by Amina Abubakar Hussaini | Jun 8, 2022 | Uncategorized
Kayan Mata translates as “women’s property.” This category, Kayan Mata Hausa encompasses all of the products used by women. However, aphrodisiacs are more commonly referred to by this term.
Aphrodisiacs are substances that arouse or are thought to arouse sexual desire (such as food or drug). A wide range of herbs and food including fruits have been related to the term Kayan Mata.
It is also noted sometimes to include incense, which triggers sexual urges among couples. Other triggers include aphrodisiac foods and drinks.
Origin of Kayan Mata
The word “Kayan” directly translates to the ‘property of…’, and “Mata” means ‘women’ in the Hausa language which is the dominant language of the northerners. This term originates from the northern part of Nigeria dating as long as time.
Originally, northern women have traditionally utilized Kayan Mata to prepare a bride who would be able to meet not just her husband’s domestic requirements, but also his sexual cravings.
It was designed specifically for married women who wished to spice up their libido. However, modern-day Kayan Mata now encompasses a large number of individuals and has spread far beyond Northern Nigeria’s borders.
Types of Kayan Mata
There is a wide range of Kayan Mata Hausa which comes in the form of tablets, syrup, drinks, perfumes, and dishes. And these can all be categorized based on their uses.
1. Kayan Mata for Vagina Tightening
This includes various types of herbs that facilitate making the vagina tight for sexual pleasure. Herbs used in this category may include lalle (henna plant), bagaruwa (Acacia), and also cloves. These are mostly boiled, and used for sitz baths, or used to wash the vagina.
It is also believed to also help treat various vaginal infections such as yeast infections when used periodically after a woman’s menstrual flow.
2. Kayan Mata for Libido-Boosting
In this category, these herbs are used to treat erectile dysfunction. Here, the Goron Tula fruit also known as the silky kola is used where it can either be chewed or its juice extracted and boiled with other herbs to help treat the problem.
Also, gindin ayu, which is derived from the genital of the fish known as Ayu, is mostly found in places like Maiduguri. This is used to make one’s partner remain faithful as he gets maximum satisfaction. The fish remains glued to its partner’s genitals and even separated, does not desire another. This is replicated with men and women who use it as they exhibit traits of the Ayu faithfulness.
3. Kaya Mata for Favour and Attraction
This Kayan Mata Hausa is one of the most controversial of these aphrodisiacs, as it is believed to be laced with spiritual powers. Prayers are done and mixed with the components used for this type, to gain favour from one’s partner.
Causes of the Rise of Aphrodisiacs Sale
One cannot categorically state the reason for the sudden rise of aphrodisiacs sale in Arewa, but it can be identified, with these:
1. Social Exposure
The mingling of the north to the outer world can be associated with the rise of aphrodisiac sales in the north; to be more precise, interaction, and association with individuals, either on the internet, or person to person. This gives room for the knowledge of the existence of Kaya Mata to be widely spread.
2. High Market Demand
Well, if more individuals get introduced to Kayan Mata Hausa, there would be an increase in the market for these products – a factor that is a likely cause for the rise. The demand becomes higher hence, the increase in the production and competition for the sale of Kayan Mata Hausa.
3. Its Affordability
Most Kayan Mata Hausa produced in Arewa is fairly cheap. For example, ingredients used to make tsumi are very much available and affordable to the general public thus, become a moving factor for the increase in the rise of aphrodisiac sales in Arewa.
4. Sexual Exposure
Let us dive into the most crucial reason for the increase of the rise of aphrodisiac sales in Arewa. Sex is a leading factor in the reason why there is a high demand for Kayan Mata Hausa products. Individuals of various ages ranging from adolescence are the main consumers of these products at an alarming rate.
Side Effect of Kayan Mata
Though these aphrodisiacs have been largely proved to be medicinal, and have been able to help with sexual enhancement, it is like every other thing, with a side effect. This mainly arises because there are no systematic and scientific procedures for manufacturing it and also because its dosage can be abused.
Components of herbs used do not undergo any testing to prove their compatibility with other herbs combined which are used to produce these products. Some of its side effects may include:
1. Kidney Failure and Liver Damage
Due to the rise of aphrodisiacs sales in Arewa, vendors sell adulterated products to unsuspecting customers, who have no idea of the concoctions sold to them. Such herbs can cause liver damage and kidney failure as they can contain toxic materials.
A study published in the medical journal of Australia has shown that these herbs contain toxic metals that interfere with having a healthy liver.
2. Drug Interactions
One of the side effects of Kayan Mata Hausa is that it is a herb that would interact with many medicines. Drug Interactions sometimes can stop the drug from working and other times, it would enhance the medications depending on the properties used.
Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the usage for pregnant women.
3. Withdrawal Syndrome
This is a medical condition that is brought about when there is a discontinuation of a certain type of medication. This may mean that when Kayan Mata Hausa herb is meant to increase libido. It is very possible to return to having a very low sexual drive.
4. Mental and Spiritual Interference
Aside from the use of Kayan Mata Hausa herbs, the controversial favor and attraction are attributed to the spiritual properties of these certain products.
