Manya ɗibar fari: Tarihin Rupert East, tsanin adabin Hausa

A ranar Juma'a da ta gabata da kuma yau Juma'a, jaridar 'Aminiya' ta buga sharhin da na yi kan wani littafi na tarihin Dakta Rupert M. East wanda Dakta Aliyah Adamu Ahmad ta rubuta. Haka ita ma jaridar 'Leadership A Yau Lahadi' ta ranar Lahadi da ta gabata, ta buga sharhin baki ɗayan sa. Wannan shi ne sharhi na farko da aka yi kan littafin, wanda an wallafa shi tun bara. Ina godiya ga Malam Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi, Mataimakin Editan 'Aminiya' kuma mai kula da filin ta na adabi, da Malam Nasiru Gwangwazo, Editan 'Leadership A Yau Lahadi', waɗanda da taimakon su ne aka buga wannan sharhi a jaridun su. Ga sharhin a nan na kawo saboda masu bibiyar wannan turakar tawa.

Manya ɗibar fari: Tarihin Rupert East, tsanin adabin Hausa

Littafin tare da marubuciyar

Daga Ibrahim Sheme

LITTAFI: Rupert Moultrie East 1898-1975: Tarihinsa Da Sharhi A Kan Gudunmawarsa Ga  Adabin Hausa (Juzu'i na 1)
MARUBUCIYA: Aliyah Adamu Ahmad
KAMFANIN WALLAFA: Whales Adverts Limited, Kaduna
SHEKARA: 2017
SHAFUKA: 360


Kowa ya san Alhaji (Dakta) Abubakar Imam. Idan ba ka san shi ba, ballantana kuma a ce ba ka taɓa jin sunan sa ba, to ba ka san tarihin adabin Hausa ba; sannan ba ka karanta littattafan Hausa irin su 'Ruwan Bagaja' da 'Magana Jari Ce' ba, waɗanda Imam ɗin ya rubuta.

To amma ba kowa ba ne ya san wani mutum mai suna Dakta Rupert Moultrie East; wanda ma ya san shi ɗin, to sanin shanu ya yi masa. Shi dai R.M. East, kamar yadda aka fi sanin sa, Bature ne ɗan Ingila wanda ya zauna a Nijeriya a zamanin mulkin mallaka. Ya yi aikin koyarwa tare da riƙe muƙamai a Ma'aikatar Ilimi. To amma ban da aikin da ya yi a fagen ilimi, inda ya fi yin tasiri da suna shi ne fagen talifi da adabi. East shi ne malamin Abubakar Imam a wannan fage, domin kuwa shi ne wanda ya koya masa dabarun rubuta ƙirƙiraren labari da ma wanda ba na ƙirƙira ba. Shi ne tsanin da Imam ya hau ya kai ƙololuwar ɗaukaka ta yadda ya kasance babu marubucin Hausa kamar sa har ya zuwa yau ɗin nan.

Marubuciyar wannan littafin, Dakta Aliyah Adamu Ahmad, malama ce a Sashen Nazarin Harsunan Nijeriya a Jami’ar Jihar Sokoto da ke birnin Sokoto. Shi littafin, ya samu ne sakamakon aikin nazari da ta yi na neman digiri na uku a Jami’ar Bayero, Kano, kuma Hukumar Tallafin Ilmin Gaba Da Sakandare ta Ƙasa (TETFund) ita ce ta ɗauki nauyin buga shi.

Littafin ya ba mu cikakken labarin yadda East ya kasance marubuci, shugaban kamfani, kuma manazarci. Ya na ɗauke da tarihin East daga haihuwa har zuwa mutuwa, da sharhi kan ayyukan da ya yi a fagen adabi, musamman yadda ya taimaka wajen rayar da rubutaccen adabin Hausa na zube da na wasan kwaikwayo da tarihi da kimiyya, kai har ma da aikin jarida. Littafin zai sa duk wanda ya yi wa East sanin shanu ya san shi da kyau yanzu, kuma ya nuna mana asalin marauwar mutane irin su Imam da ɗimbin marubutan Hausa ’yan zubin farko.

