on your walls and follow up with inbox, SMS, calls etc to all affected, wherever necessary."
.
He did that and immediately regained control of his account. So, he called again, this time to express his gratitude.

"Thank you Teejay. WAllahi, I called a friend who knows you and begged him to give me your number. I just know that you're one of the few guys who can sort this out for me. He gave me your number and so I called."

And that's how life online can be once in a while... 😃 It's called Social Media Engagement Hazards (SMEH) or you can repeat the acronym twice i.e. Smeh-smeh...😂😂😂

In Naija, we know wetin dat one mean. Shey! Pwuahahahahahaha 😂😂😂

Allah Ya kiyaye gaba.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

BEAR YOUR PRIDE HUMBLY #FoundPoetry

...by Poetic Tee "Here, take a sip"
Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people sitting

I've failed at times
As a woman, as even men do
I don't always say the right things.

I don't have an amazing figure
I'm not the most beautiful woman
Not in this world, but I'm me.

I love food
Less I forget *smiles*
How 'bout you?

I have curves
I have scars
Because I have a history.

Some people love me
Some like me, some don't.
Isn't that life?

I have done good
I have done bad
Who hasn't, isn't alive.

I sometimes go without make up
Sometimes don't get my hair done
Whoever said I'm perfect? Not me.

I'm random and silly, but loving
I don't pretend to be someone I'm not
I am who I am.

You can love me or not
And if I love you, I do
With all my heart!

I make no apologies
For the way I am
For I'm a gift onto me by Him.

So ladies, I dare you
Share the good in yourselves
If you're proud of who you are.....❤️

(c) Tijjani M. M.
All Rights Reserved

Friday, September 22, 2017

MEDICAL DOCTORS ARE NOT SUPERHUMANS

A little child informed a female medical doctor who wanted to learn a computer game from him that being a doctor she need not asked to be taught anything. She should automatically know how. 

That unless that is true about her, she's not fit to be a doctor. Can you imagine such misleading indoctrination.

So, she came up on her Facebook wall and call upon parents to stop impressing such false notion upon the innocent minds of their children. The wrong impression needs to change. Please find my submission below:

Yes, it needs to change indeed.

Doctors are attributed certain honor and respect some of them actually deserve, but most of them don't. Rather than make them humble, it sadly gets into their heads, making them start to act pompous and often arrogant.

Actually, I've never had that impression even when I was young and wanted to be a doctor myself, but changed my mind at that same early stage. Why? 

I watched a movie in which a president of a country was assassinated through a doctor whom he trusted, but administered a fatal injection into the good leader for a paltry sum of money

I was so shocked at the development, it forever changed the way I use to view doctors. It also instantly killed my medical doctoral ambition, by Allaah.

And as I grew up, got educated, read vast and wide, witnessed so many other medical situations, discovering so much about life, to me doctors are ordinary folks, who wear the toga of healers.

Whereas it is Allaah that truly deserves what they sometimes arrogate to themselves i.e. the power to heal and make one whole, regaining back his or her full health.

I often hear someone utter the "Shirk" phrase "Meet the doctor who saved my life" as an introduction. I smile at the erroneous impression impressed upon any so informed.

And I often ask myself and any other, if it's true doctors have the ability or power to save lives, why do they allow their loved ones to die, while they are present? Or why do they let death take their (doctors) lives? 

"In kura ta na maganin zawo, toh ta yi wa kan ta mana." But, I keep all these observations to myself and often smile at doctors, most especially young ones who are so full of their importance as medical doctors "who can save lives." 😂😂😂

I bow in full respect for this your call that there's need to disabuse the minds of people,  most especially children from continuing on this false notion. 

Mind you, this is not saying doctors are not to be appreciated for their roles in getting well after a sickness, but so should nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, anastasists and every other medical worker associated with regaining back full health. 

Thank you. My sincere take.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

WHY ARE NIGERIAN LAWS UNDER CONSTANT ABUSE?