It is thus capable of leading to mental and spiritual interference when the user is not religious or spiritually sound. It could also lead to several occurrences of mental breakdown.
5. It Could Lead to Contamination
A major concern for the production of Kayan Mata is hygiene and bacterias presence which may be pathogenic and nonpathogenic. It is advisable to wash fruits or herbs specifically used to produce these aphrodisiacs to avoid contamination.
Popular Vendors and Market for Kayan Mata
As the rise of aphrodisiacs sales in northern Nigeria continues to hit the market’s supply demands, a lot of vendors have risen to the challenge of sourcing these materials. This makes it making final products to be distributed within and across the nation.
A popular vendor known for her favor and attraction Kayan Mata Hausa and also for the discovery of the various use of Goron Tula is Hauwa Saidu Muhammad also known as Jaruma who runs the Jaruma Empire.
She has successfully hit market-wide a wide range of this Kayan Mata Hausa and has recorded huge success.
Conclusion
There has been a vast rise in the sale of aphrodisiacs in northern Nigeria. this might be due to the high demands for this product across the nation, thus making these herbs which were neglected over time to be in demand.
For example, the Goron Tula fruit also known as silky kola indigenous to the Tula tribe in Gombe state has become very expensive as there is a higher demand for it.
by Maryam Idris Bappa | Feb 10, 2022 | Archives
What makes a man is The title of a song released by an Irish pop vocal group/boyband popularly known as “West Life” in the album “Coast to Coast”. Also, a question that ought to be no longer rhetorical in the mind of every single member of the Northern Nigeria society. Why? I will paint you a very short but interesting picture.
Imagine two Northern Nigeria stereotypes; Mr. A and Mr. B. Both above thirty. Mr. A is a forty-five-year-old accomplished civil servant; living a luxurious life in a well-furnished apartment but with no family of his own. Mr. B is a thirty-six-year-old moderately-to-do businessman; living a middle-class life with one wife or more and children.
Who is going to be labeled more “Man” in the Northern Nigeria society? Let us hold on to that thought for a while.
Notice closely, that three simple criteria including age, wealth, and responsibility/family were considered in the formation of these stereotypes. And although there could be more, these three for most readers of Northern Nigeria or anywhere, were more than ample to make an immediate mental judgment as to who is more man than the other. Perhaps, if there was more, then it was left to those lacking in any of the three fields to find stitches to patch up their masculine wears and tears.
A man is not who he thinks he is; he is what he hides.
Andre Malraux, Author of Man’s Fate
Meaning that the secrets we hide are what defines us. So could there be more to the question of ‘who is more man than who in the Northern Nigeria society’, rather than the simple societal stereotypes? Perhaps, we ought to open closets and ask about forgotten skeletons. Thus, we will start with the basic question of who a man is.
Who Is A Man?
A man as defined by dictionary sources is “An adult male person”; that is someone who biologically is of the male sex and passed the age of boyhood.
Societally, to be one’s own man is to be free and independent. Meanwhile, those traits, habits behaviors, or roles that society considers appropriate for a man are referred to as masculinity, manliness, or manhood.
Some even argue that just like wealth, race, or social class, masculinity has a social status and higher social status is achieved with higher masculinity. Therefore, having understood who a man is, the next step for us is to begin to ponder on our initial question; that is to find out “what makes a man”.
What Makes a Man?
Good question. An even more interesting one comes from the opinions of different individuals, in different societies, and with different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. Since there is no objective out-of-the-textbook explanation of what makes a man, it was left to assume a better way of understanding this question.
As such, conducting a survey of answers from Quora; an international Q & A online platform, where questions are asked and answered for the purpose of sharing and growing knowledge, answers to this particular question were found and a review of them gave me the following points of what makes a man:
- A boy becomes a man through the process of struggle.
- A man is someone charged with the responsibility of caring not only for himself but for others around him. He also doesn’t blame others for his mistakes but apologizes and corrects them.
- A man has a strong moral code by which he lives and is defined. He constantly recognizes his weakness and strives to be better.
- A man discovers his true inner self and doesn’t change his personality as change takes place in the outside world. In other words, he is not easily influenced.
- A man is conscious of himself and controls his instincts, urges, and emotions.
- A man is steadfast in his decisions. He knows when to be flexible and when to say no.
- A man is free to define himself.
The aforementioned points have tried to define what makes a man based on a general perception of people from different societies. A man’s Life experience, Responsibility, Moral code, Strength of character, Self-awareness, Steadfastness, and Choice are what I found to be the most popular opinions.
However, how can I use these points to discover which is most relevant in our Northern Nigeria society?
What Makes a Man in Northern Nigeria Society?
You will recall the image we digested earlier of two Northern Nigeria stereotypes using age, wealth, and responsibility to decide who was more man than whom. Recall how ‘you’ were also accused of making an on-spot decision. From there, we went on to explain the concept of who a man was and what was his masculinity. Our goal now is to decide what makes a man in Northern Nigerian society.
Traits, habits, behaviors, or roles that society considers to be appropriate for a man have been found to be considered his masculinity/manhood. Seven areas including; his Life experience, Responsibilities, Moral code, Strength of character, Self-awareness, Steadfastness, and Choice were considered generally to be vital.
