Hausa Calligraphic and Decorative Traditions of Northern Nigeria: From the Sacred to the Social

Abstract

In the past, sacred Islamic calligraphies were used strictly in sacred places, whereas profane calligraphies were used in secular spheres. However, the trend now among some Hausa artists is to extend the sacred Islamic calligraphic tradition to the social domain. Some Hausa calligraphers do so by “desacralizing” their Islamic-inspired calligraphies. This article deals with the extension of Islamic decorations to secular social domains in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Such works are produced by calligraphers like Sharu Mustapha Gabari. I show how Hausa calligraphers like Mustapha Gabari creatively extend their arts, talents, and skills to other social domains. These domains include the human body, clothing, houses, and other objects. This article describes the ways in which the sacred and the secular realms overlap, and illustrates some key processes of enrichment the Islamic arts have undergone in sub-Saharan Africa. These processes exemplify the ʿAjamization of Islamic arts in Africa, especially how sub-Saharan African Muslims continue to creatively appropriate and enrich the Islamic calligraphic and decorative traditions to fit their local realities and address their preoccupations.

Social Cohesion and Identity in Intangible Cultural Heritage of Kofar Mata Dyed Cloth Kano

“…This durbar festival is celebrated during every Muslim Eid; an occasion that marked the ending of the Muslim fasting as well as the Eid Kabir celebration (a Muslim ritual to commemorate the annual pilgrimage). In fact, literature shows that Hausa culture values aesthetics and as far as demonstrating that by embellishing their architecture walls, on embroidery for both human and animals such as horse that established their cultural identity that are easily discerned from the annual religious celebrations, using this dyed cloth product, not only that but this as well establishes the symbolic power and prestige of the individual riding the horse (Kurfi, 2017). This durbar procession, for example, the Muslim festival celebration is famous in Kano like in most partsof the Northern State Capitals.…”