Image result for nigerian judiciary

A friend wrote:

In DOKUBO-ASARI V. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2007) ALL FWLR (PT 375) 588, The Supreme Court per Muhammed JSC (CJN As he then was) had the following to say:

".....where national security is threatened or there is real likelihood of its being threatened, human rights or individual rights of those responsible take second place.
Human Rights or individual rights must be suspended until national security can be protected or taken care of.
This is not anything new.
The corporate existence of Nigeria as a united, harmonious, indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation is certainly greater than any citizen's liberty or right.
Once the security of this nation is in jeopardy and it survives in pieces rather than in peace, the individual liberty or right may not even exist" at PP. 585-586

***
By this, it has become obvious and glaringly clear that that kid Nnamdi Kanu was indeed handled with kids glove. One wonders why, and again why the law of the land is allowed to be so trampled upon and disrespected by all and sundry.
Why does one feel that there is something to the law of this land that Nigerian lawyers are scared to practice their learned profession to meet its aspirations and expectations by ordinary citizens.
Gaskiya, I'm beginning to realize that one of the biggest obstacle of this country lies with its judicial system. Unless this tier of government is soundly sanitized towards making NIGERIA regain its sanity, we will never get back on track to glory.
Which treasonable offence didn't Kanu commit against this nation using his Radio Biafra? He disrespected all and sundry and abused the very foundation of this country, calling it a zoo and threatening to burn it down?
Nobody among the Igbos raise his voice to caution him nor was any legal injunctions in our constitution cited as being flagrantly violated. Only freedom of speech was flaunted as a fundamental human right not to be denied.
in fact Senate Deputy President Ike Ikweremadu was the one who stood in for bail on his behalf and he was freed to a hero's welcome in the south east, with a convoy fit for a president.
Upon regaining his freedom as granted by Ag. President Osinbajo, what did the terrorist IPOB leader do to respect his bail conditions? Absolutely nothing, except further his campaign of disregard for Nigeria's Sovereignty.
He formed a government within a government, created his own army, Secret Service, flew his own flag, introduce his own money, solicited for funds to buy weapons to wage war against Nigeria etc.
Yet, many who should have stood in defense of Nigeria from the SE governors to its legislators in both the Senate and House Of Representatives, intellectuals, business men and citizens. Except for a few, almost all kept quiet.
And now that Nigerian Army is executing Operation Python Dance and such unwarranted provocations are being addressed, some people all of a sudden remember, there is a country called NIGERIA. Haba?

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

COMMUNICATION WHILE EXPANDING IS ACTUALLY DOWNSIZING

...by Tijjani Muhammad Musa

Someone came via inbox to express sincere appreciation for my multiple posts, which he found to be highly engaging, even though brief in content. And the impressions they make seem long lasting.

However, the person wanted me to make and post only one update per day, so that it can be better discussed, digested, comprehended and assimilated by persons reading them.

So I took the trouble to explain a few things thus;

I've done that before during my earlier Facebook (FB) days around 2009-2010, restricting my posts to just one update per day. But now I do Twitter as well as other social media stuffs and have linked my FB account to some of these.

So, what I post on Facebook now appears as a tweet on my Twitter handle, that way one compliments the other. Same happens with my Messenger and other links, thus one post ends up serving 2 or more social media platforms effectively.

Now while it is cool to pour out prose on FB, other social media demand that posts and updates be short and sharp, yet be rich and deep with reflective meanings. Thus account holders are subjected to limitations in number of alphabets or words they can use.

These limits became necessary due to a recent discovery that unless one is conducting a research, most texts and messages are no longer read in full. People now tend to read the first one or two lines of any note and thereafter move on.

It is like a bait to a fish. If it finds it attractive, it will first circle around it, then take a little bite off the edges, letting its taste buds sample it's palatability. If it passes the litmus test, the fish would then indulge in enjoying, getting hooked that is.

Subsequently, most readers some of whom can be CEOs will abandon the reading if it fails to catch their interest within 5 seconds. That time is all they are willing to sacrifice to be impressed, else they will ignore it.

Therefore if anyone fails to keep them interested in their submission within the first few seconds, then the writer is simply wasting their time. Armed with this realization, many communication drives now strive to deliver their message in this first 5 seconds.

And that is why these days you see a lot of recent posts coming to you like that.

On FB, there those who write their updates in prose with the aim of making such posts fully understood. They thereby detail their presentations and spare time to further engage their readers in an interactive session for hours on end.

