Between Hafsatu
Ahmed Abdulwaheed and Sir Abubakar Imam
Who is a ‘Creative’
and an ‘Analytical’ Fiction Writer (II)
(Makirkiri Da Manazarcin Kagaggen Labari)
By
U. S. Machika
I intend to cover three
areas in this second segment on the above. The first concern is to identify the
persona of Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed in the entire saga of disputing or
discrediting the sole authorship of Sir Abubakar Imam. I will also try to ascertain
whether she actually made such a bizarre statement in reference to the pioneer
‘first among equals’, which without any iota of doubt, Sir Abubakar Imam is. I
will also consider what fiction is before identifying where and how fiction
writings originate.
It is
important to recall that Mai Bazazzagiya alleged that through a BBC Hausa
interview, Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed said that she does not consider Sir
Abubakar Imam as a ‘creative’ fiction writer. She was further alleged to have
said, Imam was presented with a collection of books, which he read before
writing his books, as such, there is nothing creative in his writings. She was
also alleged to have added that she rather considered Imam as an ‘analytical’
fiction writer instead. Therefore, she was said to have added that, if she is presented
with such a scenario, she can write even a thousand books. This was the reason
behind Mai Bazazzagiya to descend on her and at a time, our father, teacher and
mentor, Prof. Malunfashi had to step in to give us a historical account of Sir
Abubakar Imam and his writings.
The question
is who is Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed? Well this ‘kallabi sakanin
rauwuna’ (a tribute to women venturing into an exclusive men’s world) was
born in Kano in 1952. She did her primary and secondary school and a Diploma in
Kano. She started writing at a very early age. Her skills in writing was
discovered as early as when she started writing stories in primary three. She
was a recipient of the British Council prize at that tender age. Her book “So Aljannar Duniya”, which she wrote
when she was in primary five, was featured in 1977 competition organized by
Northern Nigerian Publishing Company and her entry bagged the second (2nd)
prize. She had received many accolades ever since. Some of which include awards
from Kano State and many organizations. At present Hafsat is said to have
written about thirty (30) books, although only five (5) were known to have been
published.
Her first and second books
are: So Aljannar Duniya and ‘Yar Dubu Mai Tambotsai. These two are
fiction under the genre of folklore. The third book is ‘Nasiha ga Ma'aurata’ on marriage counselling (nonfiction). The
fourth book ‘Namijin Maza Tauraron
Annabawa’ is on the history of Prophet Muhammadu (Peace and Blessings of
Allah Be upon Him) also nonfiction. Her fifth and recent published work is a
fiction ‘Ancient Dance’ in English under
the genre of poetry. Most of her other writings are on religion, which qualify
them to be nonfiction.
Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed is
a courageous, bold and fearless woman who airs her views and makes her position
known at all times and anywhere. In a cultural and religious setting of
Northern Nigeria, where most women were intimidated in venturing into partisan
politics, particularly at the earliest Nigerian democratic history, Hafsat made
bold to contest gubernatorial election at the return to democracy in 1999/2000.
Although she was not a partisan politician, Hafsat was provoked into taking the
decision because the women’s group she headed, on a courtesy visit, asked the
Governor why he had no women in his cabinet. The governor responded that it was
because there were no educationally qualified women in Zamafara state at that
period to hold a cabinet office. According to her, she was not there because,
‘she cannot see and ignore or hear and refuse to speak’. Hafsat felt it was
ridiculous because she was aware of women in the state with masters’ degree.
She therefore set to challenge his seat. Such is the strength of Hafsat
character. Well this is the persona accredited to stating that she does not
consider Sir Abubakar Imam as a ‘creative’ but an ‘analytical’ writer.
Looking into
this thought provoking matter carefully, I decided to lend my voice to the
discourse. However, the size and weight of the subject matter kept forcing me
to procrastinate the attempt. Yet, the more I try to ignore it the more
sleepless nights I have. I found it difficult to reconcile the two words –
‘creative and analytical’ in reference to fiction writing, particularly in
considering the calibre of Sir Abubakar Imam and his writings. While I know of
a creative fiction writer, I sincerely wondered if there is something like, ‘an
analytical fiction’ writer. I was forced to ask myself, ‘Is an analytical writer not somebody who subjected a piece of
literature into his mind’s magnificent microscope, to see beyond an ordinary
minds strengths and weaknesses of the said literature based on an established
scoring checklist?’ Well, I couldn’t help, but to undertake this journey to
look into this matter at a closer range.
