BBC Hausa

By Alhassan Hassan Salihu

How BBC Hausa shaped my journey into journalism, from childhood mornings filled with the voices of BBC Hausa to my first day inside a studio, radio has been more than just background noise; it has been my teacher, my guide, and my inspiration.

This is the story of how listening turned into learning, and how learning shaped my journey into journalism.

Becoming a journalist was a natural progression for me, sparked by a lifelong habit of listening, reading, and watching the news. For as long as I can remember, news has been a daily ritual to me, something that felt less like a choice and more like a tradition I inherited from my father.

Growing up, our mornings and evenings were defined by the voices on the radio. We would start the day by tuning in to Voice of America at 6:30 AM, then switch to the BBC Hausa Service at 7:00 AM, followed by DW Hausa at 7:30 AM, and return to the BBC Hausa Service at 8:30 AM. And at night, the whole family would gather again, this time before television, to watch NTA Network News at 9:00 PM sharp.

These routines were more than just ways of staying informed; they became a profound part of my upbringing. The sound of the BBC Hausa and Radio Nigeria Kaduna, in particular, was not just a broadcast; they were a culture. 

They shaped entire generations in northern Nigeria, creating shared experiences and anchoring people to both local and global realities. For many of us, storytelling comes naturally, but the absolute obsession with stories and even the dream of becoming journalists often started with our parents’ love for radio. 

Families gathered around to listen, not only to know what was happening in the world, but also to feel a sense of belonging to a broader conversation.

But here lies a challenge; unlike the generations before us, today’s families are not always gathering around radios or televisions at fixed hours. 

Instead, parents are glued to smartphones, and children often consume fragmented bits of information through digital media. 

This shift raises an important question: what will become of the younger ones if they grow up without the discipline, focus, and collective culture that radio once provided?

The beauty of the radio era was its structure. Programs are aired at specific times, forcing families to pause their lives and share a common moment of learning. 

I later realised how insightful and educational this exposure had been, especially when I began studying mass communication at the university. 

During my first and second years, I took courses like Media English I & II, which helped me connect the dots and apply what I had unconsciously been absorbing for years.

While many struggled with the art of broadcasting, I found it surprisingly simple. It felt effortless, like second nature, because I had been learning by listening to experts all along. News isn’t merely about headlines; it is about understanding context, undercurrents, and implications. 

Critical engagement with news empowers people to navigate the world’s complexities and contribute meaningfully to conversations that shape positive change.

In today’s fast-evolving environment, staying informed should not be seen as a casual habit but as a necessity for growth, development, and societal progress.

I still remember my first day in the studio. My coach, Hajarah Bala Sidi, was impressed by my performance and asked if I had previously worked at a radio station. In truth, I had done nothing more than to follow her simple guidance, yet I was able to compile and voice an excellent report. 

That moment confirmed what years of exposure had quietly built in me: a confidence with words, rhythm, and storytelling.

It was not just news, it was an education in patience, attention, and dialogue. Digital media, while faster and broader, often lacks this collective discipline. Stories are consumed in isolation, and context is sometimes lost in the flood of content.

Along the way, I also developed a deeper appreciation for language mastery, particularly in Hausa. Radio programs were filled with proverbs, metaphors, and eloquence that enriched my communication skills.

This influence even stretched back to my secondary school days; subjects like Government, History, Current Affairs, and English Literature became easier for me because the insights I picked from the radio gave me a head start.

This makes it even more important for parents, educators, and journalists to rethink how news is introduced to children today.  This background provided me with the basic tools to analyse and judge the world around me. Those early lessons still influence the way I view society today.

This background provided me with the basic tools to analyse and judge the world around me. Those early lessons still influence the way I view society today. 

Journalism, for me, isn’t just a profession; it reflects how I was raised: constantly aware, always questioning, and always learning.

News sharpens critical thinking and broadens worldview. It provides insights into emerging trends, global challenges, and innovative solutions.