Therefore, comparing the criteria used earlier in stereotyping the Northern Nigerian man to these seven points leads us closer to finding out what makes a man in Northern Nigerian society. The confluence point was found at the responsibility valley. Clearly, age and wealth when compared to responsibility, could not have been the major catalysts that influenced your hastened decision of who or what a man is. Rather the roles/responsibility attached to a man is what drives Northern Nigeria society to assess his masculinity.
These roles/responsibilities of a man in Northern Nigeria society will be the master key that will unlock the closet door and allow us a peek at its skeletons if any.
What Is The Role of a Man in Northern Nigerian Society?
This takes origin from the concept of “Gender role”; which is a set of behaviors and attitudes considered desirable or appropriate based on that person’s gender.
The term role could be defined as a duty that someone or something is expected to have. At the same time, it is the way someone or something is involved in an activity. Going for a more elaborate definition, a role is a socially-expected behavioral pattern usually determined by an individual’s status in a particular society. Similarly, it is a set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms as conceptualized by a society.
All these combine to interrogate the role of a man in Northern Nigeria society as follows:
What are the rights duties and obligations of a Northern Nigerian man?
How is the Northern Nigeria man involved in activities of Northern Nigeria society?
Roles carried out by Northern Nigerian men are undeniably vast but nonetheless, they can be classified based on their positions/status or their general functions. The positional roles of a Northern Nigerian man can be dynamic, that is, they can evolve or be interchangeable based on his current position in the family and society. The Northern Nigeria man therefore can discharge his roles based on his position as follows:
- As a father
- As a husband
- As a son
- As a brother
- As an uncle
- As a neighbor
Whatever position a man may occupy in the family or society, there are certain roles he is bound to come across. These roles unlike his positions are not dynamic. Careful analysis of both leads us to categorize the roles of a Northern Nigeria man in society in four unique ways namely:
- Domestic roles
- Religious roles
- Socio-cultural roles
- National roles.
These will be carefully elaborated and looked at.
Domestic Roles of A Man
Domestic roles are duties and obligations assigned to members of a household to ensure efficient meeting of its basic needs. Either as a son, husband, or father, men in Northern Nigeria society are expected to carry out assigned responsibilities in the family.
These mostly include:
1. Household Labour (Chores)
Due to the physical strength of men, a man is expected to do hard and labor-intensive activities in the household. For example, he will wash the car, do the gardening, and perform animal slaughter.
2. Technical Work
A man is expected to learn simple household technical work in order to take care of problems that may arise without employing the services of a technician. He may take care of:
- Electrical tasks like changing sockets, bulbs, turning on or servicing generator, and simple vehicle checks.
- Plumbing tasks in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
3. HouseHold Representation/Leadership
A man in the Northern Nigeria society serves as the link between the women of the house and the outside world. Religion and culture do not encourage Northern Nigerian women to have unlimited freedom with no control. Therefore, a man in the household is faced with certain responsibilities like:
Being a natural leader to women below and above him. He may do so by providing them with emotional strength and guidance.
Going on errands outside the home as much as he can, especially at night and also, sometimes accompanied the women of the house.
Answering the door and ushering male guests.
4. Discipline and Security
A man is expected at all times to ensure peace and orderliness within his household and arrest conflict when it arises. He is also charged with the responsibility of keeping members of the household safe from internal and external harm. Therefore, he is:
Active alert and checks all locks and appliances for safety before retiring to bed at night.
Passive alert at all times and watches out for suspicious sounds and movement within and around the boundary of his home.
5. Financial responsibility
A husband, father, and sometimes even son are responsible for the financial well-being of every member of the household. Not only that, he is at other times, expected to contribute to the financial well-being of other members of the extended family. As such, he must work hard and earn a living in order to:
Provide good food, clothing, shelter, and education to those he is responsible for.
Give allowances where expected.
Regularly, chips in and contributes to the well-being of his extended family.
Religious Roles of Man
The predominant religion in Northern Nigeria, Northern Nigeria is Islam. This has provided the Northern Nigerian society with certain beliefs, behaviours, and obligations to follow. In addition to the completion of personal obligation to God, he is also tasked by religion with several roles.
Some of these roles that religion has mandated for the Northern Nigeria man include:
1. Religious Leadership Roles
A well-learned and societally accepted man with good moral and social conduct is charged with leadership roles like:
- He leads prayers as the Imam in mosques and leads prayers for the deceased.
- He assumes political roles in society.
- Also, he as a man can become a scholar who delivers preaching like “Tafseer” in religious gatherings
- A man is charged with carrying on the name of his father and passing it down to his own children.
2. Religious Rites Roles
Execution of certain religious rites has been assigned solely to men by religion. These rites are prohibited for a woman to perform. They include:
- Acting as “Waliyyi” and “Wakili” in marriage.
- Taking part in prayers of the deceased and escorting the dead to the grave.
- Giving out “Zakkatul fitr” (alms) on behalf of his family
- He is the one to seek permission from a woman’s father to court her when looking for marriage. He also pays a token for the woman before he can take her as his wife. This token is referred to as “Sadaki” or bride price.
