Integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) In Hausa Contemporary Fiction: A Case Study of Bahaguwar Fahimta

Cite this article as: Lamido, I. (2025). Integrating information and communication technology (ICT) in Hausa contemporary fiction: A case study of BahaguwarFahimta. Sokoto Journal of Linguistics and Communication Studies (SOJOLICS), 1(3), 208–212. https://www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i03.027

INTEGRATING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN HAUSA CONTEMPORARY FICTION: A CASE STUDY OF BAHAGUWAR FAHIMTA

By

Ibrahim Lamido PhD

lamidoibrahim52@fukashere.edu.ng

Department of Language and Linguistics,

Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

The emergence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Hausa society has spanned barely three decades, yet it has significantly influenced the social, political, and economic spheres of the Hausa people in northern Nigeria. Its impact is evident in areas such as education, healthcare, business, and other social services. While numerous studies have explored the relevance of ICT to various aspects of human life, its role in literature remains underexamined. This paper investigates the application of ICT in the depiction of cybercrime within Hausa contemporary fiction, focusing on Rufa’i Abubakar Adam’s novel BahaguwarFahimta. Employing a case study research design and descriptive analysis, the study highlights how ICT domains, such as cybersecurity, coding languages, programming, and software engineering, are utilized in constructing storylines and advancing narrative development. Furthermore, it examines the functional role of ICT components in shaping the plot and explores the challenges faced by the author in integrating these technological elements into the literary work. The study demonstrates the critical contribution of ICT to contemporary Hausa fiction and provides insights into the intersection of technology and literature.

Keywords: BahaguwarFahimta, ICT, Hausa, contemporary Fiction, Kamila

1. Introduction

This research is inherently interdisciplinary, bridging the fields of information and communication technology (ICT) and the humanities, with a particular focus on contemporary prose fiction. It examines the applications of ICT within Hausa literature, highlighting the ways in which digital tools and technologies can contribute to storytelling, narrative structure, and thematic development. Although the study diverges from the primary themes of the conference, it provides a valuable perspective by demonstrating how ICT can be leveraged in the creation and analysis of modern prose fiction, thereby offering participants insights into the convergence of technology and literary production.

The term “Information Technology” (IT) first appeared in 1958 in an article published in the Harvard Review, where Leovit and Whisler noted that “the new technology does not yet have a single established name. We shall call it Information Technology” (Philips, 2000, p. 12). Building on this foundation, information and communication technology (ICT) has been defined as the acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual, and numerical information through a combination of computing and telecommunications based on microelectronics (Karl, 1961; Walter, 2002). ICT encompasses a broad range of domains, including computer hardware, software, programming languages, data management, and information systems. Its versatility enables applications across numerous sectors, including the creative and literary fields.

In this study, attention is given to the novel BahaguwarFahimta by Rufa’i Abubakar Adam, a notable author of contemporary Hausa prose fiction. The research investigates how ICT tools and principles are employed within the narrative to detect and analyze crime, demonstrating the capacity of technological frameworks to shape plot development and enrich storytelling. The study specifically examines the components of ICT that inform the construction of the story, their functional role in advancing the plot, and the challenges encountered by the author in integrating these technological elements into the narrative.

BahaguwarFahimta, which can be translated as Misplaced Knowledge, narrates the story of a Dubai-based telecommunications company at the end of the twentieth century, seeking the expertise of an ICT firm to develop a software capable of managing advanced technological creation globally. Initially designed by an Arab software programmer, Sa’id Aslam, the software, named Kamila, remained incomplete due to Aslam’s untimely death. Subsequent attempts by other ICT experts to finish the software failed, leaving the project unresolved. Engineer Dayyabu Dahiru, a skilled computer engineer employed by W.A. Technologies, undertakes the challenge to complete Kamila despite strong opposition from a rival firm determined to thwart his efforts. Unknown to Dayyabu, the software possesses transformative potential, capable of altering human thought and perception, demonstrating how ICT within literature can extend beyond technical functionality to explore profound social and cognitive implications (Adam, 2024).

This research thus seeks to illuminate the intersections of technology and literature, illustrating how ICT not only serves as a tool within narrative construction but also expands the thematic and cognitive dimensions of contemporary Hausa prose fiction.