Littafin ya faɗa mana cewa shi dai East, haifaffen London ne. Ya yi karatun firamare har zuwa na digirin digirgir a Oxford. Abin da ya karanta shi ne ilimin haɗa magunguna (Chemistry) da kuma harsunan Larabci da Latin da Girkanci. Ya ɗan taɓa aikin koyarwa, sannan ya shiga aikin soja a zamanin Yaƙin Duniya na 2.

Daga nan ya bi ayarin Turawan da ake turowa Afrika domin taimaka wa Birtaniya ta cimma burukan ta na mulkin mallaka. Shi sai aka liƙa shi a Ma’aikatar Ilmi domin a nan ne ya fi wayo. Da farko, an tura shi yankin Binuwai ta Arewacin Nijeriya, inda ya yi aikin koyarwa a makarantu da ke garuruwa daban-daban. Sai yankin Adamawa, inda ya shafe shekaru. Ta dalilin haka ya ji yarukan Tibi da Fulatanci raɗau. Daga bisani aka tura shi Kwalejin Horon Malamai ta Katsina inda ya koyar da ɗalibai waɗanda daga baya su ka zama mashahurai a Nijeriya, wato irin su Firayim Minista Abubakar Tafawa-Ɓalewa da Firimiyan Arewa Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardaunan Sakkwato) da Alhaji Abubakar Imam da sauran su.

Ƙofar da Dakta East ya bi ya zama babban tsani ko ma mu ce gagarabadau a fagen adabi an buɗe ta ne a cikin 1929 lokacin da gwamnati ta kafa Hukumar Fassara (Translation Bureau) a Kano, amma a 1931 an maida ita Zariya, aka naɗa East ya zama shugaban ta. Aikin hukumar shi ne fassara wasu takardu da littattafai irin su dokokin gwamnati da makamantan su daga Ingilishi zuwa Hausa, sannan ta shirya takardun jarabawar iya harsunan mu na gado wadda ake yi wa Turawa masu son zuwa Arewacin Nijeriya domin kama aiki.

Kashi na farko na sharhin a Aminiya

Bayan shekara bakwai, bisa shawarar East, sai aka sauya wa hukumar suna zuwa Hukumar Talifi (Literature Bureau) domin ya lura aikin ta ya wuce fassara kaɗai, ya faɗaɗa zuwa samar da littattafan da za a yi amfani da su a makarantu, ganin cewa ana da ƙarancin su. A matsayin East na shugaban wajen, a cikin 1945 sai ya buƙaci gwamnati ta ba hukumar kuɗi ta sawo injinan buga littattafai, maimakon a dogara ga kai aikin ɗab'i a wasu garuruwan kamar Kaduna da Jos. Dalili kenan da aka samar da Kamfanin Gaskiya (Gaskiya Corporation).

Duk da yake ayyukan da East ya yi a Nijeriya su na da tarin yawa, amma an fi kula ne da ayyukan sa a fagen adabi domin a nan ne ya fi yin tasiri. Misali, a cikin 1933 ya shirya gasar rubuta littattafan hikayoyi inda aka samar da littattafai biyar da aka buga, wato ‘Ruwan Bagaja’, ‘Ganɗoki’, ‘Idon Matambayi’, ‘Shehu Umar’ da ‘Jiki Magayi’. Sai dai wani abin lura shi ne Dakta Aliyah ta sanar da mu cewa ba wannan ba ce gasa ta farko irin ta, an yi wasu gasannin har sau biyu a baya, waɗanda ba East ɗin ne ya shirya su ba. Amma bambancin ita wannan gasar da waɗancan biyun shi ne ita ce aka buga littattafan ta, domin kuwa su waɗancan na farkon ba a buga littattafan ba, kuma ma littattafan da aka shigar a gasar duk sun ɓace.

Babban tasirin wannan gasar da East ya kawo shi ne yadda ta sa ‘ɗan ba’ a fagen rubutaccen adabin ƙirƙira na zube na Hausa da haruffan Romanci ko mu ce boko. A da, rubutaccen adabin Bahaushe a cikin ajami ya ke, kuma ya ƙunshi waƙe ne; sauran zube na ƙirƙira yawancin sa Turawa ne su ka yi shi, ba ’yan ƙasa ba.