3. Matrimonial Roles
The roles of a man in marriage have been clearly outlined by religion in Northern Nigerian society. These include:
- Financial responsibility: He becomes financially responsible for his wife’s food, shelter, clothing, education, and discipline according to the teachings of Islam.
- Emotional responsibility: He protects and safeguards his wife’s emotional state of mind.
- Moral & Spiritual responsibility: He guides and educates his wife on her moral and spiritual conduct. For example, he should constantly monitor/permit her interactions with people outside her home or make sure she discharges her prayers on time.
4. Moral Role
Personal code of conduct of behaviours and interactions with people have been clearly outlined by religion for the man to follow. He is expected to:
- Offer a handshake in greeting and say the “Salam” when passing a fellow Muslim or group of Muslims.
- He is expected to imitate qualities like honesty, patience, and humility among others.
- He is expected to obey and honor his parents and especially his mother as she is the key to his paradise.
Socio-Cultural Roles
These are roles spelled out by the society based on their culture and tradition. They are socially accepted beliefs, norms, and behaviours allowed of a Northern Nigerian man. In addition, they are rules handed down from generation to generation which may or may not be dynamic. They include the following;
1. Occupational Roles
Certain occupations in Northern Nigeria society until today are believed to be suitable for men and unheard of for women. Even though the Northern Nigerian man has a white-collar job, he is encouraged by society to be involved in technical/manual jobs or trading.
Examples of such occupations Northern Nigeria society has outlined for men include; wanzam, carpentry, building, animal rearing, etc.
2. Courtship Roles
Before a man in Northern Nigeria society marries, he undergoes a period of courtship in which after taking permission from the lady’s father, they get to know each other before marriage. Society has socially constructed roles the Northern Nigerian man must play in this period. They are as follows:
- He initiates the courtship process.
- He offers gifts occasionally to the lady whom he wants to marry.
- Before he marries her, he is expected to complete the cultural rites of marriage like gifting her clothes or otherwise “Lefe” and other necessary cultural rites.
National Roles
Northern Nigerian people are naturally proud of genetic traits handed to them like wisdom in speech, strong moral/social code, and ambition.
Wherever a Northern Nigeria man is, it is his responsibility to:
1. Political Role
- Use his natural skills and talents to govern the nation politically.
- Become a recognized trade or craftsman.
2. Citizenship Role
- Be a law-abiding member of the nation and dispatch his duties accordingly
- Abstain from criminal, social or moral misconduct that will bring him and other people shame.
- Be a man the nation is proud of.
Conclusion
From the above, it is clear that men in Northern Nigeria society have clearly spelled roles.
by Editorial Staff | Feb 3, 2022 | Facts
Northern Nigeria is a region situated towards the north side of Nigeria. Interestingly, these regions possess certain characteristics that differentiate them from other regions of the country and the world at large. These differences span across the lifestyle of its inhabitants, historical features, and happenings that took place in this region. Hence, to aid an easy understanding of northern Nigeria we have compiled 100 facts about northern Nigeria.
Interesting Facts About Northern Nigeria
1. Northern Nigeria is the most endowed region in the country with many tourist attractions. This includes the Emir palace in Kano, Chappal Waddi in Taraba, Yankari Game Reserve, and much more.
2. Nigeria North occupies 80% of Nigeria’s landmass, it’s four times larger than the South.
3. In 1967, Northern Nigeria was broadly divided Into North—Eastern States, North-Western States, Kano State, Kaduna State, Kwara States, and the Benue—Plateau State, each with its own Governor.
4. The Nok civilization, ancient culture in prehistoric times, associated terracotta statues, and megaliths have been discovered in northern Nigeria.
5. The northern part of Nigeria is known for its primary export of goods from historical times. Most especially, leather, gold, salt, clothes, kola nuts, and animal hides.
6. Some of the current states once existed as Kingdom long before now like Kano, Katsina, and Zazzau (Zaria)
7. The Hausa architecture in the North is the most beautiful during the medieval age as seen in the design of ancient mosques and palaces.
8. Northern Nigeria gained self-government on 15 March 1957 with Sir Ahmadu Bello as its first premier.
9. The main source of revenue for Northern Nigeria is cotton and groundnut industries, tin and steel mining.
10. Cement industries and leather processing industries constitute the main manufacturing sector of the North.
11. Northern Nigeria although religiously and ethnically diverse has its majority of Muslims, especially the Hausa speaking tribe.
12. Kano state was traditionally founded by a blacksmith named Kano from the Gaya tribe who in ancient times came to Dallas Hill in search of iron.
13. Kano is a home for numerous traditional industries that includes leather tanning and decoration, mat making, metalworking, tailoring, pottery manufacturing, and local dye pits for cloth and leather used for centuries.
14. Northern Nigeria comprises 19 states. North Central – Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau. North East – Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe. North West – Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa,, Zamfara.
15. The richest person in Africa and the richest black person in the world is from northern Nigeria, Kano state—Aliko Dangote. He had an estimated net worth of US$12.7 billion as of September 2021.
16. The Arewa Knot is an ancient traditional symbol associated with northern Nigeria particularly the Hausa-dominated areas.