Literature Review

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refer to digital tools and platforms such as computers, mobile phones, the internet, word-processing software, social media, and multimedia applications used for creating, storing, and disseminating information. In literary studies, ICT has significantly transformed creative writing by influencing how narratives are conceived, structured, produced, and circulated. Bolter (2001) and Landow (2006) argue that digital technologies have reshaped storytelling through hypertextuality, non-linear narration, and multimedia integration. These changes have extended to African literatures, including indigenous language fiction such as Hausa literature.

Hausa fiction has a long tradition rooted in oral narratives, folktales, and later written forms such as soyayya novels. Earlier Hausa narratives followed linear storytelling patterns influenced by oral performance and print culture. However, with the introduction of ICT, contemporary Hausa fiction has begun to reflect digital realities, both thematically and structurally. Studies by Furniss (1996) and Larkin (2008) note that modern Hausa popular culture increasingly engages with media technologies, which subsequently shape fictional narratives.

The storyline of a fictional work refers to the sequence of events, plot development, conflicts, and resolutions that structure the narrative. ICT influences storyline creation in Hausa fiction in several ways. First, access to online resources exposes writers to global narrative techniques, genres, and styles, which they adapt to local Hausa contexts. This exposure encourages innovative plot structures, including episodic narratives and parallel storylines.

Second, digital communication tools such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and online forums have become narrative elements within Hausa fiction. Scholars like Newell (2013) observe that contemporary Hausa novels increasingly depict characters whose interactions and conflicts are mediated through mobile phones and social media. This integration of ICT into the storyline reflects changing social realities in Northern Nigeria and adds realism to modern Hausa narratives.

Third, ICT supports collaborative and audience-influenced storytelling. Online publishing platforms and social media allow writers to receive immediate feedback from readers, which may influence the direction of ongoing storylines. This interactive process blurs the boundary between author and audience and introduces a participatory dimension to Hausa fiction storytelling.

Moreover, multimedia elements such as images, audio narration, and video adaptations shared through ICT platforms further enrich storytelling. While the core narrative remains textual, these elements influence how writers imagine scenes, dialogue, and dramatic tension during the creative process.

Despite the growing influence of ICT on Hausa fiction, existing literature reveals gaps. Most studies focus on popular culture, media, or language use, with limited attention to how ICT specifically shapes storyline construction. There is also a need for empirical studies examining writers’ creative processes and the extent to which digital tools influence plot development in Hausa fiction. Addressing these gaps will contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection between technology and indigenous literary creativity.

 

 

2.  Methodology

This study adopted a case study research design to gain a contextual understanding of the application of ICT components in the Hausa contemporary novel BahaguwarFahimta. The case study approach was particularly suitable for exploring emerging and understudied areas such as Hausa digital fiction, allowing for an in-depth examination of how technological elements are integrated into literary narratives.

Research Questions

The study was guided by the following research questions:

What ICT components are employed by the author in BahaguwarFahimta?

How do these components contribute to shaping the storyline?

What challenges did the author encounter in incorporating ICT components into the narrative?

Method of Data Analysis

A descriptive qualitative approach was employed to analyze the data, reflecting the qualitative nature of the study. The analysis did not rely on numerical data, tables, or figures, as these were not appropriate for the textual and thematic information under investigation. The primary data source was the novel BahaguwarFahimta, supplemented by secondary sources and insights provided by a research assistant with expertise in ICT, given that the researcher’s primary specialization is in the humanities. This method facilitated a comprehensive understanding of how ICT components function within the narrative and their impact on plot development.

3. Results and Analysis

3.1  Analysis of the Application of ICT Domains in BahaguwarFahimta

The contemporary Hausa novel BahaguwarFahimta demonstrates a sophisticated integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) domains, which play a critical role in both the storyline and the depiction of modern Hausa society. The ICT components applied in the narrative are examined as follows:

ICT Firms

The novel foregrounds ICT firms as a central theme, reflecting their growing significance as modern business entities within Hausa society. Key firms include a telecommunications company in Dubai, the owners of the Kamila software, W.A Technologies in Gombe, Nigeria, which was awarded the contract to develop the software, and Dr. Tanko’s rival firm competing for the same contract. The protagonist, Dayyabu Dahiru, is introduced as a software programmer, accompanied by his classmate Aziza and a former lecturer, a professor of computer engineering. These characters and firms illustrate the real-world expansion of ICT as a business and livelihood avenue in Hausa society, highlighting the novel’s engagement with contemporary technological developments.

