Executive Summary
X.1 Background
This book presents the internet as an independent “world.” Within this virtual realm, daily activities occur in ways that mirror life in the physical world. On the internet, there are individual participants (personal accounts and platforms) as well as communities (forums and collective platforms). These combine to create virtual neighborhoods, towns, and even countries. Activities within these areas form a self-sufficient ecosystem, much like a parallel world. In this internet world:
a. Economic
and commercial transactions take place similarly to those in the physical world
(markets, shops, traders, etc.).
b. Social
interactions exist in ways that feel dreamlike - such as communities connecting
from across the globe despite never meeting in person.
c. There
are schools, classrooms, and even libraries.
d. Structures
and spaces replicate physical utilities, akin to those in real-life human existence.
Essentially, activities on
the internet parallel those in the real world, and there is an interplay between
the two realms. Physical devices allow individuals to access the internet, and at
times, interactions from the virtual world translate back into real life. For example,
the internet-fostered romance between Isa Suleiman Fanshekara from Kano, Nigeria,
and Janine Sanchez, an American, materialized into real-world marriage (see BBC,
2020, para. 1).
Interestingly, people not
only live but also "die" in the internet world. A BBC report from 2016
described Facebook as a vast cemetery. The report, titled “How Facebook Became
a Virtual Graveyard,” stated that within just eight years of its launch, the
platform had accumulated over 30 million deceased users. By 2012, about 8,000 Facebook
users were passing away daily (BBC, 2016, para. 1). This figure continues to grow
as Facebook’s user base expands.
There is a pressing need for
representatives of Hausa culture in the internet world, just as there are ambassadors
for nations and cultures in the physical world. This book explores the intersection
of Hausa culture and the internet, highlighting the need for cultural representation
in the digital world.
X.2 Scope of the Book
This book is dedicated
to exploring the intersection of Hausa culture and the internet, with a scope strictly
confined to the digital realm. Even within the vast landscape of the internet, the
study narrows its focus to platforms that are directly relevant to Hausa culture.
For other internet platforms, the analysis is limited to assessing their representations
of Hausa culture by evaluating the influence these representations exert on Hausa
traditions. Specifically, the book tracks these platforms to discern what they convey
or portray about Hausa culture. This objective has been pursued through the following
methods:
i.Analyzing
written content;
ii.Examining
images;
iii.Studying
videos; and
iv.Interpreting
symbols.
The book does not impose a
fixed limit on the number of platforms reviewed. This is due to the sheer magnitude
of the global internet, which comprises over 1.75 billion websites as of 2020 (Internet
Live Stats, 2020, para. 2). Restricting the analysis to a small subset of platforms
risks omitting critical insights and discussions. Such an oversight could occur
if platforms containing essential cultural information are excluded from the analysis.
Concerning the influence of
these platforms, this book endeavours to identify their impact on the life of the
Hausa individual, particularly in terms of preserving, promoting, and adapting Hausa
traditions in the digital age.
For platforms specifically
associated with Hausa culture, the focus remains on cultural elements. The study
seeks to:
a. Investigate
how Hausa culture is preserved and promoted online;
b. Evaluate
the current status of Hausa traditions as reflected on Hausa-centric internet platforms;
c. Identify
challenges or threats that Hausa culture faces in the online environment; and
d. Propose
strategies and measures for improving the effectiveness Hausa-centric platforms.
X.3 Chapters of the Book
The book consists
of five chapters:
1. Introduction – overview of the internet's emergence and growth, alongside
a discussion of the term "culture" to lay the groundwork for the book.
It also explores how the internet influences global communities.
2. Hausa Culture and the Internet –examination the growth of Hausa cultural
presence on the internet, highlighting major platforms like Facebook and the broader
impact of the internet on Hausa language and traditions.
3. Spread of Hausa Culture Online – Analysis of how various aspects of Hausa
culture are disseminated online, often becoming visible when related queries are
searched on internet engines.
4. Benefits and Drawbacks of the Internet for Hausa Culture – Discussion on the internet's
positive contributions, such as enhancing connectivity, promoting the Hausa language,
and preserving traditions. It also discusses its negative effects such as moral
degradation, time wastage, and opportunities for fraud. It acknowledges challenges
posed by the internet and suggests strategies for addressing them.
5. Achievements and Challenges of Hausa Internet Platforms – Discussion of the growing
influence of Hausa online platforms in areas like commerce and education. It also
highlights persistent challenges, such as limited support from experts and authorities,
as well as cultural and environmental constraints within Hausa society.
This book serves as a pioneering effort to bridge Hausa culture and the internet, offering insights into how traditions can be preserved, adapted, and represented in the ever-expanding virtual world.
“Tirƙashi! wannan Littafi mai suna Hausa Da Hausawa a Duniyar Intanet, babu
shakka littafi ne kandami a sha a yi
wanka, sannan kuma sabulun salo amfaninka dubu, jar kanwa shan ki magani ajiyar
ki dabara.”
Assoc. Prof. Mu’azu Sa’adu Muhammad
Kudan
Head of Department of Nigerian
Languages & Linguistics
Sule Lamiɗo University Kafin Hausa, Jigawa
State, Nigeria
***
“The book is
well-researched, insightful, and highly relevant to contemporary discussions on
digital cultural representation.”
Dr. Shuaibu Hassan,
Head of Department of African
Languages and Cultures
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Nigeria
***
“The
book excels in several areas. It is backed by extensive research,
well-referenced with credible sources, and structured logically into clear
chapters. The progression of ideas ensures readability and coherence.”
Prof. Musa
Grema
Head of
Department of Languages and Linguistics
Yobe State
University, Nigeria
***
Abu-Ubaida Sani ya rubuta
littattafai da maƙalu sama da 60 da aka wallafa a cikin gida Nijeriya da ƙasashen waje. Ya gabatar da kimanin maƙalu 20 a tarukan ƙara wa juna sani. Edita ne na mujallu daban-daban a ƙasashen da suka haɗa da Nijeriya da Amurka da Indiya da Haɗaɗɗiyar
Daular Larabawa. Shi ne ya assasa babbar kafar intenet ta
Hausar nan wato
Amsoshi (www.amsoshi.com). A yanzu yana koyarwa a Sashen Harsuna da Al’adu da ke Jami’ar
Tarayya Gusau. A duba: www.abu-ubaida.com.
***
Dr.
Adamu Ago Saleh masanin
ilimin harsunan Najeriya ne kuma ƙwararre
a cikin harsunan Afirka, wanda ya ƙware a fannin harsuna da adabin Hausa. Yana jin
harsunan Larabci da Ingilishi da Hausa kuma Bade. Ya yi wallafe-wallafe da
dama. Ya yi aiki a matsayin babban mai ba da horo ga ayyukan USAID da DFID a
matakin jiha da kuma ƙaramar
hukuma, inda ya mai da hankali kan inganta ilimin koyarwa da samarwa da kuma
fassara littattafai ga yaran da suke gudun hijira. Dr. Adamu, yana da aure da kuma ‘ya’ya.
Contact:
WhatsApp: +2348133529736
Email: abuubaidasani5@gmail.com
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