Modes of communication in Hausa
Many years ago, even before the colonial masters came to Hausa land, there exists a civilisation of sort in the Hausa Arewa, including having some standard means of communication. Some are still in use, while others are overtaken by technology.
These methods of communication are basically meant to pass messages and information from the heads of traditional institutions, to Sarkis, to their subjects, because in that period, there existed nothing like electricity, airplane, internet etc.
More important are some of these means of communication in that period because a significant chunk of the people are not literates, they cannot read or write in English words, though many more can write Hausa words in Arabic ‘Ajami’, and understand only the Hausa language.
READ ALSO: Hausa culture and traditions in Nigeria: top facts to know
Amongst some of these means of communication, brought to you by Legit.ng, are:
1. Town crier/Gong
In those days, the easiest way of sending messages from the leaders to the public was through the use of town criers. The king usually sent the town crier to deliver a message to the public or make them aware of certain development. Here, the town crier would use a gong, which he always struck. It would make a sonorous sound that would invite the attention of the people from far and near, then the town crier would pass the message.
2. Drum
Another popular means of communicating in those days was the drum beat. Drums are made up of hide and skin of mostly goats and rams.
Due to the melodic sound it produces, people always tend to pay attention to it, and the drummer would pass the message. At times, people understood the message from the beat of the drum.
3. Letter
Even though most Hausa people at the time were not literate English wise, yet they had a systematically developed way of writing Hausa language but using Arabic letters. It is called ‘Ajami’, and this was the most common method used in communicating through letters. Others still write in Arabic, while others in Fulfulde.
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Unfortunately, nowadays, technology has either put a stop to the use of these means of communication, or better still modernised them. We can compare the function of a town crier and his gong to radio announcement, drums to contemporary musics and letter has been modernised through mails and text.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously noted four types of traditional dance in Hausa land.
Despite the fact that some people are usually shy when it comes to dancing, they cannot rule it out of their lives, as they at one point in their lives move their body to the rhythm of a song they find interesting and danceable. Some who are great dancers usually get excited the moment they hear the sound of music.
Dance is a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement. Dancing is an expression that shows fun or enjoyment and it is done only if something good happens to somebody or during events.
Top 5 facts you didn't know about the Hausa people - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