Other media platforms do it differently. The approach is to encourage their users to provide followers with catchy headlines sort of a thing, followed by a brief introduction to the subject matter and thereafter attach a link for any interested person to read further details on a website.

Being a poet, and we all know how poetry can be highly economical with words, and quotes even more so, I find it very easy to create such memes in multiple bits and hits for my e-friends to reflect upon.

Reason for doing that? That is the new trend. People are being encouraged to write less, yet make more impact with the words, while at the same time create a visual impact using images in a media convergence delivery.

People now just want to deliver their message in as few letters or words as possible, often between 140 - 160 maximum letters. If creative enough would add an image to compliment the message as a single TKO "punch".

Besides, there is that trending posts with those color backgrounds on FB. Just like SMS texts on mobile phones with 160 letters, it only allows for about 150 characters I think, where Twitter uses only 140 alphabets, spaces inclusive.

So what is happening, one might ask? Well, communication is downsizing in its time engagement! Using less to achieve more. In fact media contents are currently being designed to flow along this new trend. Le Corbusier's "Less is more..." is back in full.

For those who noticed, Whatsapp videos are 16 MB max. Texts get truncated after a certain length and audios also have limits set beyond which one cannot cross. FB words on posts are 8000 max and so on across the social media.

Not forgetting that people nowadays barely read more than a few lines of most writings due to their very busy and very tight schedules. Corporate letters are best written to contain all vital information on the first page for quick absorption.

Of course advertising on radio also flows along that design. Thus there are jingles of 15, 30, 45 and 60 seconds, which is the maximum time allowed for that. Anything over and above this 1 minute time frame is regarded as a hype.

Therefore the unfolding trend is to deliver your messages in series of bullets, PowerPoint style, so that you don't miss being read or your intended message being delivered, heard or understood. Most especially if the audience do not have a good grasp of language of communication.

Again as ads professionals, which I happen to be one, I employ that knowledge to ensures that the reader gets "punched" with the message within that first 5 phenomenal seconds. Mind you, billboard messages are most effective if delivered in a few words as well, which can be read as a pedestrian, rider or even a fast driver passes by - 7 max.

So, now you know why I do what I do. It is based on all these foregoing information and much more. It's not just communicating and effectively too for that matter, but it is to done that way to maximally impact upon you with the communicated message.

When the message is short, it is easier to recall and remember. Therefore it is more effective and most impactious.

There is a huge difference between the two.


(c)2017 Tijjani M. M.
All Rights Reserved


COULD HRH MUHAMMAD SANUSI II BE AREWA'S MOSES?

A friend I respect tagged me on one of the social media platforms among several others friends on a sound post, citing a very famous hadith and requested that we express ourselves sincerely about the matter currently occupying most patriotic citizens of Arewa and even beyond our borders.

I told him I want to talk sincerely, but I have friends who are pro-Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS) that are hurting because I'm talking about SanKano and his utterances, some of which with all due respect to His Highness I sincerely believe are unbecoming of a king of his status to express them the way he is doing. Following the steps of him who says to fear no man and speak the truth notwithstanding who ox is gored.

Please note that it is not what the Emir is saying, some of which are the realities on the ground that is the problem, but the way he is saying it. And he needs not go about it as if he is on a mission or has an ulterior motive. Let him take his people along. For achieving this will not be child's play nor will it be within a short period, but the long term.

For starters, HRH will need to come from his air of "sophistication, well experienced and highly qualified" attitude down to the level of his talakawa. In fact, he has to go about it one on one and even further still to the simpletons' level and talk to them, make them grasp it, understand it, desire it, hunger for it and subsequently lead them on to pursue and achieve it.