From the
onset, I made it clear that my primary reason for venturing into this adventure
is the implication(s) it connotes to younger and aspiring writers. However, to
do justice to this I needed to ascertain that a writer of the calibre of
Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed, despite her strong and bold known character to air
herself actually made such a statement before a reputable international media
outfit like the BBC Hausa. Unfortunately, to be honest I was not privileged to
have listened to that interview. I therefore have to surf with the hope of
finding Hafsat’s transcribed interview. Fortunately, I found Hafsat’s two transcribed
interviews. One was in English, an interview conducted by Yusufu
Adamu, way back in 2008 (October 25).
I was also lucky to have found the transcript of the referred interview in Hausa
conducted by Muhammad Kabir Muhammad aired by BBC Hausa on the 30th
November 2016 titled ‘Mata 100: Yadda Hafsat Abdulwaheed ta
kalubalanci Gwamna’.
I found both
interviews relevant to the subject matter. I therefore, decided to present
both. However, I selected only the questions relevant to the subject of this
write up without tempering (editing) anything from the transcript. Here are the
transcripts of Hafsat’s interview, starting with the 2008 interview.
Interview with Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwahid
By Yusufu Adamu, October 25, 2008
ADAMU: What
drew your attention to start writing?
ABDULWAHID: I have been an
avid reader and listener of folktales since my childhood. When I started
schooling, I develop my skills of writing from the home-works and assignments
we are given.
ADAMU: What is your first
storybook?
ABDULWAHID: So Aljannar Duniya. I started writing this book since
my primary school days. It was about my elder sister who got married to a
Libyan. When I learnt about a competition organised by the NNPC, I sent it as
my entry and I was successful to have won the second position.
ADAMU: How do you get your
inspiration?
ABDULWAHID: Mostly from the
happening around me.
ADAMU: You have earlier said that So Aljannar Duniya was based on the life of your elder sister. Can we
consider it as entirely a true story?
ABDULWAHID: The story as it
was in the book is a combination of her life and some personal experience. I am
also married to someone that is not of the same race with me, but I have not
experience many problems as my elder sister.
ADAMU: Do you read other writers
in Hausa or English? If yes, give us an example.
ABDULWAHID: I do. I read
mostly classical Hausa writers like Abubakar Imam and other writers of that
generation.
ADAMU: Who among Hausa writers
impress you most?
ABDULWAHID: Of course it is
Abubakar Imam and the author of Tauraruwar Hamada, one Ahmad somebody…I also read
authors like Jabiru Abdullahi the author of Na gari na kowa,
the author of Jiki Magayi, and so on. For English writers, I read Rider Haggard,
Catherine Gaskin, Arnold Rake and so on.
Below is Hafsat’s transcript of her 30th November 2016
interview with the BBC Hausa. Again, only the unedited portion related to this
discourse is presented.
Mata 100: Yadda Hafsat Abdulwaheed ta kalubalanci gwamna
Muhammad Kabir Muhammad BBC Hausa, Abuja
30 Nuwamba 2016
Muhammad Kabir Muhammad:
Daga cikin
litttattafan da suka taimaka wajen kaifafa basirar marubuciyar a kan harkar
rubutu akwai Magana Jari Ce da Ruwan Bagaja na Abubakar Imam. Sai dai kuma ta
ce ita a ganinta Imam ba marubuci ba ne, manazarci ne:
‘Some of the books that
inspired the writer in her writings include Abubakar Imam’s Magana Jari Ce and
Ruwan Bagaja. However, she said that she does not consider Imam a writer, but
an analyst’
Hafsat Abdulwaheed:
Bai taba rubuta
wani abu shi kadai ba, sai tafiyarshi Ingila. Shi an bas hi littattafai ne ya
yi nazari a kai ya fitar da labarai?an ba shi Alfu Laila, an ba shi Ikra,
littattafan tatsuniyoyi na Larabawa. In aka ban littafi yanzu, aka ce in fitar
da littattafai, wallahi ko dubu ake so zan iya fitarwa in dai za a ba ni
labaran?kamar yanzu a dauko tatsuniyoyin Ingila ko na Scotland a ba ni a ce na
fitar da littattafan Hausa ba zai min wahala na fitar da suba.