If BBC Hausa and Radio Nigeria Kaduna once shaped generations through the power of sound, then perhaps the task now is to find new ways of shaping generations through the power of both sound and screen. 

Whether through radio, television, or digital platforms, one truth stands out: societies thrive when their citizens are informed. 

Staying informed is not passive consumption; it requires active engagement: reading thoroughly, listening carefully, and watching with intent. 

As a journalist, I hold to this principle: the newsrooms of my childhood might have changed, but the lesson remains the same.

The world may no longer gather around a radio at dawn or a television at night, but the responsibility to stay informed remains timeless, and if we can pass this culture on to our younger ones, they too will learn that news is not just about headlines; it is about understanding the world, questioning it, and striving to make it better.

Alhassan Hassan Salihu wrote via hassanalhassan8785@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The BBC has suspended Aliyu Tanko, the editor of its Hausa Service, due to bullying allegations, and has refused his resignation attempt.

Tanko, who took charge of the service in 2020, was handed a three-month suspension after former staffer Halima Umar Saleh accused him of mistreatment. The BBC has now launched a full investigation, with a team flown in from London to Abuja.

Sources say Tanko tried to resign a day after his suspension, but the corporation refused, insisting he must follow due process — either serve a two-month notice period or pay in lieu.

In an interview with Daily Nigerian, Tanko confirmed that he had resigned but declined to comment on the allegations. Attempts to reach him directly were unsuccessful.

Halima Umar, now a Senior Digital Editor at TRT Africa, had earlier spoken out in an interview with Arewa24, alleging Tanko maltreated her during her BBC days. The clip was later pulled down, sparking debate on social media.

BBC Hausa, with more than 40 staff across Nigeria and beyond, is the corporation’s biggest African language service. It reaches over 23 million weekly radio listeners and drives 10 million website visits. 

Under Tanko’s leadership, the service rolled out hit shows like Daga Bakin Mai Ita, Ku San Malamanku, and Mahangar Zamani.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The famous Hausa film star, Ali Nuhu, states why he would allow his own children to choose the career of their choice.
 
He added that he would like his son to succeed him in the Kannywood film industry.
 
However, in an interview he granted to the Hausa Section of the BBC, he says his son is more interested in football, which is why he supports him so that he can achieve his goal.
 
Ali Nuhu was quoted as saying, “What the modern age has brought is that if you see your son or daughter wanting something, as long as it is not against religion, then support him and give him encouragement to achieve his goals.”
 

Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Kaduna Gubernatorial debate by the BBC Hausa Service has ended with four governorship aspirants airing their varied opinions on how to move the state forward. After Kano’s debate on the weekend, Kaduna is the second of the five selected northern Nigerian states BBC plans to organise the debate before the 2023 elections.

The debate was hosted at Kaduna State University. Leading participants included Senator Uba Sani (All Progressive Congress, APC), Isah Ashiru (People’s Democratic Party, PDP), and Sulaiman Uthman Hunkuyi (New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP).

The debate had the aspirants speaking on issues ranging from security, economy, infrastructure, education, job creation, and health, among others. 

While the candidates differed on the methods with which they would take Kaduna to a higher echelon, they agreed that peace and security would play a key role in driving the process of development in the state. 

After the debate, the candidates exchanged pleasantries and left the hall with their supporters.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to the leaked nude video of Kannywood actress, Safia Yusuf famously known as Safara’u.

Safara’u granted BBC Pidgin English an interview on Tuesday August 30, 2022, where she narrated her ordeals when her friends leaked her nude video in 2020.

“Dat period when my nude video leak na di most depressing time for my life because I spend three months without nearing di gate of my house, I just dey indoors.

“And by di time I muster energy comot na so pipo just dey abuse me for road in fact e get one particular pesin wey stone me as I dey waka.” Safara’u disclosed to BBC Pidgin English

While commenting on the BBC Pidgin English interview of Safara’u on Facebook, Shehu Sani said he became unconscious when he saw the video.