East ya ci gaba da aiki gadan-gadan wajen bunƙasa wannan adabi da aka kawo mana daga waje, ta hanyar agaza wa marubuta da dabarun rubutu da kuma buga abin da su ka rubuta. Ta haka ne hukumar sa ta samar da ɗimbin littattafan hikaya da na addini da na waƙe da na wasan kwaikwayo da na kimiyya. A ƙoƙarin sa na gina wannan adabi, East ya riƙe Abubakar Imam, ya yi masa limanci wajen rubuta littattafai da su ka haɗa da ‘Magana Jari Ce’ da ‘Ƙaramin Sani Ƙuƙumi’.

Shi kan sa East, bai sa ido ga wasu su rubuta ba, shi ma ya shiga an dama da shi dumu-dumu. Misali, tun a gasar 1933, shi da John Tafida Wusasa ne su ka rubuta ‘Jiki Magayi’. Bayan haka, East ya rubuta kundin wasannin kwaikwayo na farko mai suna ‘Six Hausa Plays’.

Bayan haka, East ya rubuta waɗansu littattafan waɗanda ba su shafi adabi ba. Ya yi littafi kan tarihin yankin Adamawa, ya yi wani kan yadda ake yi wa Turawa jarabawar sanin makamar harsunan Arewacin Nijeriya, ya yi wasu littattafan kan nahawun Hausa, shi da Imam sun haɗu sun rubuta littafin farko kan kimiyya da harshen Hausa mai suna ‘Ikon Allah’ (kundi na 1 zuwa na 5), sannan ya yi wa wani mutum ɗan ƙabilar Tibi mai suna Akiga Sai jagorar rubuta littafin farko kan tarihin ita ƙabilar tasu mai suna ‘Akiga's Story: The Tiv Tribe as Seen by One of its Members.’ Bugu da ƙari, East ya rubuta maƙaloli da ɗan dama kan harshen Hausa, waɗanda aka buga a mujallun nazari a lokuta daban-daban.

Littafin na Dakta Aliyah A. Ahmad ya nuna mana wata gagarumar rawar wadda East ya taka a fagen aikin jarida a Nijeriya. Wannan kuwa shi ne yadda ya jagoranci kafa jaridar Hausa da ta fi kowacce tasiri tare da daɗewa a ƙasar nan, wato Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo, wadda aka kafa a cikin 1939. East ne Babban Edita, yayin da Editan ta shi ne Mr. Giles, sannan Imam ya zama Editan Hausa na jaridar, wanda ya kasance kamar mataimaki ga Giles kafin daga baya ya zama cikakken editan ta. Abin mamaki shi ne yawan kwafen jaridar da ake bugawa a kuma sayar da su tatas; a bugun farko an buga 5,000, a bugu na biyu an sayar da 8,900.

A fagen aikin jaridar dai, East ne ya ƙirƙiri jaridar Turanci mai suna Nigerian Citizen, wadda aka yi wa laƙabi da “ƙanwar Gaskiya”.

To sai dai kuma ga wani abu: Bahaushe mai ban haushi! Wai ka dubi duk da haƙilon da East ya yi wa ƙasar Hausa, amma sai da Hausawa su ka taru su ka tsinka shi a idon duniya. Me ya faru? A cikin 1951 wasu mutanen mu su ka kafa kwamitin bincike a kan East, har su ka zarge shi da rashin iya gudanar da Kamfanin Gaskiya, su ka ce wai ya kasa kawo riba, don haka ana so ya yi murabus ko a kore shi! Bai da zaɓi, domin baƙin mutum ya fara shaƙar iskar 'yanci, Bature ya fara daina ba kowa tsoro. To, haka kuwa aka yi, tilas East ya bar kamfanin da ma Nijeriyar baki ɗaya, kuma tun da ya tafi garin su da sunan hutu bai sake komowa ba har ya rasu a 1975.

