I speak Hausa, 39 other world languages – Foreign photographer

Please introduce yourselfMy name is Hisham Ali. I was born in Mecca 46 years ago. My parents were also born in Saudi Arabia, but my grandparents were born in Bangladesh. My  Grandfather then came to Saudi Arabia to seek for a menial job and gave birth to my parents and then they gave birth to […]

Please introduce yourself
My name is Hisham Ali. I was born in Mecca 46 years ago. My parents were also born in Saudi Arabia, but my grandparents were born in Bangladesh. My  Grandfather then came to Saudi Arabia to seek for a menial job and gave birth to my parents and then they gave birth to me. I am the fourth child, but I have brothers and sisters. I have a wife and a little daughter. I attended both primary and secondary schools in Mecca, from then on I didn’t further my education but went ahead to look for a job, where I worked in different places and in different companies.  

Which places or companies did you work?
Since I am a citizen and I have a work permit, I didn’t find it difficult getting a job. I worked with different companies, but I spent more time with the construction companies belonging to Bin Laden, where I spent over 10 years. From there, I ventured into the business of selling building materials. I also got a job in a shop belonging to an Arab who deals in building materials. I didn’t stay long there because I wasn’t deriving any satisfaction working there. Then I entered into photography through a friend of mine. He taught me how to take pictures. I learnt the trade until I bought a camera. I have been taking pictures up till this moment and I am happy with it because I have my freedom. There’s no one who tells me what to do. I can go out when I like, I get up when I want to.

I heard you speaking many languages. How many do you understand?
Honestly speaking, a lot of people are surprised at how I can communicate in so many languages. All those who come to me would just hear me speak in their language. Nothing is behind this but all I can say is that it is a gift from God. At the moment, the languages I can speak are many, both big and small. You can see that I speak Hausa which you are speaking; I can speak English, Arabic, Indian, and French, Poshtu and Philippino and Indonesian. I also speak Bangladesh and the language of those from Malaysia as well as Chinese, Persian, Lebanese and Turkish. I also speak the Arabic dialects of the Yemenis, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan, Morocco and other languages that I cannot mention now. I understand over 40 languages.

How did you learn these languages?
Well I can’t say this is the specific way I learnt them because I didn’t sit down to be taught. But what I know is that I came across people in the construction companies belonging to Bin Laden. It is here you meet with lots of people from different countries and regions. What I did was that I listened carefully when people were talking. Then from listening to them, I began to understand their languages. Then I started realizing that I could speak the language without any difficulties. It is a gift from God. I’m even surprised at myself sometimes, my parents, my siblings and even my friends are surprised with this. People come from different countries to test my competence in their language. The same way you came to test me. I know you heard about me from other Hausas that’s why you came to confirm if it is indeed true.

Have you ever travelled to another country to learn a language?
Honestly, I have never been to any other country to learn their language. I have never been to Nigeria, Niger, U.S, England, France, India, Pakistan, Turkey or Afghanistan. The countries I’ve been to are Bangladesh and Morocco. I went for a visit to Bangladesh to see my relatives and it’s either once or twice that I’ve been there. Then in the case of Morocco, it was Bin Laden’s company that took us there for a construction job. After the job, they brought us back but there’s no nook and cranny that I don’t know in Saudi Arabia.

How did you learn Hausa?
Well, I can say I am a Hausa man because I was born in the midst of Hausa people. I grew up in their midst. Apart from Arabic, there’s no language I speak properly like Hausa. We have lots of Hausa-speaking people in our locality; I have lots of Hausa friends. Then the other languages I speak can be found where I work. Because all those who come on pilgrimage and Umrah come from all over the world, so when they arrive, what I do is pay attention to what they are saying and then I realize that I’m also speaking. One thing I have seen is that God has given me this gift such that if I listen just once, I’ll assimilate it then their words would keep gathering for a while then I would speak it.

Can you speak other languages fluently the way you speak your language and how does it feel?
No. I understand my parents’ language of Bangladesh and Arabic, and then Hausa better because I grew up in their midst. But with the other languages (English, Chinese, French and others) I don’t understand them the same way I understand Hausa.

So what are your goals in life?
 My goals are to continue with my faith, so that I can enter paradise. To have peace of mind, as well as have kids that are respectful. I also wish to get a better job than photography, the one that would yield more wealth so that it will enable me give charity to the poor and help the needy.