Our declining cultural values
Today, Tuesday, 18th June, 2019, Dr. Alhaji Mamman Shata Katsina, one of the creative singers ever reigned in Hausaland, will clock 20 years in eternity. I saw the legendary musician on two occasions. One, from 1993-1995, I used to accompany my uncle to Funtua for business. At that time, I was ten years old. We […]
Today, Tuesday, 18th June, 2019, Dr. Alhaji Mamman Shata Katsina, one of the creative singers ever reigned in Hausaland, will clock 20 years in eternity. I saw the legendary musician on two occasions. One, from 1993-1995, I used to accompany my uncle to Funtua for business. At that time, I was ten years old. We usually round-up at 4:00pm, and I would sneak to Gidan Dambe (Hausa boxing arena) that was where I usually spot Shata. He used to come with a briefcase that was loaded with money which he dashed to boxers .
The last occasion was in 1999, at the Polo ground in Katsina when he came for the inauguration of Umaru Musa as Governor of Katsina state. On 1st May, 2019, I was opportune to attend a Banquet dinner organized by Katsina State Government at the Muhammadu Buhari House in honour of the past Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Our host was the Deputy-Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu. I was surprised to find out that all the Koroso dancers are neither Hausa nor Fulani despite the fact that they all dressed like Fulani. That shows you the decline of our culture and heritage in a state that claims to be home of heritage and hospitality. I blame the History of Culture and Bureau that is now being run by a and pseudo-academician. If care is not taken, one day, Katsina state will face humiliation and embarrassment. There was a time when Katsina state was the cultural centre of Hausaland. It produced famous musicians like late Dr. Mamman Shata, Muhammadu Sarkin Taushi, Ali Dansaraki, Barmani Choge etc. It was also a home state of Kasagi Na Halima. There were cultural centres like Gidan Hira, Damaga, Gidan Dambe etc. Our Durbar is the best such that every Sallah it attracted tourists from all over the world. We had two cinemas-Rex and Korau. All these now have become history.
In his welcome speech, His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Mannir Yakubu told his guest, Abubakar Malami that there are many historic sites in the city. He mentioned of the famous Gobarau Minaret, Kofa Uku, Kangiwa, etc. What H.E. refused to say is that all these places are being neglected, and there is tendency that very soon, the Durbar will be stopped under many guises, Kofa Uku will be demolished, Kangiwa will remain as it is without any innovation. Today, if you have a guest in Katsina, you would only entertain him with television, because you don’t have anywhere to take him.
As we line up programmes to commemorate late Dr. Shata, if any, we hope the leaders will begin to prioritize our culture. Today we have local musicians dying of hunger, many talented film actors and actress becoming blind because they could not afford medical care, even Kannywood is dying. So, let us patronize our culture, custom and history
Comrade Bishir Dauda, Sabuwar Unguwa, Katsina