Kashi na biyu na sharhin da Aminiya ta buga

Amma kafin ya tafi sai da ya kare kan sa a wajen masu zargin sa, ya ce an kafa kamfanin ne fa domin ya samar da abin karantawa, ba domin ya yi kasuwanci ya samu kuɗi ba. Kuma idan aka duba da kyau, za a ga haka ɗin ne: East ya cika aikin sa na samar da littattafai na Hausa da na Fulatanci da ma wasu yarukan Arewa, kai har ma da jaridu. Har ƙasa ta naɗe kuwa ba za a manta da waɗannan ababen karantawa da ya samar ba, kuma ana cin moriyar su.

Littafin na Dakta Aliyah ya nuna mana cewar da East ya koma Ingila, sai ya sayi gona, ya gina katafaren gida a ciki, ya shiga noma abin sa: ga kayan amfanin gona, ga shanu da sauran bisashe. Kuma ya yi aure, har ya haifi 'ya'ya biyu.

Marubuciyar ta faɗi gaskiya da ta ce al'ummar Hausawa ba su fahimci (ko in ce sun ƙi fahimtar) gudunmawar da East ya bayar ga bunƙasar rubutaccen adabin su ba. Ta nuna mana cewa a yau ɗin nan babu wani abu da za ka nuna da yatsa ka ce an raɗa masa sunan East don karrama shi; ko a Kamfanin Gaskiya da ke unguwar Tukur-Tukur a Zariya babu wani gini da aka sa wa sunan East (kamar yadda aka raɗa wa wani gini suna Imam House a kamfanin New Nigerian a Kaduna). Wannan babban sakaci ne!

Sannan wani abu da littafin ya ɗan taɓo ƙyas shi ne zaman da East ya yi da wata Bafillatanar Adamawa mai suna Hajiya Dada Sare Maimunatu Abdullahi. Sun zauna tare a tsawon zaman sa a Zariya. To amma wannan mata ta yi karatu, ta samu ilimin aikin jinya, kuma har Ingila ta je wannan karatu. A ƙarshe, sai da ta zama mace ta farko mai irin wannan ilimin a duk faɗin Arewacin Nijeriya. Bugu da ƙari, ta yi aikin ilmantar da matan Arewa. Har ma gwamnatin Nijeriya ta ba ta lambar M.O.N.

Ban da tsagwaron tarihin East da littafin ya bayar, marubuciyar ta kuma yi sharhi ko nazari kan wasu littattafan adabi da East ya rubuta, inda ta feɗe su, ta nuna mana abin da su ka ƙunsa. Littattafan su ne ‘Six Hausa Plays’ da ‘Jiki Magayi’. Wannan sashe shi ne ya cinye kusan rabin littafin. Marubuciyar ta yi bayani kan kowane labari, ta fito da hikimomin da ke ciki, tare da bayyana muhimmancin sa.

Akwai hotuna a cikin littafin, wato na East tun daga yarintar sa har zuwa tsufan sa, da na iyalin sa da kuma na ita marubuciyar a Ingila lokacin da ta je bincike kan East ɗin.

Abin sha'awa, an sadaukar da littafin ga Alhajiya Dada Sare, masoyiyar East, wadda ita ce mace ta farko da ta yi ilimin zamani a Arewa har ta riƙe muƙami a gwamnatin mulkin mallaka.

Babu shakka, an yi babban aiki a wannan littafi, wanda shi ne na farko irin sa a kan tarihin samuwar rubutaccen adabin Hausa. Ya kamata duk wanda ke nazarin adabin Hausa da ma mai sha'awar adabin ya karanta wannan littafi.

Marubuciyar ta cancanci jinjina, domin ba ƙaramin aiki ba ne a ce mutum ya zaƙulo abin da ke rufe a tarihi wanda ya faru tun a farkon zuwan Turawa ƙasar nan, ya labarta mana shi kamar jiya-jiyan nan ya faru.

Yadda 'Leadership A Yau Lahadi' ta buga dukkan sharhin

Ban yi mamaki ba da na ga manyan masana a fagen adabi har mutum uku sun yi wa littafin ta'aliƙi. Su ne: Farfesa Graham Furniss na SOAS, Jami'ar London, da Farfesa Murray Last na University College, London, da kuma Dakta Adamu Ibrahim Malumfashi na Jami'ar Ahmadu Bello (ABU), Zariya. Dukkan su sun yaba wa wannan aiki tare da nuni da cewa shi ne na farko irin sa, wanda ya kasance fitila mai haska hanya a fagen tarihin adabi da talifin Hausa.