‘He has never written a book
alone, except the one on his journey to England. He was given books to analyse
before writing a story. He was given Alfu Laila, Ikra and some Arab story
books. If I am given books now and I am asked to produce books, certainly even
if you want 1000 books I can produce them, if I will be given the stories. For
instance, if you give me a collection of British or Scottish folklore and I am
asked to produce books in Hausa, it would not be difficult for me to produce
them.’
These are the transcripts of
Hafsat’s interviews. Can you now deduce between Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed and
Sir Abubakar Imam who is a ‘Creative’ or an ‘Analytical’ writer? Yes of course
you can. However, since my goal in this attempt is to spell out the implication
of this assertion to the young and aspiring writers, I will first of all
present a few salient, but pertinent questions for them to understand what and
who is a creative and/or an analytical writer. In the forefront is what fiction
is and to identify where and how fiction writings originates.
As a general rule, fiction is made out of
nothing and on the other hand non-fiction comes out of something. The simplest
way of considering fiction is to see it as something that is ‘feigned, invented
or untrue; a made-up story’. It is therefore, an
artistic creative invention. It is literature created from imagination. While a fiction writer
might draw inspiration from the world around him, his work is made up from his
imagination. It is created by a writer’s imaginary ideas and
relies on the story of imaginary things, imaginary people, imaginary events,
imaginary places and imaginary writing. Therefore, it is artificial, because a
writer based on just his imagination creates stories. The invented story is entirely
a reflection of the writer’s imagination. Fiction
is commonly divided into three areas according to the general appearance of the
text:
1.
stories and novels: prose--that is, the usual paragraph
structure--forming chapters
2.
poetry: lines of varying length, forming stanzas
3.
plays: spoken lines and stage directions, arranged in scenes
and acts
However,
the genres of Fiction are many, they may include: comedy,
drama,
horror,
humor, romance,
satire,
tragedy,
fantasy
and adventure. These may be depicted in imaginary
voyage, sea story, lost world, slave
narrative, occupational fiction, musical
fiction, sports fiction, philosophical fiction, political
satire, fantasy, ghost story, alien
invasion, crime fiction, romance,
family saga,
fantasy, a fable,
fairy tales, science fiction,
short story, folklore,
historical fiction, a tall tale,
legend mystery,
mythology, etc.
It
is important to note that if something is said to have happened in real places,
whether in the past or present, it is considered non-fiction. But if something
is said to have taken place in a fake place, then it is fiction. For instance, newspaper articles are nonfiction even when fabricated,
except in designated columns of folklore. It does not matter whether the story
is true or not, what matters is whether the story claims to describe reality. Unfortunately, according
to Daniel J. Kurland (2000), ‘The distinction between fiction and nonfiction
has been blurred in recent years. Novelists (writers of fiction) have based
stories on real life events and characters (nonfiction), and historians
(writers of nonfiction) have incorporated imagined dialogue (fiction) to
suggest the thoughts of historical figures’.’
From the foregoing, it is
clear to identify where and how fiction writings originates. From a simple
glance, it originates from the writer’s IMAGINATION. It is also clear that
there is a binding relationship between the writer’s artistic imagination and
his artistic creation. His artistic creation comes out of his artistic
imagination. Would it then be right to conclude that without imagination, there
would never be fiction? If that is the case, then my next line of questions in
order to really have a clear picture of a ‘creative’ and an ‘analytical’
fiction writer, would be “What is the source of the writer’s IMAGINATION? Can
somebody write fiction without knowledge? If not, what are the sources of a
fiction writer’s knowledge?” Hmmm! Even in a multidisciplinary setting, to
consider the theories of imagination and epistemology is taking us way out of
literature to the subject matter of psychology, sociology and philosophy. Now
you can understand what I meant when I said the size and weight of
the subject kept forcing me to procrastinate undertaking this herculean
discourse. However, since my not undertaking the adventure had given me sleepless
nights, I will plod to the end.
Therefore, that and Sam
Ogabidu’s one line Facebook post of 30th November 2016 would be my
next consideration in my attempt to unravel between “Hafsatu Ahmed Abdulwaheed
and Sir Abubakar Imam, who is a ‘Creative’ and/or an ‘Analytical’ fiction
writer”.
-TO BE CONTINUED-
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