17. An average man from the north is always glued to his radio in search of current information.
18. According to Lord Luggard, “the north is the most literate part of Nigeria.” There are 25,000 Quranic Arabic schools with about 250,000 pupils in the North.
19. Kumbwada village in Kano is the only part of Northern Nigeria where only females can rule, an ancient curse keeps men off the throne.
20. Usman dan Fodio(1754—1817) was trained in classical Islamic science, philosophy, and theology. He has written over 100 books on society culture, religion, governance, and politics.
21. Did you know that Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau states have the highest populations of Christians in Northern Nigeria?
22. In 1851 Kano state made 10 million sandal pairs and 5 million hides for export every year.
23. One of the largest cities in Africa is located in the north—Kano state.
24. Katsina State was formed out of Kaduna state on September 23, 1987, by General Gbadamasi Babangida.
25. Katsina state is known as the “Home of Hospitality” because of the courtesy and politeness of its inhabitants.
Fun Things About Northern Nigeria
26. The system of “Sarauta” beginners in Katsina state. This system is a title awarded to men and women in Hausa land who have served the community positively, although it varies from rank to rank.
27. Did you know that Islamic religion came into the north through Katsina state? This was due to the arrival of Wangarawa Dyula scholars and merchants in the 14th century into the state.
28. Historically, “Kusugu Well” in Daura once had a giant snake that prevented residents from fetching water on specific days of the week. Fortunately, it was killed by Bayajidda during the reign of Queen Daurama.
29. Katsina Teachers College was the first higher learning institution established in Northern Nigeria in the year 1923.
30. Salt, diamonds, graphite, potash, and many more natural mineral resources are located in Katsina State.
31. The Kanuri-speaking tribe is more concentrated in Borno state.
32. Interesting physical features can be found in Borno states like Black cotton swamps, volcanic Biu Plateau, and Borno plains.
33. Borno is the second largest state in Nigeria in terms of landmass( 72, 609square kilometres)
34. Did you know that there are descendants of the Arab people in Borno state known as shuwa Arabs?
35. Current Yobe state emerged from Borno state.
36. The only five stars rated hotel in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria is located in Borno state—Deribe hotel in Maiduguri.
37. Feldspar and Magnetite are mostly found in Borno state.
38. The popularly known Chad Basin National Park is located in Borno state. The park has a total area of about 2,258 km2.
39. Northern Nigeria states are vast in agricultural practices due to abundant fertile land and favourable climate compared with other regions.
40. Kaduna state was named by General Murtala Muhammad in 1976.
41. In the North, the most prestigious learning institutions are concentrated in Kaduna state. This includes Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria Defense Academy, Air Force Institution of Technology and more.
42. Sadly, the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Northern premier took place at Kaduna. He was killed by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu an Igbo Nigerian Army officer.
43. It’s believed that Kaduna derived its name from the Hausa word for crocodile, Kada.
44. The Nok Culture appeared in northern Nigeria around 1000 BCE and vanished under unknown circumstances around 500 CE, thus having lasted for approximately 1,500 years.
45. Beginning from the late 1950s, Kaduna state became the major industrial, commercial and financial center for the northern states of Nigeria.
46. The largest wildlife park in Nigeria is found in the North—Gashaka Gumti in Taraba state.
47. Mambilla plateau in Taraba Is the highest point in Nigeria, standing at about 1,600 meters above sea level.
48. Chappal Waddi in Taraba is the highest mountain in Nigeria which stands at 7,936ft above sea level.
49. Still to date, antiquities from the Ancient Nok civilization can be found in galleries and museums across the world.
50. Did you know that the River Benue divides Adamawa State into almost two halves?
Shocking Facts About Northern Nigeria
51. The popularly known Vernacular Architecture (VA) is found in Northern Nigeria. It’s also called Tubali in the Hausa language.
52. Ancient paintings which date back to the Neolithic period can be found in Dutsen Habude Jigawa state.
53. One of the largest cattle markets in West Africa is located in Jigawa state—Maigatari international cattle market which supplies about 2 million stock of cattle during weekly trade.
54. Niger state houses the three major hydro-electric power stations in Nigeria namely: Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro stations respectively.
55. Niger state is the largest state in Nigeria based on the landmass, approximately 8.6 million hectares.
56. Interestingly, the famous River Niger is located in Niger State.
57. Niger is the largest producing rice and sugarcane state in Nigeria.
58. I’m sure you’ve heard about Guarara waterfall, it’s one of the most attractive sites in Nigeria and it’s found in Niger State.
59. Northern Nigeria is the home of Africa’s oldest dye pit, located at Kofar Mata in Kano state—which has been in existence since 1498.
60. The most irrigated state in Nigeria is located in the North, Kano state to be precise. It has more than 20 dams providing about 2 million cubic meters of water to support agricultural and industrial activities.
61. Surprisingly, the annual production of grain in Kano state exceeds 4million metric tons with an estimated value of N721.20b—that’s a lot!
62. Kano state is the most populous state in Nigeria according to the 2006 census with an estimated population of 4,103,000.
63. Did you know that Gidan Rumfa Emir’s palace is the oldest continuous site of authority in Nigeria? It’s the palace of the Emir of Kano and was constructed in the late 15th century.
