Abuja was excited in the last weekend of May 2011 with the Children’s Day on the 27th and the inauguration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. As a result, Perhaps, not many people knew of the FOR YOU TO READ! (A VOUS DE LIRE!), a book fiesta organised

Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Hajiya Fatima Aminu Yahaya. Aminu Yahya is my husband; we have been married for some 41 years now and blessed with five lovely children – two boys and three girls. I am grandmother to three children, two from my first boy and one from one of […]

Can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Hajiya Fatima Aminu Yahaya. Aminu Yahya is my husband; we have been married for some 41 years now and blessed with five lovely children – two boys and three girls. I am grandmother to three children, two from my first boy and one from one of the girls. I attended PGS, Maiduguri and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Maiduguri, where I obtained my school leaving certificate and got married thereafter. I proceeded for a Grade II certificate and later on obtained a National Certificate of Education (NCE) from Advanced Teachers College, Gumel, where we were the pioneer students. I then started teaching, which I did for 12 years but have since then been a full time house wife and writer.

So what really inspired you to start writing?

I was actually moved by the fact that most of our women are not really aware of their health and coupled with the late Maryam Babangida’s Better Life Programme for Rural Women, I decided to write on women’s health. I can vividly remember learning about one poor young woman who was pregnant and at a point stopped noticing movement from her fetus for about three days. She eventually fell seriously ill and by the time she was taken to the hospital, it was late already, she lost the baby and suffered a lot. What actually drew my attention to the issue was the reason for her silence; that she was living in the mist of her in-laws and the pregnancy was her first and as widely believed here in the north, voicing out anything about the pregnancy would amount to disrespect and uncouth behavior before her in-laws. So I was really touched by that and felt it was important I write something that could be used in schools, especially mass literacy classes and girls’ schools so that our young mothers become aware and prepared for the challenges of womanhood and childbearing. My first write up was in Hausa and was very voluminous. When I finished writing, I gave the manuscript to one professor in the university to help me vet and improve on it but when he went through it, he commended me and advised that I add cookery to it, then I felt discouraged because I was actually not interested in cookery so that was how I abandoned that piece. But because I had interest in writing and also not happy with the standard of English language in our schools, I started writing nursery rhymes, poems and short stories. My understanding of the fact that children learn fast with rhythmes; playing with fingers, clapping hands and stamping the feet and so on made me start writing such. My books are unique because I have written them in such a way that the children will not only sing and dance the verses but also learn a lot from them. I made them very simple and comprehensible and also touched on so many subjects; teaching them personal hygiene, unity, sympathy and kindness to others. Some tell of certain insects or reptiles that are harmful and should be avoided.

Can you remember how you actually started writing your poems?

Yes, of course! It was on a blessed day, early morning during a rainy season and the weather was very cool and conducive. We were sitting in the courtyard with the kids and suddenly, my eldest son stood up and walked to one of the flower pots and he immediately called me, Ummah, come and see something on the flower leaves, what are they? I told him they were dewdrops. So right from that moment, I started meditating about the dewdrops and their beauty. I thought I should right something about them, and I did.

How do you get the inspiration to continue writing?

It’s as a result of appreciating nature. What I do is I write down whatever thought that comes to my mind even if it is in my sleep. I am tempted to write  every single thing I think will be of interest and be useful to the society. I can remember what I wrote on the scourge of HIV/AIDS in our society. It was titled ‘The Monster’ and dedicated to all orphans and widows of the great pandemic and it goes thus:

A Monster

A global monster

A skillful hunter

It’s a killer

Victims has it many

Young and Old

Men and women

Innocent and guilty ones

It has monstrous tooth that sucks

And sharp claws that pounce deep

So be alert and careful

For the monster is around!

How do you find time to write considering the demand of the homefront?

I have been coping very excellently, I will say. Even the kids have been supportive and understanding. I can remember that many times they inspire an idea I could write on. I can remember we sometimes had a sick lizard in the yard and one of my daughters took responsibility for feeding it. So one day, she demanded I write a poem for it. I did and it was highly commended by members of the Association of Nigerian Authors. It was titled, “My Tenant” and many others which they influenced.

So you belong to a writers’ association?

Yes, I am a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and Alhamdulillah it has been wonderful being part of it. The most interesting thing about it all is the monthly meetings we do have, it is usually a forum where we all gather to discuss on how to improve our skills and even read out our works where they are criticized where necessary and commended when they deserve to be. This is usually done by both writers alike and professors.

Was there any moment that stood out for you at these meetings?

My work, Zamani was a masterpiece I can say, members of the association were highly impressed by the work and gave commendations. The poem was on how modernity has changed our customs and traditions, particularly the female child who is so engrossed in reading the popular Hausa soyayya novels, which do not teach anything very useful other than love. I said in the poem that most of them do not learn anything worthwhile from it. I can remember that one young boy stood up to criticize it, saying I condemned soyayya novel writers but even before I could stand up for defence, everyone present protested and said that was not intended by the poem. Then and there, one of senior writers offered to sponsor the production of the song on tape. He suggested that Aminu Ladan Ala, the popular Hausa musician, go with one of the boys who has a melodious voice to his studio and work on it. But unfortunately, the boy went and adultarated most part of the poem with his own words, using just two verses from my original work. When he brought it to me and I listened to it, I was not happy and therefore told him that was not my original work. That was how the deal flopped.

What is your dream as a writer?

My dream is for my work to be a legacy for generations to benefit from even after my life. I hope that my books will be used in teaching generations to come and at the same time also hope that they will benefit from them. I also want to be popular as a writer, I want the world to recognize my talent and also appreciate me.

There are lots of women with hidden talents in writing, what is your advice to them?

My advice to those with talents in writing, especially northern women, is for them to come out and showcase their talents, let them not be shy or afraid of not being accepted. At the end of the day, they might be surprised with the kind of recognition they might get through writing. And for all women who are not writers, I will advise that they find something doing as it is always very good to be useful to yourself, family and society at large.

What do you thing is the major challenges faced by female writers?

The challenges are really enormous; one is that we do not have an association through which we can support and encourage ourselves.  Secondly, the issue of finance; no matter how good one writes, he/she will definitely find it difficult to publish and launch. In my own case for instance, I faced lack of support from people, even my close friends and relatives. I can remember when I started, one of my very close friends condemned the idea saying, I was insane, that I was not going to get anywhere with writing. But I persisted, saying to myself, like the white man, I will surely make it and Alhamdulillah, here I am today doing what I love to do most.

Have any of your children taken after you?

It has always been my prayer and hope that one of my children takes after me. My eldest son is today a writer and when he started, he came to me and said, Ummah, Albishirinki!  (glad tidings), I have developed interest in writing and I have even started. So I think that wish has been fulfilled. He has written about 200 poems so far. and Alhamdulillah!