Who is Ummi Ibrahim Usman – (Ummi Zee Zee)

Who is Ummi Ibrahim Usman – (Ummi Zee Zee)

Ummi Ibrahim Usman, popularly known as Zee Zee or Ummu Zee-zee, is a former Kannywood and Nollywood actress who reached the limelight after starring in the Hausa movie Jinsi. Aside from being famous in Kannywood, the actress was known as a singer and businesswoman as well.

Biography

Early Life and Family

Born in 1987 to Shuwa/Kanuri parents in Borno State, Nigeria, Ummi Ibrahim Usman has sparked a lot of controversy in the media for a variety of reasons.

Career Beginnings and Breakthrough

Ummi Ibrahim Usman last starred in a movie in 2006, and when asked for the reason, she said that the film producers may not be able to afford her for a role. Despite her exit from the movie industry, she has called upon current Kannywood actresses to keep honoring and respecting her because she has left an indelible mark in the industry that none of them can erase. This was evident in the controversial interview with Premium Times Paper, where she said in Hausa, “nafi duka ‘yan matan Kannywood Aji,” which translates as “I have surpassed the status of all the [current] Kannywood actresses.” In response to Ummi Zee Zee’s self-acclaimed supremacy, another popular Kannywood actress, Umma Shehu, strongly denied the claim and said she was nothing but a ‘small fly’ in the industry.

Career Highlights

Significant Roles and Films

Ummi Ibrahim Usman, once a household name in Northern Nigeria and beyond, has starred in several blockbuster movies such as Jinsi, Flag of Love, Gender, Gambiza, and Yan uwa.

Major Achievements and Awards

She gained her nickname Zee Zee from her role in the movie Jinsi, where she also received an award. Despite her early retirement from acting, her contributions to Kannywood remain significant.

Personal Life

Controversies and Relationships

The Nigerian actress was rumored to have dated General Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian head of state, the likely reason behind her expensive lifestyle, which included moving around in a convoy of several exotic Jeeps. In an interview, she confirmed the rumor that she was once in a relationship with him, but it has ended; however, they are still friends.

Ummi Zee Zee was said to have been previously in a relationship with the Benue-born musician, Timaya, when she was in Lagos State. A relationship she has since described as one filled with regrets. Furthermore, there were speculations of her leaving Islam to make her relationship work with the artist; however, she denied it and described it as mere allegations because she loves practicing her religion and nothing will make her convert to another.

In 2021, rumors had it that she contemplated suicide after she was duped by a fraudster of a huge sum of money amounting to about 500 million Naira who posed as a business partner in a supposed crude oil deal. However, she later cleared the air and confirmed being duped but denied that she had contemplated suicide as a result.

Ummi proudly said she doesn’t need to wear make-up as she was beautifully created and her natural beauty needed no artificial improvement. She often flaunts her long natural hair as seen in many of her photos online; however, she said it doesn’t translate to her being unserious with her religion.

Net Worth

While specific figures about Ummi Ibrahim Usman’s net worth are not publicly disclosed, her association with high-profile individuals and her luxurious lifestyle suggest significant wealth. Her ventures in acting, singing, and business likely contributed to her financial success.

Conclusion

Ummi Ibrahim Usman, also known as Zee Zee, has made a lasting impact on Kannywood and Nollywood. Despite stepping away from acting, her legacy and influence continue to be felt in the industry. Her personal life, marked by high-profile relationships and controversies, keeps her in the media spotlight.

Why Taking ORS for Sahur is Harmful for You

Why Taking ORS for Sahur is Harmful for You

Recently, there has been a new trend of taking ORS for Sahur. People are now of the habit of drinking the oral rehydration salts mixture during or immediately after the pre-dawn meal in Ramadan.

This habit is more prevalent in Kano State, even though other states have joined, too, as youth try to escape the dehydration of the hot weather. 

According to the responses of some users who reacted to our questionnaire, this practice is done in other states and is connected to the fact that citizens don’t eat well.

