I was surprised when I started getting fliers from associates announcing a conference on Rarara (see below). It was titled 1st International Conference on the Songs of Alhaji Dauda Kahutu Rarara, with the theme of Studies on the Songs of Alhaji Dauda Adamu Kahutu Rarara.
I almost
deleted it when I took a look at the poorly shared image – and my name was
prominently placed as a Keynote Speaker! The conference, slated for October
2025 is expected to be held at Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina. It seems
to be a collaboration between FUD and a local college. The name of the
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ado, as well as that of Prof Ibrahim Garba
Satatima as the Lead Paper presenter were prominently displayed. This gives the
impression that the Management of FUD and Prof. Ibrahim Garba Satatima have
approved this event. Well, I have not. I don't even know why my name as
included as I am not an expert on Hausa literature.
I want to make
it abundantly clear that while I support the idea of public dissection of
performance arts – music, literature, film, theater, art – I am not part of
this initiative because no one has sought my consent or availability. This is
highly unprofessional. It would appear that in a desperate rush to legitimize
Rarara’s performing arts, either himself or his associates, or both, decided to
rope the university and a few of us into their dastardly fraudulent scheme.
The conference
sub-themes are almost impossible. Take for instance, “Rarara in Contemporary
African Politics” To the best of my knowledge he never held any elected
political position for a paper to be written on his contributions or otherwise
in “African” politics. Lots of error pepper the flier, which could have been
avoided if proper thought and care had gone into its preparation. But I believe
those behind this scheme are eager to score cheap social media points in the
current campaign by his supporters to project him as the greatest Hausa singer
who ever lived. Roping a university and arranging a conference to legitimize
this in presenting analysis of his song seems be to be the best way to
actualize his constant refrain of “Jami’ar Waƙa.” Dozens of comments from his
supporters on various, mainly Facebook, project fetishization of the man and
his perceived lyrical invincibility.
No, this is not
a conference. It is a charade. I am not part of it. And will not be. Dozens of
papers have been written on Rarara, from postings to chapters to articles to
formal dissertations. Just like done for many singers before him. The army of
his young supporters have no access to these various academic researches and
felt they should encourage the conference to legitimize him. I have already
written a comprehensive paper on Rarara, parts of which I posted on my Facebook
wall.
About a day
after the fliers started flying, the authorities of Federal University
Dutsin-Ma issued a public statement denying knowledge or approval of the
proposed conference, amplifying some chicanery on the part of the organizers
who had not contacted the management about it before making a public
announcement.
We as
researchers will continue researching anything that catches our attention – the
good, the bad and the ugly. We neither praise nor condemn. We code, analyze and
report. In conducting research on Rarara, no one is interested or impressed in
who he is – birth, growth, family, wealth, etc. We are only interested in his
prose in form his songs and what they say about him and society. Remove the
songs from the man, and he will be gone, and no one will even notice.
PROF ABDALLAH
UBA ADAMU
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