My life, my songs, by Dan Maraya Jos

Dan Maraya has been a subject of focus for the cognoscenti and the literary-minded, due to the philosophy behind his works. He has been a case study for those in the humanities due to the socio-economic problems he addresses in his work and how he has used his life to depict the possibility of surmounting […]

Dan Maraya has been a subject of focus for the cognoscenti and the literary-minded, due to the philosophy behind his works. He has been a case study for those in the humanities due to the socio-economic problems he addresses in his work and how he has used his life to depict the possibility of surmounting life’s challenges by self-development. But as our correspondents would find out, it is much easier getting Dan Maraya to sing than getting him to grant an interview.

For somebody who does not need prior notice to perform in any function, he certainly needs ample time to prepare for an interview reinforcing the fact that he prefers to comment on happenings around him through a song than talking about it.

The Kuntigi maestro who has made powerful commentaries on issues such as unemployment, lack of respect for elders and the virtue of teaching, finally agreed to grant an interview as long as issues like the Jos crisis would be left out. For reasons he declined to explain, the artiste said those issues are better left out. But on the issues he actually spoke about, he was straight-to-the-point, as well as revealing.

Weekly Trust: How did you become a musician – by chance or design?

Dan Maraya: My father was a Hausa musician who specialized in playing Kotso (a traditional Hausa musical instrument); he is from Sokoto he used to travel to places where he performed. One day he came to Bukur (Bukuru) where the Emir of Bukur, who after enjoying my father’s show, asked him to remain in Bukur as his personal musician. There I was born and I was enrolled in Qur’anic school and subsequently in an elementary school. I remember I used to run away from the elementary school and I would be returned forcefully on several occasions. The headmaster of the school, one Mallam Musa Kogo said I probably have a future in my father’s career and therefore I should be allowed to pursue it.

There was one popularly Hausa musician, a woman who was called Mamu, who came to Bukur to perform with her grandchildren. I started following her grandchildren, during which time I was able to sharpen my skills.

WT: Why the name Dan Maraya, which means ‘orphan’ in Hausa?

Dan Maraya: My parents died when I was at a tender age after settling in Bukur. That was how I was given the name.

WT: What do you try to teach with your songs?

Dan Maraya: My songs are messages. They are sort of preaching, like the song I titled “Wa ya san gobe banda Allah,” meaning “Nobody knows tomorrow but God.”

WT: How do you compose your songs?

Dan Maraya: I don’t write my songs. I sing them from the heart.

WT: How many songs have you produced so far?

Dan Maraya: Honestly, I wouldn’t know. But they are many. I have travelled to a lot of places to perform them, especially during the Cultural Exchange; we went to America, Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Bahamas, Venezuela, Brazil, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Romania, London (three times) and the then West and East Germany and a host of other countries across the world. I was also invited another time by the Americans to perform.

The United Nations have given me a World Peace Medal and I have received a lot of other awards from many countries where I performed at various times.

WT: Why don’t you produce new songs?

Dan Maraya: I am not the only one. Other famous Hausa singers too are not producing new songs, and it is probably because of the issue of piracy. When we produce a song all they do is buy a single copy and produce thousands. The consequences of piracy is that the company will be at a loss, the shareholders too will lose and even those who bring their instruments probably from abroad to facilitate the recording will also be at a loss. This is the reason why I am not producing new songs, but insha’Allah when the coast is clear for us to operate, I will produce new songs.