By Bashir Shu’aibu Jammaje

Some people or newspapers apply a form of persuasion that is often used in media to further some agenda, such as a personal, political, or business, by evoking an emotional or obligable response from the audience. That is, ‘propaganda’, in layman’s terms. 

Today, various amounts of modern media can be used to supply propaganda to its intended audience, such as radio, television, films posters, handouts, music, to name a few. It is perplexing to see a well-known media like BBC Hausa doing that. I became overwhelmed when I see their post on the case of Sadiya Haruna and the Kano State Hisbah Corps – and not ‘Board’. Kwankwaso removed them from being a board, some say, to intentionally make them less powerful. Why?

I have never seen Sadiya Haruna in a Kannywood film. I then got to the comment section of the BBC Hausa post and read Abba Almustapha’s words, asking them to give him an example of a single film she has ever appeared in. I gave him a call to confirm if she has ever performed in a Kannywood film. His answer was a definite no. 

I only know Sadiya as a popular online sex counsellor for men and women via her social media pages. And, she makes Wakokin Yabo, ‘songs of praise’ videos along with Hafeez Abdullahi.

Since the birth of Kannywood in the early 1990s, it is purportedly founded as a reaction to the imported foreign films, mainly from India and America, that the society, in general, sees as culturally and religiously unsuitable for them. The filmmakers are being accused of so many bad things that they try a lot to hide other nasty things that happen in our society – and we all know that. I’m not, in any way, standing up for them, just that it is high time some people brought their intense hatred towards Kannywood down. And besides, Islam is a social religion – its very purpose is to intervene in human affairs.

Finally, I think BBC Hausa and others should tell Kannywood they are sorry for coming up with a chance to paint them in a bad light.

Bashir Shu’aibu Jammaje writes from Jammaje Academy. He can be reached via bashjam90@gmail.com.

By Salisu Yusuf

Sunday, 8th of August, 2021 was a black day for the family of Malam Isah Abba Adamu, the BBC Hausa Service, its listeners, Kano people, the Hausa community in London, and the Hausa community globally over the sudden death of the Kano-born, renowned broadcaster, Malam Isa Abba Adamu. He was the first Black person to have headed the BBC Hausa Service. He was also the Executive Editor of BBC Africa Service.

Malam Abba Adamu has made an enormous contribution in the Hausa language policy formulations, which are policies put forward by ethnologists for language sustenance against language attrition (waning and death). For example, it’s a well-known fact that the Hausa Service has contributed a lot in the lexical modernisation of some new words to Hausa, especially the recent computer terminologies: kwamfuta, na’ura maikwakwalwa, megawati, etc.

Nowhere has late Isa contributed than in areas of translation. Millions of Hausa users will miss his voice, translation skills and interpretative nuance, especially from English news and reports to their exact Hausa versions.

Stations like BBC Hausa (in which Malam Isa was a figurehead and contributor) have attracted many non-Hausa speakers to news in Hausa. This has contributed to the increase in the Hausa speech community. Ethnologue estimated that over 47 million people now use the Hausa language as second language users. Language prestige is another factor in language development because a language attracts more users worldwide. The Hausa language enjoys high patronage as one of the most widely used mediums in the world. People such as the late Malam Isa are among the factors responsible for the prevalent use of the language in Nigeria and all over the world, where it’s used for literacy and information dissemination.

Lastly, the BBC Hausa is also involved in Hausa corpus planning. This involved creating a standard variety of language in spelling and grammar. BBC Hausa uses the Kano dialect in its broadcasts as it’s considered more standard even though with some modifications.

Late Malam Isa Abba Adamu will be remembered for his sonorous voice and more for his catchphrase during broadcasts: “Ana sauraron Sashen Hausa na BBC ne daga tsakiyar London, ni kuma nine Isa Abba Adamu.”

May the Lord in His infinite mercy forgive Malam Isa Abba Adamu and grant him Jannatul Firdaus, amin.

Salisu Yusuf writes from Katsina. He can be contacted via salisuyusuf111@gmail.com.