64. The oldest museum in Nigeria is situated in Northern Nigeria, Jos, Plateau state. The Jos museum was established in 1952 by Bernard Fagg.
65. The warrior Queen Amina of Zazzau was known for building walls around every territory she conquered.
66. Recently, many of those walls built by Queen Amina are still standing, known as Amina’s wall.
67. Did you know that Queen Amina was the first woman to lead the kingdom of Zazzau to war?
68. Surprisingly, the Northern Knot, Arewa insignia has Christian origins from the church Celtic knot as investigated by Ibrahim A. Waziri.
69. The popularly known Arewa Knot is also called ‘Dagin Arewa’ or ‘Tambarin Arewa’.
70. The second largest University in Africa is found in Northern Nigeria known as Ahmadu Bello University Zaria founded in the year 1962.
71. Did you know that Lokoja was the first administrative centre of Nigeria because it was the first settlement of the British in Nigeria?
72. Research shows that the Arewa Knot is similar to the historic 6 pointed star seal of Solomon which Is also known as the star of David.
73. Did you know that Sultan Siddiq Abubakar III was the Sultan for 50 good years? He served as the 17th Sultan of Sokoto between 1938 and 1988.
74. Did you know that the first Mayor of Enugu city was a Fulani man from northern Nigeria In the person of Mallam Umaru Altine from old Sokoto province.
75. The first Teachers Association in Northern Nigeria was formed by Aminu Kano in the year 1948.
Truths About Northern Nigeria You
76. Throughout history Aminu Kano was the first presidential candidate to choose a female running mate.
77. Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo, a journal that was owned by the Nigerian government was the first notable Hausa newspaper that came into existence.
78. Sir Ahmadu Bello also known as the Sardauna of Sokoto was one of the politically influential men in the whole of Northern Nigeria.
79. Sir Ahmadu Bello was among the few selected individuals who redrafted the Richards Constitution.
80. The Arewa Knot is thought to represent Northern Nigeria’s power and political identity.
81. As a result of Sir Ahmadu Bello’s contribution to humanity the Nigeria N200 note carries His portrait.
82. Tambola dance is one of those popular dance moves within northern Nigeria.
83. The Hausa movie industry is popularly known as the Kannywood industry.
84. Rahama Sadau is the first northern actress ever to be featured in Nollywood Movies
85. In Northern Nigeria, Eid Kabir also known as ‘Babban Sallah’ or ‘Sallan Layya’ is celebrated by Muslims.
86. Miyan Karkashi interpreted as Sesame leaves soup is commonly consumed by the Hausa-speaking tribe in Northern Nigeria.
87. The name Nigeria was derived from the northern region coined in Lokoja, Kogi state. It was named by Flora Shaw when she gazed at the magnificent River Niger at Lokoja.
88. Kogi state in North Central is a junction state that leads to about 10 states within Nigeria.
89. The two greatest Rivers that cut across Nigeria are located in the North—River Niger and River Benue.
90. The largest steel and iron industry in Nigeria is located in Kogi state— Ajaokuta Steel Company and Agbaja iron mine.
91. Presently, the Arewa Knot is one of those features that depict unity among the northern states despite the diversity in tribe and culture.
92. Benue state is the most endowed state in Nigeria in terms of agricultural produce which includes yams, rice, cassava, potatoes, maize, millet, cocoyam, and lots more.
93. 70% of Nigeria’s soybeans production comes from the North, Benue state.
94. One of the highest waterfalls in Africa known as Farin Ruwa is found in Nasarawa State.
95. Africa oldest known boat ‘Dufuna Canoe’ is found in Nasarawa State
96. The biggest Game Reserve in west Africa is found in Northern Nigeria —Yankari Games in Bauchi.
97. Zamafara state was the first state in Nigeria to adopt Sharia Law, an Islamic legal system.
98. The Hausa Bakwai kingdom was established far back in the 7th to 11th centuries.
99. The Bayajidda legend was officially recognized under the Islamic government and institutions that were newly established after the 1804 Usman Dan Fodio Jihad.
100. The Gobarau minaret was built in the 15th century in Katsina. The minaret is believed to be one of West Africa’s first multi-story buildings and was once the tallest building in Katsina.
by Bello Abdullahi | Feb 3, 2022 | Archives
Gaskiya ta fi Kwabo, an ingenious northern newspaper, which arguably created the standard of contemporary Hausa writing, which mixed both the Hausa form of writing using Arabic letters known as Ajmi and the Roman form of writing in order to carry along to two kinds of literates in the colonial Hausa days.
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo is said to be a documentation of the Hausa people and the perspective they held regarding World War II. The newspaper became the longest indigenous language newspaper that existed in Nigeria.
What is the Meaning of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo?
Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo, a term coined for a Hausa based newspaper and periodicals which means “Truth is worth more than Kobo”.
The concept of the newspaper started in 1936 when the government of Northern Nigeria wanted to find a better means of passing information and the newspaper was officially launched in January 1939 and immediately started publication right after, which was under the auspice of the Gaskiya corporation, which was earlier known as The North Regional Literature Agency (NORLA).