He needs not do any taqiyya, politics, dance around things thing as someone suggested. He simply needs to study and understand his subjects and then using that knowledge, approach them with the issue in a civil and courteous manner. They deserve respect as a people, even if as individuals nobody is worthy of his attention, which of course even that is not possible.
There are bound to be those who are better endowed and vice-versa. It is the Sunnah of Allaah SWT to do that among mankind. Let us all call to mind Prophet Moses (AS) and his encounter with Kidr (AS) and how their sojourn as depicted in the Qur'an shows. Therefore respect is a two-way traffic. To earn it, you must give it, accord it first. And humbleness and humility is often the secret to reverence and elevation.
The Emir's immediate subjects are mostly Muslims and as stated in the Qur'an amongst mankind these are the best of humans when it comes to doing what is right and best for their society. All they need is a leader to pledge their allegiance to. Someone they can trust not to betray them and that is it. Once this is achieved, it is finished. He will win this if he knows how to go about it properly.
Sadly, HRH initial approach in thinking that embarrassing, disgracing, rubbishing their level of advancement and blaming their religion for the lack of progress is what will make the people wake up, make them comply or respond to his call is not it. This is essentially where many of them have found offense with his call. Not that they do not believe he means well for them.
Besides, the actual fault of the backwardness of northern region and its people lies squarely on the shoulders of its educated elite. The intellectuals of Arewa are the ones who have failed their people and their region. Each of the elites, not the rich and wealthy, no, but the ones who were and are opportune to go to universities, other higher institutions and traveled round the world are the ones who have retarded their society's growth with their self-centered attitude.
Notwithstanding all that can be cited to buttress the initial setback in establishing western education in the north, those that eventually acquired the education to degree level or its equivalent and higher should have taken the trouble to design a sustainable plan that ought to have taken the region to the level that will keep it at par and competitive with not just south of Nigeria, but the rest of the world. Alas, this did not happen.
And so this is where Sanusi Lamido Sanusi comes in. If he truly did care, he should have mobilized others equally enlightened mind from way back when he came out of the university. With all his brilliance and experience in finance and management, he could have come far with the mission. And now that he is the Emir of one of the most influential traditional throne in not just Arewa, Nigeria or even Africa but the whole world, he would have done what is necessary to arrest this disgraceful situation he now sits and reigns over.
Fact of the matter is we are all aware of what Arewa problems are. Someone to lead us out of the quagmire is what we are looking for. At the top President Muhammad Buhari is doing that for Nigeria and at this State level, however none, I repeat NONE is better qualified, equipped or suited than HRH to do this. Enen if there are any other, the Emir with his clout as SanKano has an edge in this quest.
Unfortunately, though full aware of its objectives he is not in tandem with the project demands. That is why I once said in a poem I wrote at the beginning of his reign that "I didn't want SLS to become the 15th Emir of Kano." For any who has read the piece would see my reasons why? By Allah if any with a little comprehension of English should read it, he or she will easily understand and surely agree with me. Might not be all anyway.
Bottom-line of all this? Muhammad Sanusi II is wasting the best of himself on that throne. As captured in that piece of poetry for those who would find it difficult to grasp it at first, SLS should have gone into politics and vied for Governorship of Kano State or contested for the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Then and only then would the best of SLS have truly manifested! This is my personal belief.
As for those blind supporters of our king, who are shouting don't bother about the messenger, concentrate on the message. I just want to say that the worth, value, quality, credibility and soundness of the message is usually in the chosen messenger. Never make the mistake of sending your message through the wrong messenger. Chose carefully someone with the right qualities, eloquence, charisma, character, finesse, appeal and so on to do the job if you want the project to succeed.

A simple similitude would elucidate this better; a good meal, a tantalizing gourmet cuisine served in a dirty, unkempt, dusty, smeared and stained plate or delivered in a rude and uncouth manner will surely not be palatable to its consumer, no matter how clean, neat and beautiful is the waiter. Besides, we have a unique case here where the messenger doubles as the owner of the message.

Unfortunately, the approach which should have been foolproof, with knowledge of the target's sentiments and sensitivity, delivered with wisdom in approach, choice of words and place of delivery, as well as measurement in apportioning the message and finally being patient in the pursuit of the goals intended are all not here taken into due regards and consideration in this case.

Rather a crude, disgracing and embarrassing method to the sensitivity of the people is used to present these golden aspirations to its target populace. Feeling disrespected, many at the base of society feel they deserve better from their king. Thus we are left with a good cause, yes, but due to the style of presentation and disregard for the audiences disposition, the people are willing to throw away the baby, along with the bath water. Which is rather unfortunate?