Coding
Coding, the set of instructions that computers follow to execute specific tasks, is foundational to software development (Knuth, 1997). In BahaguwarFahimta, coding is central to the creation of the Kamila software, a sophisticated program designed to manipulate scientific and artistic data. The novel narrates how the Arab programmer Sa’id Aslam began developing the software but died before its completion. Subsequently, Dayyabu Dahiru successfully develops the software while contending with a rival firm attempting to seize it. Coding also appears in encrypted messages within the story, such as a numeric code decoded by Dayyabu revealing that Nazir had stolen the Kamila software (Adam, 2024, pp. 90, 115). These instances exemplify the application of coding in constructing the plot and advancing the narrative.

Passwords
Passwords, secret strings of characters that protect digital information (Menezers, Oorschot, & Vanstone, 1996; Rahul & Bacon, 2025), are depicted in the novel as pivotal to the software’s security. The Kamila software, central to the storyline, is password-protected. A key plot event involves Aziza, Dayyabu’s girlfriend, attempting to acquire the software for a black-market transaction but failing due to the unknown password. The climax reveals that the password is ‘Aziza,’ underscoring themes of trust, betrayal, and emotional ties within the digital context (Adam, 2024, pp. 147–148).

Computer Hardware

The narrative also integrates computer hardware components, including hard drives, desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones, and memory cards. These devices facilitate the development, storage, and operation of the Kamila software, reflecting the practical ICT infrastructure within contemporary Hausa society (Menezers, Oorschot, & Vanstone, 1996; Meyer, 1997).

3.2  Roles of ICT Components in Shaping the Story

The ICT components significantly shape the storyline and enhance narrative depth. Coding enables W.A Technologies to operate their digital business effectively and drives the creation of the Kamila software, which is central to the plot. The password introduces tension, suspense, and excitement, particularly through the conflicts involving Dr. Tanko, Aziza, and Batale, highlighting themes of deception, desperation, and betrayal. Additionally, the presence of ICT firms underscores the proliferation of digital business in Hausa society, demonstrating the economic and social relevance of technology among Hausa and Yoruba communities. Collectively, these ICT elements not only structure the narrative but also reflect the integration of digital practices into contemporary Hausa literature.

4.  Findings

The study reveals the integration of ICT domains in generating ideas for contemporary Hausa fiction. Hardware components such as computers, storage devices, and mobile phones are prominently featured, alongside software elements including programming, software design, and the use of passwords. The storyline illustrates the sophistication of Hausa writers in incorporating scientific and technological concepts into their fiction. Since these writers often draw inspiration from their observations of everyday life, the narrative also reflects the broader progress of Hausa society in northern Nigeria in adopting ICT. This serves as further evidence of the role of ICT in Hausa society, particularly in business and education, as highlighted by Sani and Rabi’u (2023) and Sani, Maikwari, and Bazango (2022).

5.  Conclusion

The study demonstrates how both hardware and software ICT components are effectively employed to construct a storyline centered on information, technology, and security within the context of Hausa society. Although the paper does not directly align with the main theme of the conference, it provides valuable insights into the interdisciplinary application of ICT in the humanities. Moreover, it reflects the growing sophistication and adoption of ICT among the Hausa people, particularly in business, education, and technological awareness.

Based on the findings, several recommendations are proposed. Authors who wish to incorporate specialized knowledge, particularly in scientific or technological areas, should conduct thorough background research to accurately and effectively integrate these concepts into their narratives. Additionally, authors are encouraged to read widely and acquire sufficient knowledge that can be translated into their fiction, thereby producing richer stories that meaningfully contribute to societal values and norms. Finally, authors may benefit from consulting experts to review and provide constructive feedback on their literary works, ensuring that the technical and thematic elements are accurately represented and enhancing the overall quality of the novels.

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