Dakta Adamu Malumfashi ya faɗi gaskiya da ya ce, “Yin wannan bincike a kan wannan ɗan taliki abin a yaba ne. Yaba kyauta tukwici. Abin da ya dace kenan a yi wa East. A fito da ayyukan sa a fili domin kowa ya gani. Nacin marubuciyar ya sanya wasu bayanan da su ke a ɓoye sun fito fili tamkar ba a daɗe da yin su ba, alhali kuwa tun 1975 East ya rasu. Irin wannan bin diddigi da aka nuna ya kamata ya zama ƙalubale ga matasa.”

To, da yake Hausawa sun ce ba a rasa nono a ruga, na ci karo da wasu 'yan kurakurai a wannan littafi. Na farko dai, akwai matsalar rubutu inda za ka ga wasu kalmomi sun fito ba daidai ba. Wani lokacin kuma sai ka ga an gwamutsa Hausar Kano da ta Sakkwato.

Haka kuma akwai yawan maimaita magana; an faɗa maka abu ɗazu ɗazun nan, yanzu kuma sai a sake gaya maka shi sau biyu ko fiye.

A shafi na 20, an ambaci Daily Times maimakon Nigerian Citizen.

Sannan na lura, ko kaɗan littafin bai ambaci rashin jituwar da ta faru a tsakanin East da Imam ba, wanda sai da ta kai ba su ko ga maciji. Wannan ɓatawar ta malam da ɗalibi wani muhimmin ɓangare ne a rayuwar East, kuma ta taimaka wajen tozarta East da aka yi har ya bar ƙasar da miki a zuci. Farfesa Furniss, wanda ya taɓa haɗuwa da East ɗin a 1974, shi ne kaɗai a ta’aliƙin sa ya ɗan ce wani abu kan wannan ɓatawar, amma ya kamata mu ga yadda marubuciyar ta bada labarin.

Shi kan sa zaman East da Dada Sare, marubuciyar ba ta faɗi yanayin sa ba. An dai ce "uwargida" ce a gare shi, amma kuma tare su ke zaune, kuma ba aure su ka yi ba. A nan ma, Furniss da Last ne su ka ɗan ɓuntuna mana wani abu game da yanayin zaman.

Sannan Dakta Aliyah ba ta faɗi wani abu mai zurfi game da zaman East da wata Baturiya 'yar ƙasar Beljiyam ba, wato Miss Jacqueline de Naeyer, wadda ita ce ta zana hotunan da ke cikin ‘Magana Jari Ce’ da wasu littattafan, wadda kuma daga baya East ya aure ta har su ka haifi 'ya'ya biyu. Shin wane irin zama su ka yi a Zariya, kuma ya aka yi har su ka yi aure bayan sun bar Nijeriya?  Menene tarihin ita kan ta Naeyer ɗin, musamman ganin cewa ta bada gagarumar gudunmawa ga adabin Hausa ta ɓangaren zane-zane? An ce ita ce ma ta zana dukkan labarin nan na 'Sauna Jac'.

Haka kuma, ba a nuna cewa jaridar Nigerian Citizen ce ta rikiɗe ta zama shahararriyar jaridar nan ta New Nigerian a cikin Janairu 1966 ba.

Sannan ba a nuna yadda Kamfanin Gaskiya ya amshe sunan Literature Bureau ba har sunan Literature Bureau ya ɓace.

Bayan haka, littafin bai ce komai ba kan sukar da wasu masana ke yi wa East na cewa ya taimaka wajen durƙushewar rubutun ajami, lokacin da ya cusa wa Hausawa aƙidar yin rubutu da haruffan boko. An ma ce Imam da kan sa ya yi nadamar daɗewa a fagen rubutun ƙirƙira, wai ya gano cewa East ya yi amfani da shi ne kawai don cimma wata manufa ta Turawan mulkin mallaka, wai shi ya sa ma a ƙarshe ya koma rubutun addini. Shin yaya abin yake?