When Was Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo Founded
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo was founded in the late 1936, when the government overseeing Northern Nigeria was interested in ways to reach out to its citizens about their various activities. This became imminent when rumors began to spread around the country that the British colonial masters were intending to handover Nigeria to Hitler, who was on his world conquest.
To curb the wide spread of fear and rumors flying around the country, a suggested solution was to create a medium of disseminating information in a way that would be easily comprehendible by most citizens in the North, which was how Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo came about.
Gaskiya was important for providing information about World War II to Nigerians, and the stand the British were taking and planning to take in order to curb the tension that was consuming the minds of the populace.
The headquarters of the newspaper, was in Zaria which was where the Gaskiya Corporation was situated, and where the periodicals were also published. The paper played a great role in increasing the popularity of the war happenings and the effort the Government was putting towards the war effort during the early 1940s.
The first Editor of the news paper was Mallam Abubakar Imam Kagara, who was a well versed and incisive man and was just the perfect fit for the job. He did an almost perfect job that the newspaper, Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo is argued now to have set a standard in Hausa writing; from spelling, to the grammar implored in the periodicals, as well as the style and vocabulary used.
The New Nigerian Corporation (now New Nigerian Development Corporation – NNDC), which was a company set to take over the management of companies and entities in Northern took over the management of the Newspaper in January 1966.
For How Long Did Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo Last?
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo has the longest life span of all indigenous language to have set up a newspaper outlet. It operated entirely in Hausa from 1939-1965, and in 1965, the Gaskiya corporation had an English version titled Nigerian Citizen. In 1966, after which the NNDC took over amongst many things changed the name to New Nigerian. In the sense of being purely a Hausa based newspaper, it lasted for over 26years before taking another form.
The NDDC set up a corresponding plant in the Southern part of the country in March, 1973, alongside that of Kaduna. They concurrently sold the newspaper in both Kaduna and Lagos which improved the wide distribution of the paper.
However, when 12 states were created in the North by the Federal Government in July 1967, possession and control of the company became that of the Northern states, and was temporarily under the Interim Common Services Agency (ICSA). The Federal Government in 1975 took full control of the company and was placed under the Federal Ministry of Information.
It is currently under the 19 Northern states as it was handed back to them in 2006.
Achievements and Success
Gaskiya Ta fi Kwabo has recorded tremendous success from its inception. Amongst them is the ability to reach a wide range of readership from the populace, thanks to the creative idea of introducing the Ajmi scripting of Hausa letters. Also, amongst their many achievements is the role they played in the Nationalistic fight.
Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo became a popular outlet to discuss contemporary issues, as was well utilized by one of the front liner Nationalist, Sa’adu Zungur, to mention a few and how it became an outlet to educate people.
It was also a landmark achievement through the successful establishment of the Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo, on the clear reason that it was the first attempt by the Government to set up a newspaper.
by Aisha | Jan 26, 2022 | Uncategorized
Suicide is the intentional killing of oneself. In Nigeria, the suicide rates are about 17.3 per 100,000 people. This might seem like a small number until we consider that it is not just a number but people with lives, futures, and families. This number is distributed throughout all the states in Nigeria. Even in Northern Nigeria where it is taboo to commit suicide, it is still rampant. It leads one to wonder what exactly would cause a person to take their own life. The reasons vary from person to person but some of them are:
Reasons for Increase in Suicidal Rate in Northern Nigeria
1. Grief
After the death of a family member, living may become difficult. Death may lead to sadness, depression, etc. all of which could make a person choose “the easy way out” and give up on life itself. This is surely one of the reasons why suicide in Northern Nigeria is on the rise.
2. Financial Problems
It is no news that the standard of living in Nigeria is low. A lot of families struggle to put food on the table even once a day. In Northern Nigeria especially, where the men are the head of large families and the women do not work, it is even harder to feed. If a man loses his job in this situation, needless to say, his frustration will know no bounds. He is likely to end it all as the responsibility may be too much for him. His death could lead to the deaths of other members of his family as they are left destitute.
3. Rejection
This is common amongst teenagers. Although liking someone is not a crime and is a natural phenomenon, some individuals take it as far as to put their lives in another person’s hands. When this other person then rejects their affection, they are left sad and unable to function and might think the next best thing is to kill themselves.
4. Unemployment
This is another big problem in Nigeria and a cause of suicide in Northern Nigeria. The country is not stable enough to provide jobs for everybody yet our educational systems are such that we are not taught to be entrepreneurs. This leads people to look for jobs that are not available and the frustration may lead to suicide. In Northern Nigeria, there is also the problem of under qualification. Sometimes, there are jobs available but the people who apply for them are not qualified enough.
This is especially true in the north due to the fact that they do not generally value western education like most other regions. This inability to secure a job is detrimental to the mental health of the job seeker.