Again as Muslims, we must call to mind at the cost of being labeled 6th or 13th century minded Muslims how the Rasool SAWS introduced Islam into pagan Makkah, and how it was soon to spread throughout the whole world. Are the Emir of Kano's subjects any more backwards than the Bedouin arab Muhammad (SAWS) met in the 6th century? Of course not. Well, it took him 23 years to achieve his goal.  

For any with a similar agenda for his people, could that 6th century approach be less effective with a populace that are no better when it comes to their mindset, not withstanding their being in the 21st century? Despite all advancement due to science and technology, basically mankind is still the same. There is nothing we are doing now that we were not doing earlier. The only thing that is different is how we do things.

This is my simple take on this matter, with all due respect. I sincerely believe the approach should have been better.


(c) 2017 Tijjani M. M.
All Rights Reserved

Monday, April 3, 2017

ACE MAIGIDA YA RABU DA BERAYEN DA KE GIDANSA...

... YA MAI DA HANKALI KAN NEMO ABINCIN DA MUTAN GIDAN ZA SU CI KAWAI? ANYA KUWA DA DUBARA A WANNAN LAMARIN?
~ Tijjani Muhammad Musa
Ka na nema ana fasa buhunan abincin ana kwashewa, ana sacewa, ana arcewa, ana neman ka ci gaba da sahalewa ka na kyalewa.
Toh, ai berayin ba su gudu ba. Da babansu da sauran berayen, su na nan a gidanka daram. Kuma ka dana tarkuna ka na kama su, amma wasu na sa hannu su na kwanche su, sannan su sake su a cikin gidan na ka.
Sannan berayen ba su bar aniyarsu ba. Ka na kaffa-kaffa da abinda ka ke samu, su na yi maka aringizon huqatarsu don su cutar da kai da ahlinka. Ka yi jinkirin tabbatar da abubuwan da za ka gudanar, amma mutan gidanka saboda rashin sani, sun yi caa su na kukan ba ka son ci gabansu.
Sannan ka na kama berayen, karnukan farautarsu na haushi su na hana ka samun abinda za ka gudanar da alkawarin da ka yi wa mutanen gidan na ka ta hanyar 6ula ma ka buhunan hatsinka da fasa maka bututur ruwa. Makiyi ba kyau. Ga 6arna, ga 6arnatarwa.
Su na iqirarin su ma su kishin gidanka ne, amma fa nufinsu ala kulli halin su ga kifewarka. Buqatarsu cewa ko dai ka saki berayen da ka kama, su sakata su wataya yadda su ke so, ko su daqile babbar hanyar samun dukanin arziqin da ka ke nema don ciyar da kuma gina gidanka.
Banda fa sace-sacen da aka yi naka, ka na ganin kayan kurukuru an qi a dawo ma ka da su, don amfanin mutan gidanka. Sannan ga ci gaba da iskancin da ake yi tun ba ka nan don kawai sabo da yi, kuma a nuna ma ka ba ka isa ka hana ba.
Sannan duk iya kokarinka na gyara abubuwan da za su samawa mutan gidanka sauqir rayuwa, wadansu marasa kishin ci gaban gidan na ka su na cin dunduniyarka, su na yi ma ka batanci, su nai maka zagon kasa ta kowane fanni.
Amma don rashin ta ido, su na kira da ka rabu da barayin nan da abinda su ka satanma, wanda da shi su ke amfani su na lalata tafiyarka, su na hanaka gudanar da lamuran fidda jakinka daga duma. Burinsu ka gaza kai gaci, su ai dama duk kanwar jaa ce.
Ta yaya za ka ci gaba da wanzar da samun natsuwa ga mutanen gidanka, sannan ga koke da qorafe-qorafensu? Maimakon su dafa ma ka, su cicci6a ma ka, su kama ma ka, don a gudu tare, a tsira tare. Ina!!! Toshewar basira, su so su ke a bar berayen su ci karensu ba babbaka.
Abin ya na daure mun kai wAllaahi.