But what exactly is ORS, and what does it do? Is it reasonable to take ORS for your Sahur? Does it have side effects? Let’s find out!

What is ORS?

Oral rehydration salts, ORS, also known as oral rehydration solution or glucose-salt solution, is a mixture of modest amounts of salts and sugar used to prevent and treat dehydration. It was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1978 as its primary tool to combat diarrhea. 

According to research, the use of ORS had resulted in about a 93% reduction in deaths —especially in children— previously caused by diarrhea from cholera or other diseases.

Also Read: How To Avoid Mouth Odor During Ramadan

What Does ORS Do?

When ORS is mixed with water and orally consumed, it helps prevent and treat dehydration. Failure to appropriately rehydrate dehydrated patients, e.g., as a result of cholera, as and when due, is a likely cause of death.

Your body requires some amounts of salts (e.g., sodium and potassium), electrolytes, and sugar for normal functioning. You lose a significant amount of these when you have diarrhea and vomiting. Therefore, using only water to rehydrate the patient will not be sufficient.

Is ORS Bad for You for Sahur? 

ORS is generally safe for consumption. You can easily buy it from stores and pharmacies without any restriction. However, just like all other drugs, ORS has side effects; these include vomiting, high blood sodium, and high blood potassium.

The side effects are usually seen when it is inappropriately taken. The current trend of taking ORS for sahur is likely to increase the prevalence of medical cases resulting from such side effects, including stomach upset and nausea.

What Should You Take for Sahur Instead?

Since you have practically not lost any significant amount of electrolyte or salt during sahur and you aren’t likely to do so during the fasting period, you need not consume ORS.

It suffices for you to drink an adequate quantity of plain clean water, juice, broth, or soup. 

Conclusion

As I explained in this article, the effective use of ORS is to prevent dehydration in people at risk (e.g., those actively vomiting or having diarrhea) and to rehydrate already dehydrated patients (e.g., those were suffering from cholera). 

Unlike in the cases mentioned above, where the body loses salts and electrolytes and needs to be replaced, water is the main thing lost while fasting. Therefore the use of ORS for sahur has no medical basis and is thus uncalled for.

Avoiding this trend is especially important for patients diagnosed with hypertension or any heart or blood vessel disease. These diseases can be worse by the high blood sodium and potassium levels that could result from the inappropriate use of ORS.

FAQs

Can ORS be harmful?

Oral rehydration salts are generally safe and well-tolerated by your body but can result in side effects such as high blood sodium, high blood potassium, vomiting, etc. Nevertheless, the side effects are rarely seen.

When should you not take ORS?

Drugs should only be taken when absolutely necessary. It would help if you did not take ORS when you are neither at risk of dehydration nor already dehydrated.

When vomiting persists despite correct ORS administration, signs of dehydration develop, there is an intestinal blockage, or the person is unable to drink due to a lower level of consciousness, ORS should be withdrawn and fluids are given intravenously instead.

Who should not drink ORS?

Despite its several benefits, ORS can not be taken by some patients. Examples are unconscious patients and patients who cannot take food and water by mouth.

Is it good to take ORS daily?

If you are dehydrated or at risk of dehydration, it is advised that you take ORS until you get better. However, some health professionals recommend that you go to the hospital for better evaluation and treatment if symptoms persist after three days of home treatment with ORS. Despite losing fluid through vomiting, when you take ORS, your body will be able to retain some of the fluids and salts you need.

Does ORS raise BP?

ORS is safe for hypertensive patients; however, some hypertensive patients could occasionally experience a rise in blood pressure while using it because of the salt content. Therefore, I advise that such patients consult with their doctors to get appropriate advice.

Is ORS good for kidney patients?

As with hypertensive patients, kidney disease patients should also thread with caution and remember to take ORS only when its benefits outweighs the risks. If you have kidney disease, ensure to ask for your doctor’s advice.