A bangon littafin, an rubuta cewa wannan littafi juzu'i na ɗaya ne. Shin ina na biyun? Ko shi ne  wanda aka ce an adana a wani gidan yana a intanet? Shi na intanet ɗin, da wannan na hannu ɗin, da ma fassararren tarihin na Ingilishi wanda kamfanin Lambert Academic Publishing da ke Jamus ya buga, babu su a hannun jama'a. Ina kira ga Dakta Aliyah da ta gaggauta samar da dukkan su a shagunan sayar da littattafai domin mutane su samu su karanta. Ta haka ne al’umma za ta ci moriyar wannan muhimmin aiki wanda ya zama zakaran gwajin dafi ga sauran masu bincike ko manazarta.

On the neglect of Imam and Shata

Alhaji Abubakar Imam

Alhaji Mamman Shata (right) with a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, who was a Shata benefactor

In some sections of this week’s Blueprint, there are stories about Hausa land’s foremost artistes in the areas of music and literature. Alhaji Abubakar Imam, who was born in 1911 and died in a hospital in Zaria, Kaduna State, on June 19, 1981, was the leading creative writer in Hausa land. Alhaji Mamman Shata Katsina, who died in a hospital in Kano on Friday, June 18, 1999 at the age of 76, was the leading Hausa musician of our time.

Both men showed promise in their art forms right from a very young age -- barely 16 to 19 years. By the end of each artiste’s life, he was able to attain a level of dignity, acclaim and command of a huge following, a prowess which has outlived him. Each became a fabled member of the ruling elite. Each was awarded the enviable national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the federal government and an honorary doctorate degree by Ahmadu Bello University.

This was because each had contributed immensely to the development of our country, using his God-given talents. As a journalist, Imam had waged a war against what he called the “three evils” militating against progress in northern Nigeria -- ignorance, indolence and poverty. He also participated in the nascent political awakening in the region. In addition, his books have remained a yardstick for measuring the sophistication of creative writing in the Hausa language.

Shata, on his part, is still entertaining us even though he is no more. His songs are played on radio and television, and they are available on CDs (courtesy of pirates) for use at home and in our cars. In them, he titillates, educates and enlightens us on all those three evils that ailed Imam during his journalism days. Shata was also an active politician in the Second Republic. He chaired the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) in Kankia Local Government Area and was the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Funtua LGA during the Third Republic. He must have, therefore, contributed to political awakening through his participation.

An interesting aspect of the life of these two geniuses is that while they had great opportunities to accumulate wealth, they didn’t. Many would be surprised to know that Shata in particular, whom some think was stinkingly rich, died almost a pauper. He lived as a humble man who would give away the monies and goods he received from his benefactors to lesser mortals, the way his father Alhaji Ibrahim Yaro did in his own lifetime.

Last week, Imam clocked 30 years in death and Shata clocked 12. This year also marks the centenary anniversary of the birth of Imam. While it is a matter of joy that we are still around to witness this epoch, a careful look at the family of each of these men shows that the memory of each one of them has not been given its due by those who should do so. In fact, it is sad that their families are left to fend for themselves without having an opportunity to reap from the fruits of their father’s/husband’s labour.

While Imam’s children live a comparatively better life because of the education they acquired, most of Shata’s sons -- and the wives he left behind -- are struggling. Some of Shata’s daughters are better off because they got higher education (at least four have acquired university degrees), but generally the family seems to have been abandoned by our thankless society.

This sob-story is similar to those of many other artistes in this country. My association with a variety of artistes has exposed me to many situations that make me sad any time I recall their fate. Almost all the artistes who were a cynosure of the society’s eyes at one time or the other have been left to their own devices; many are sickly or existing on the verge of penury.

Governments at local, state and federal levels should do something to redeem this ugly situation. There should be a hall of fame funded by various levels of government, and NGOs dedicated to the betterment of the life of artistes who have reached old age and their families when they are no more. It is an insult to the memory of people like Shata that even the name of the street where he lived for decades has not been changed to his name. The Katsina State government should find a way to not only immortalise this music giant but also assist his family; Imam, who was originally from Niger State, also had strong links to Katsina. With the right will, it can be done.

