Promoting Inclusion through Hausa Language! Join My Journey to Fluent Hausa and Embrace Diversity, One Word at a Time. Together, We Can Create a More Inclusive World.

Find out more about Amaka

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn it?

  I speak Hausa fluently language because I'm an indigene of a northern state in Nigeria, by birth. I wasn't taught how to speak the language, I grew up seeing myself speaking the language. Even though I read some novels in secondary school, and wrote a mock examination, they were secondary.

• Can you name a living, historical, or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  The Bayajidda legend is a unique persona in the Hausa culture. He is said to be the founder of Hausa states and his bravery is an inspiration to some others.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition, or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  Yes, I like the word "Kyau" which means "good, fine, pretty, excellent", depending on the context it is being used in. I also like this proverb "Shuru ba tsoro ba ne, gudun magana ne" Which means "Silence is not cowardice, it's just avoiding talks".

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  For a couple of years now, I have always found myself in the Hausa community. Therefore, speaking the language matters to me because it helps me communicate easily and I feel safe and empowered, by being able to speak and understand the language.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language, and what can help students with the learning process?

  I did not encounter any difficulty learning the language because I did not go through a learning process. I grew up speaking the language. Nonetheless, students should pay attention to the intonations when speaking because there are lots of homophones in the language and that can come as a challenge to learners. For example, the word "Wuya" means "neck and difficulty", however how you pronounce each word matters. To tackle this challenge, I would advise students to record their voices saying those words and making sentences with them. Your accent may not be exact, but let your intonation deplete what you're saying.

• Could you share an anecdote related to your language learning or your student days?

  My Hausa teacher was going to tease me in class because he wasn't sure if I could read the novel. He was shocked when I spoke the language to him. Lol, it was his first time in class with us his students.

• How has travel or a specific experience helped you to increase your understanding and appreciation of the language?

  Some years ago when I used to live in western Nigeria, I wasn't able to communicate with some of the people there because of my inability to speak their language, even though I understood a bit of it. But I started to meet the Hausa people there and that gave me a huge relief and made me appreciate the language because it was stressful, not being able to express myself when I needed to.

• What makes you a Superprof?

  My ability to understand the needs of students, communicate effectively in a way students can understand and listen to their feedback, and work on them makes me a Superprof.