How to Marry a Hausa Lady in 4 Weeks

How to Marry a Hausa Lady in 4 Weeks

The Hausa language is the predominant language in the northern part of Nigeria, with a significant population of indigenous speakers in the Niger Republic, Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan as well as other African countries.

Hausa ladies are no doubt beautiful, soft-spoken and elegant. If you have been active on social media for the past few years, sights and sounds from the glamorous weddings of Hausa ladies are enough to make you wish to have one as a wife. Well, if you are curious and would like to know how to get married to a Hausa lady, you are at the right place. But before you start thinking of the numbers and colors of kaftan to sew, it is important for you to know these steps that I will share with you. Now, let’s go straight into it!

How to Get Married to a Hausa Lady

With a large percentage of Hausa people practicing the religion of Islam, marriage in Hausaland shares an intricate relationship with that of Islam. This involves laws that disallow any unnecessary communication and physical contact completely between prospective spouses until they become officially pronounced as husband and wife.

That being said, what will you do when you finally see the Hausa lady that captures your heart?

Formal Introduction

The first thing you need to do after seeing the lady of your dreams is to do a little background check, after which you will send your relatives or other respected members of the society to meet her parents, inform them of your intention and seek permission to initiate communication between you two. The lady will then be called upon by her parents – usually the mother – and be asked whether she loves you. If she does, then the proposal will be accepted and investigations regarding you and your family will begin almost immediately. Some families will only accept your proposal if they are satisfied with the results of the background check they have conducted. While a lot of youths now skip this step and go straight to letting the lady know of their intentions, it still remains the ideal.

Now that you have been accepted as a prospective son-in-law, you will be formally allowed to go see their daughter from time to time and discuss future plans. Don’t forget to be going along with gifts though — ladies love gifts.

READ ALSO: Why Hausa Societies Don’t Perform Anymore Baiko During Marriages

Hada Kayan Lefe

After fixing a date for the wedding, this is where your savings will play a part. You will start buying Kayan Lefe. This includes a set of boxes containing jewelry, cosmetics, shoes, bags, undies, and any other clothing material that your future wife will use in your house after marriage. These items are bought based on the list that the lady will provide; you sure wouldn’t want to spend your money buying things that she won’t need. The quantity and quality of items depend on your financial status and that of the lady’s family, so you should be mindful of the family you are planning to marry from.

READ ALSO: The Average Cost of Kayan Lefe

Na Gani Ina So

After seeking permission to start seeing their daughter, some female members of your family are to meet with the lady’s family to present them with gifts. The gifts can be in form of a box containing clothes, jewelry, shoes, bags, and even some cash, depending on your financial strength.

Gaisuwan Iyaye

A little later after being accepted as a prospective in-law, what comes next is to officially go and greet your in-laws-to-be. Here, you will go well-dressed along with your siblings, close friends, or relatives to greet the parents of your future bride as well as their close relatives and friends. You might want to carry some cash with you and give it out after every greeting.

Fixing of Wedding Date (Sa Rana)

As you start getting along with your future wife, you will be expected to start making more moves towards making it official. This is where kayan sa rana comes in; these are items your family will present to the lady’s family so as to fix a date for the wedding. The two families will negotiate and finally agree on a date that will be most convenient for both sides, nevertheless, the lady’s family usually has the upper hand in making the decision. Kayan sa rana usually includes packs or cartons of sweets, chewing gums and kolanut, and some money. For a Fulani lady, you will need to add some bags of salt too.

Shelter and Kayan Daki

Providing shelter is your sole responsibility as the prospective husband. If you cannot build a house, you should rent or get a comfortable apartment before the marriage. While getting the apartment is your responsibility, the lady usually will furnish the house with furniture, kitchen items, etc. Notwithstanding, there is nothing wrong with you doing it by yourself, especially if her family will find it difficult to do it. After all, you are interested in knowing how to get married to a Hausa lady and you want her to leave her parents’ house and move to yours.