Published in my column in this week's edition edition of our weekly newspaper, BLUEPRINT, out today.

Abubakar Imam: My Personal Odyssey

This piece was written last night on the occasion of the one-day colloquim being organised today in Kaduna by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)

In 2008, Alhaji Abubakar Imam’s best known literary work, Magana Jari Ce, clocked 80 years of publication. That year (Thursday, June 19 to be exact) the sage himself clocked 27 years in death. At that time, all one could hear among the Nigerian literati was the well-deserved hubbub over the 50th anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Just as I savoured the joy of having one of Africa’s leading works clocking 50 years in print, moreso with its writer being well and alive, I also agonised over the sad neglect of Imam’s attainment on the literary field even by those who should be holding his banner aloft.

This kind of neglect had pained me for ages. On a Saturday in 2004, I had published an opinion in my literary column in the Weekly Trust, ‘Bookshelf,’ which was a rework of a piece I had earlier written in Majalisar Marubuta (Writers’ Forum), a listserve in Yahoogroups. In it, I lamented that the late Imam had not been suffiently honoured by the northern intelligentsia in terms of doing things that could immortalise him. My hunch was that with the modern information technologies, especially the internet, a lot could be done to sell this unique genius to the world and put him permanently on the global map of information dissemination.

To prove the point, I told of a story about my attempt to compare my own humble exposure to the worldwide web to that of Imam, using Google. I had typed and clicked on the words “Abubakar Imam” in order to see the number of entries available on the grandfather of modern Hausa literature on the net’s most popular and reliable search engine. I then entered my names. Disappointingly, I beat Imam by a ratio of 9:1. And who was I, a mere shrub, on the field of Hausa literature compared to a poplar like Imam? There are quite a number of other yardsticks one could use, of course, in gauging Imam’s pre-eminence on our collective psyche. But the truth was that Imam wasn’t on the map.

Imam should have been celebrated by writers, academics, journalists, politicians, businessmen and the commoners, especially those of northern extraction, because he had worked for all of them during his lifetime. Others were, indeed, members of his family.

Imam was born in Kagara in the present day Niger State in 1911. Nigerlites could claim him as their own, but Imam was a man of many climes. His roots were in Borno. His great-grandfather had migrated to Sokoto during the Jihad era. I could claim him to be mine, because he was raised by his elder brother in Katsina. The brother, Alhaji Bello Kagara, was a member of the Katsina royalty, having served as the Wali of Katsina. Imam was educated in Katsina and grew up there. Imam was a school teacher there. He was also discovered there by the Briton, Rupert M. East, following the first Hausa literary competition in 1933, which Imam won.

The people of Zaria could claim him as their own, and they did so more than anyone else. Imam spent the longest period of his life in Zaria. He first went there in order to write books under Dr East’s tutelage. Subsequently he continued to live there - writing books, working as editor of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo newspaper, engaging in politics and religious activities, and raising family. By the time of his death on Friday, June 19, 1981 in Zaria, he had become a complete Zaria man. He was survived by a wife, 14 children and 42 grandchildren.

His impact on Hausa literature is still felt today. Many a writer aspires to write like him. There have been many attempts to be like him, in terms of linguistic craftsmanship and title output, but none has successfully worked. Reasons abound: we live in a different world, under a different intellectual and moral clime. Politics, the economy, exposure to values, everything, have changed. Nonetheless, many of the attempts to be like Imam were heroic. They have ensured that Hausa remains the most fecund indigenous language in our country. Its culture is strong. Its communication channels have been modernised, but they are yet to lose their pristine colorations completely.

This morning, Imam is going to be celebrated in Kaduna, courtsey of the Association of Nigerian Authors under the able leadership of Dr Wale Okediran. The ANA executive council has said that the campaign I waged in the media and on the internet was responsible for its decision to organise this colloquim. It’s not only an honour for Imam, therefore, but the honour is also mine.