5. Abuse
There are several types of abuse and abuse has been seen to be a leading cause of suicide:
a. Sexual Abuse
When a person is raped, especially in the north, they tend to keep quiet about it. This is usually because when they do speak up, they are blamed for the abuse, and then their image is ruined and they can no longer walk confidently among the crowd. When a person is abused and they keep quiet about it, they die slowly inside until they can no longer go on. And when they talk about it, they are ridiculed so much that their only options seem to be either to relocate or to commit suicide.
b. Domestic Abuse
In Northern Nigeria, there are many cases of domestic abuse, reported and not reported. Domestic abuse can be about a person beating their significant other. Men are usually reported to have beaten their wives or maltreated them in one way or another. As a woman in Northern Nigeria, it is seen as a shame to report your husband or even be divorced. This leads women to stay in a depressing marriage and could eventually cost them their lives.
Read: Divorced Women in Arewa Are Really Suffering, And We Can Do Something About it
c. Emotional Abuse
Words have the potential for great good as well as a great evil. In Nigeria as a whole, people are fond of insulting each other as a joke and putting down another person’s self-esteem. It might be funny for a while, but some people may be emotionally fragile and after getting so many harsh words, they deem themselves unworthy and try to end their own life.
d. Child Abuse
Giving a child out as a maid, beating a child mercilessly, starving them, forcing them to beg, not giving them an education, etc. are all a part of child abuse. Children should be nurtured with care so their self-esteem does not dip. A child with low esteem is bound to want to kill himself. A child who sees his mate going to school while he is stuck begging will feel unworthy and sad.
Furthermore, children (both male and female) who are forced into early marriages without even knowing what it entails could end up very sad and want to end it. We should take care to not abuse our children and keep their futures safe. Else, suicide might start to look like heaven to them.
6. Health Issues
In addition, another cause of suicide in Northern Nigeria is the health status of victims. Some people who have health complications choose to kill themselves either because they do not have the financial capacity to handle the disease and do not want to bother their families, or that the disease could ultimately lead to death anyway. They choose to do what they believe is best and commit suicide. Due to this, health practitioners often advise people with severe health conditions to see psychologists. But as we all know, this is Nigeria.
There are several other factors that could cause a person to want to commit suicide. They include bullying and discrimination, cultural/religious pressure, etc. But with every problem, comes solutions. The weight of reducing the load on suicidal persons rests on the shoulders of individuals, the community, and the government. How?
How Suicidal Rates Can Be Reduced in Northern Nigeria
1. What Individuals Could Do
People should try to be more tolerant of others. We should all remember that every person in this world has their own struggles and as such, we should be kinder. I was once asked in a Buzzfeed quiz about what attribute would make the world a better place. The options were; Discipline, Self-Love, Independence, and Kindness. While all of these are good, in the wise words of Jackie Chan, sometimes it only takes one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.
We should also try to take note of the people around us. That lady upstairs who always gave you salt when you ran out, ask about how she’s doing you might be surprised about the pain she’s in despite her smile. That man who always greets you on his way to work but suddenly stops and just walks around with a long face, have a chat with him. It might save his life. These simple acts can lead a person from intentionally walking the plank.
2. How Society Can Help
Society in general also has a role to play in the fight against suicide. As mentioned above bullying and discrimination is one of the major causes of suicide. Let’s take the instance of 26-year-old Geraldine whose story was narrated to me by a friend of mine. Geraldine was a hairdresser at a famous salon. She was strong, happy, independent, and kind and had many friends. One day, people realized she started to grow thin and began to wonder. One thing led to another and it was discovered that she had been living with HIV for a while. She had run out of money so could not feed herself properly which caused people to notice it.
Society had two options here. One, be sorry for not noticing the pain she had been going through and try to see how to help her. Second, ignore and stigmatize her due to her illness. In the society we live in today, the second option prevailed and she was fired. She had no friends and no source of income. Due to this, her frustration grew and she tried to commit suicide. Although she was saved, her life can never be the same again.
Let us imagine a scenario where the second option was chosen. Geraldine would have been saved, she would still have her friends and the world would still have a bright young woman. The impact of societal care on suicide prevention cannot be over-emphasized.
3. What Role the Government Can Play
Although the government tries, there is still a lot it can do. For instance, set up more emergency helplines for suicide attempters, set up free (and effective) counselling sessions, organise rallies and orientation programmes to educate people on the dangers of suicide, etc. In Nigeria, there is a law that says an attempt of suicide is liable to a year of imprisonment. I find this ridiculous. Instead, mental health organizations should be set up for them so as to revive their will.
The government definitely has a huge role to play in reducing suicide in Northern Nigeria.
4. How Non-Governmental Organizations Can Help
There are other people that help in the fight against this social vice. These people have come together to create NGOs that help with suicide prevention. The government has also set up certain helplines to combat the situation. A lot of helplines for different suicidal scenarios and other emergencies can be found at www.opencounsseling.com and www.aasra.info. If you or anyone around you needs help, please click any of the links above.
Do NOT suffer in silence. Anyone considering suicide should remember “You matter. What you do matters. Who you are matters” and click on the link and give it another shot.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned are reasons why the suicide rate is increasing in Northern Nigeria and what role individuals, government, the society and non-governmental organizations have to play in curbing it. Remember, suicide is a blot on our society and it is our responsibility to clean it. Out of the over 700,000 people that die if we all save one, I dare say that number can be cut down significantly.
If you have further questions, let’s hear them in the comments and I would love to get your opinion on the above Buzzfeed question.