FESBUK NA NEMAN TAIMAKON HAUSAWA

... SU TAYA SU YIN FASSARA

A ci gaban kokarin Facebook Administrators wato ma su kula da gudanar da harkar sadawarwa a dandalin sada zumunta na Fesbuk, yanzu haka sun manna wata buqata a shafi na cewa jama'a su taimaka wajen taya su fassara dukkan nau'in bayanai a shafukansu da ke cikin harshen Turanci izuwa harshen Hausa don tabbatar da samarwa al'ummar Hausawa jin dadi da walwalar yin Fesbuk da Hausa.
Duk da shi ke da dai so samu ne da sai mu bukaci, su dauki mutanenmu da su ka karanci Hausa daga matakin digiri ko kwatankwacin sa izzuwa digirgir, kai harma ma su PhD wata Daktaa ke nan aiki don gudanar mu su da wannan bukata.
Ka ga ta hakan, mu ma na mu sai su samu kudin shiga, kuma da yawa za'a daina raina karanta Hausa a jami'oinmu. Don wasu gani su ke yi abin dariya ne a ce dalibi ya na karanta harshen mahaifiyar a matakin digiri a jami'a. Alhali kuwa ba ko kusa ba haka ba ne.
Toh, ni dai ga abinda su ka manna a saman shafina da na bude shi yanzu:
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Kun ga akwai buqatar mu tashi tsaye don tabbatar da wannan gatan da Allaah SWT Ya yi wa harshen Hausa, don mu dada shigar da shi cikin harsunan duniya da yanzu haka aka yarda da su, kuma ake amfani da su wajen sadarwa a kafafen yada labarai da gudanar da harkoki a duniya.
Mu dai in sha Allaahu za mu bada ta mu gudummawar.
TMM

ALBISHIRINKU? KU CE GORO! FARI TAS!!!


Kuma ace Harshen Hausa bai yi fice ba?

Yanzu haka dai ma su Facebook sun soma bada za6in yin harkokin ma su amfani da dandalin sada zumuntarsu a cikin harshen Hausa kamar yadda sauran kafafen yada labarai irin su Sashen Hausa na BBC, Muryar Amurka (VOA), Muryar Jama'ar Jamus (DW), Radio Faransa (RFI), Radio Chaina da dai sauransu su ke yi tun fil-azum.
Gani na yi an jero Hausa cikin jerin gwanon harsunan duniya daban-daban kamar su Turanci, Faransanci, Jamusanci, Larabci, Sufaniaci da dai makamantansu ana nuna mun ko ina son in gudanar da al'amurana a dandalin Facebook cikin harshen uwata, wato Hausa?
Abun kamar almara, ina latsa zabin Hausa, sai komai ya kamar rikidewa, rubutunsu daga kamfaanin Facebook duk su ka jujjuya izuwa harufan Hausa. Na ce "Kai! WAllahi da gaske ne!"
Sai dai fa kar ku shagala, dukkan wanda ya yi rubutunsa cikin harshen Turanci ko Larabci, toh babu fassararsu. A yadda mutane daga ko ina a duniya su ka yi rubutunsu, haka zai zo ma ka batare da na'urorin Facebook sun fassara ma ka rubutun ma'abota amfani da dandalinsu ba.
Wa ya isa ya yi Malam Bahaushe wannan gatan in ba Allaah ba?
Tuni mu ka riga mu ka ce a koma amfani da harshen Hausa wajen koyar da dalibanmu a makarantunmu kama daga Firamare har izuwa Jami'a.

Kuma kuskuren da Aisha Buhari ta yi ke nan da ta kai ziyara kasar Amurka stin da ya gabata. Da kawai ta yi jawabinta da harshen Hausa a United State Institute of Peace (USIP) a can birnin Washington DC, da ba'a yi mata dariyar bata iya Turanci ba.
In ya so ta bar su da neman kwararru, ma su iya fassara daga Hausa izuwa dukkan sauran Harsuna duniya ta yi tahowarta gida kawai. Ai kuwa kunga da ta dora damba, kuma ta kafa tarihin da duniya ba za'a taba mantawa da ita ba.
Ta haka ma da sai ta kwaci al'ummarta daga wannan qangin yin amfani da harshen wadanda su ka yi mana mulkin mallaka wato turawa ke nan. Amma dai ba ji. Ai ana tafe kan isa. Saura qiris haqanmu, mu ma su wannan kira kusan shekaru 20 baya, ya cimma ruwa.
Mu dai yanzu haka da Hausa mu ke yin Fesbukin wAllaahi. AlhamdulilLlah, Ma sha Allaah.