Pre Wedding Events

Several pre-wedding events are sometimes held. While events like Kamu, Kunshi/Sa Lalle, and the likes have been practiced for quite a while in Hausaland, many events, earlier unknown to Hausas have been borrowed from other cultures. This includes bridal shower, mother’s eve, Arabian night, and lots more. So, depending on the family you are marrying from, you could end up with a wedding without a single pre- or post-wedding event, or one with several.

ALSO READ: The Evolution of Kamu Tradition in Hausa Land

Kai Kayan Lefe

Delegated female members of your family will take the kayan lefe you have bought to the lady’s family. This is usually done about a week before the wedding. The lady’s family will prepare a small feast that day, and your delegates will be given some tips, known as tukwuici.

Jere

A few days to the wedding, female members of both families will go to the house you have prepared for your bride and arrange the kayan daki brought by her family, and the lefe brought by you.

Kayan Gara

These are food items that the lady’s family will bring to you usually in large quantities. It is either brought during the jere, along with the amarya after the Wedding Fatiha or after the wedding celebrations. If you have spent all your savings and even borrowed additional money to meet up with the marriage expenses, this will help you to recover for a while, before you continue with your responsibility of providing food for the family.

Sadaki (Dowry)

Unlike in some foreign cultures e.g. in India, where the bride’s family is obliged to give out the bride alongside the bride price, it is not the same in Hausaland. Here, the man is expected to give this obligatory gift to his prospective wife, or at least make a promise to pay it at a later time if he cannot afford it at the moment.  This is an expression of the man’s desire to marry her and shoulder her responsibilities. It can be as little as agreed by the prospective couples or as much as they can afford, without however going to the extremes. Nevertheless, if the lady is of Fulani origin, you might be expected to give some cows as dowry or a mixture of cash and cows. It is advised that you consult people from the same community as your prospective wife, to know the range of amount in cash or its equivalence in-kind usually given there.

Daurin Aure

This is the day you have been waiting for. The Wedding Fatiha is officiated by Islamic scholars or other respected members of the society. The lady’s guardian, ‘waliyyi’ will formally announce to have given out his daughter in marriage to you, and your representative, ‘wakili’ will accept her on your behalf in the presence of witnesses. This is done to involve elders in the union, so that whenever the couples are facing a problem, they will be able to intervene and provide solutions. The amount of dowry paid before or on this day is also announced to the hearing of those present.

Conveyance of the Bride (Kai Amarya)

After the Wedding Fatiha, and all other events that will follow, the next thing is to convey the bride (amarya) to her new home. This is the time when most brides cry, not because they are not happy getting married, but because of how sad it is to finally leave the home they’ve known all their lives, for a completely new one. The bride is escorted by her friends and close relatives to the new house, and sometimes one or two might spend the night in the house.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to get married to a Hausa lady, we hope you will take the necessary steps and invite us to your wedding soon. Do you have more to tell us about Hausa weddings or how it differs with your tribe’s, please do tell us about it in the comments section below. We are eager to hear from you!

FAQs

How do Hausa people marry?

This starts from seeking permission from the parents, followed by some pre-wedding rites and events, and officially concluded during the Wedding Fatiha with representatives from both families and witnesses.

How long will it take to marry a Hausa lady?

This depends on several factors, including financial readiness and parents from both sides being satisfied with their prospective in-law.

Can I marry a Hausa lady in four weeks?

Yes, you can. For some families, the whole wedding process can be concluded in much less time.

How much is Hausa Bride Price?

There is no fixed amount for bride price in Hausa land.  It can be as low or as high as the two families agree on. However, moderation is advised, so, always consult with people from the same community ad your prospective wife.

Is Hausa wedding expensive?

This depends on the family you are marrying from. You will definitely spend a lot if you are planning to marry someone from a rich family, but overall, Hausa weddings aren’t expensive.

Can a non-Hausa man marry a Hausa lady?

Yes. A significant example is the marriage of Idris Ajimobi, son of Oyo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and Fatima Ganduje, daughter of Kano State governor.