THE ALMAJIRI CHALLENGE

~ Tijjani Muhammad Musa
Image may contain: 1 person, standing and outdoorIf we are really serious and sincere about solving this Almajiri problem in Northern Nigeria, one of the sure ways is for each rich, well-to-do, elite or middle-class man with at least a degree, working, possibly married with a child or two to volunteer in sponsoring, just like we will our own children, you and I, the EDUCATION of at least ONE of the ALMAJIRIS roaming the street in our society, from PRIMARY to UNIVERSITY DEGREE LEVEL.
A promise should be extracted or agreed upon with the almajiri, child of the poor or ward of any neighbor being sponsored with consent of his parents or guardian, that if blessed with the education to degree level, he or she will be expected to similarly extend the same sponsorship opportunity to at least one less privileged child like him or her.

Based on this projection, it is envisaged that in the next 5-10 years, the low level of education and poor corporate and economic involvement of the average Northern Nigerian in state, national and international affairs would gradually start to decrease and eventually disappear from the populace. It is obvious, the problem will not abate just because we keep talking or complaining about it. We must take definitive action towards addressing it, in order to achieve our set objectives of eradicating the scourge known as the Almajiri Phenomenon.
But our coming on to social network platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter and so on to simply hype on it from the comfort of our homes, offices, play stations to show the world we are worried about it and expect the problem to simply vanish into thin air, will not work. Affirmative action must be taken by each of us towards eradicating the menace. We must change our attitudes, if we are to bring any meaningful progress in this regard.

SPONSOR THE EDUCATION OF AT LEAST ONE ALMAJIRI TO DEGREE LEVEL.

QALUBALE GA MA SU IQIRARIN MATSALAR ALMAJIRCI...



... A JIHOHINMU NA AREWACIN NAJERIYA YA DAME SU
~ Tijjani Muhammad Musa

Image may contain: one or more people
In dai da gaske mu ke, mu na son mu shawo kan wannan matsalar ta Almajirai a Arewancin Najeriya, toh dukkan wani mai arziki da wadata, ko mai ilimin boko aqalla matakin digiri na farko, kuma ma'aikaci, magidanci, mai yaro ko yara, ya qudiri niyyar daukan nauyin ilimintar da wani Almajiri ko yaro na 'yan uwa ko makwabta aqalla guda daya tun daga makarantar Firamare har sai shima ya kammala karatunsa na digirin farko a Jimi'a kamar yadda za mu yi wa 'ya'ya haifaffun cikinmu.
A qulla 'yarjejeniya da almajirin ko yaron da aka dauki nauyinsa ko ita, cewa in har Allaah Ya tabbatar masa/ta da samun wannan matsayi, wato na zama mai digiri a rayuwarsa/ta, toh shima ko itama za su nemi wani ko wata daga almajirai ko 'ya'yan talakawa ya/ta dau nauyin ilimantar da su har sai su ma sun mallaki kwalin digiri ko kwatankwacinsa,
Ta haka, akwai kyakkyawon hasashen cewa, nan da 'yan shekaru 5-10 wannan yanayi da Arewa ta ke ciki na koma bayan ilimi da rashin ci gaba zai dau tushen kaucewa daga al'ummarmu. Wasu dai tuni sun riga sun fara. Don kuwa matsalar ba za ta kau ba, don kawai anata cecekuce da koken da ake yi a baki kawai. Dole sai mutane sun dauki matakai na yin wani abu akai, sannan za'a samu cimma burin da aka sa a gaba.
Image may contain: 2 people, people standingAmma a zo dandalin sada zumunta na intanet, wato 'Social media' kowa ya na yamadidin abin na bashi kunya, ko ya dauki hoton almajiri ya na nunawa duniya cewa wai shi abin ya dame shi ba'a nan take ba. An dade ana ruwa, kasa na tsotsewa. Ya kamata mun canja salo kuma.
DAUKI NAUYIN ILIMANTAR DA ALMAJIRI GUDA DAYA!