Imam’s family have done their best to help immortalise their father and grandfather. A few years ago I was involved with their efforts to establish the Abubakar Imam Centre in Zaria, a kind of personal museum of his work. Dr Haroun Adamu also funded the setting up of one of my proposals - the Imam website: www.abubakarimam.com. Malam Dalhat has just completed a Hausa translation of Abubakar Imam Memoirs. But a lot needs to be done.

Sadly, today’s event is coming just when some pretenders to a certain moral crusade are jailing writers, moviemakers and other artistes in Kano. This morning, a Hausa novelist, Aminuddeen Ladan Abubakar (ALA) has been in jail for two days, having been sent there by a mobile court working for the Kano State Censorship Board. His offence: the alleged release of a song (one of the best Hausa songs this century!) which lampoons the evil regime of censorship in Kano. (More on this later)

All persons of conscience should use the occasion of this colloquiem to not only celebrate Imam’s incredible attainments but also to ruminate on the war against the arts going on in Kano. This event would be worthless if in celebrating our grandfather we forget or refuse to lament the persecution of his grandsons and grand-daughters.

•This piece was published today in LEADERSHIP under the heading: "Abubakar Imam: My Personal Odyssey"

Bayan Shekara 27: Me Ya Sa Aka Manta Da Abubakar Imam?

A bana, littafin Magana Jari Ce, wanda Alhaji Abubakar Imam ya rubuta, ya cika shekara 80 cif da wallafawa. Sannan a jiya Alhamis, 19 ga Yuni, 2008 Imam, wanda shi ne kakan marubutan Hausa, ya cika shekara 27 da rasuwa. Wannan sharhin ya na yi mana hannun-ka-mai-sanda kan yadda mutane su ka yi watsi da juyayin Imam da ayyukan sa, ciki kuwa har da wad'anda nauyin yin ayyukan tunawa da Imam da karrama shi ya fi rataya a wuyan su.

Daga Ibrahim Sheme

A wata ranar Asabar a cikin shekara ta 2004, na yi wani sharhi kan marigayi Alhaji Abubakar Imam, ya fito a filn adabi na jaridar Weekly Trust, wanda na ke gabatarwa a lokacin. Sharhin, kwaskwarima ne na wani sharhin da na tab'a yi a Majalisar Marubuta ta Intanet, inda na nuna cewa ba a yi wa Alhaji Imam adalci ba wajen ayyukan tunawa da shi, musamman a hanyoyin sadarwa na zamani. Na yi nuni da cewa idan mutum ya yi amfani da na’urar Google ta intanet, zai gano cewa babu wurare da dama da aka ambaci wannan hazik'i, fasihi, kakan marubutan Hausa a intanet. Har na ce idan a misali ka kwatanta Imam da ni d'in nan Ibrahim Sheme, za ka taras da cewa an ambace ni a intanet sau ninkin baninkin fiye da Imam - ga shi kuwa ni ba kowan kowa ba ne a fagen adabin Hausa, idan ana maganar gagarau irin su Imam!
Na d'ora laifin a kan mutanen da ya kamata a ce sun karrama Imam, sun tabbatar da cewa ya na da cikakken wakilci a yanar gizo da duk wani dandali da ya kamata a ji amon sunan sa. Wad'annan mutane sun had'a da marubutan Hausa, da malaman makarantu tun daga firamare har zuwa jami’a, da su kan su iyalan marigayin.

Shi dai Imam, haifaffen Kagara ne a Jihar Neja. An haife shi a 1911. Asalin asalin sa Babarbare ne, amma kakan kakan sa ya yi hijira zuwa k'asar Kwantagora, daga nan ya tafi Sakkwato a zamanin Shehu Usmanu D'anfodiyo, ya zauna a k'ark'ashin Shehu. A can aka haifi mahaifin Imam, wato Malam Shehu Usman, wanda daga baya ya dawo Kagara bayan ya yi yawon malanta a k'asar Katsina da ta Kano.

Imam ya yi makaranta a Katsina, inda daga bisani ya zama malamin makaranta. A nan ne ya had'u da Dakta R.M. East, Baturen nan jami’in ilmi wanda ya jagorance shi wajen rubuta wasu daga cikin littattafan sa, ciki har da Magana Jari Ce da kuma K'aramin Sani K'uk'umi. Har ila yau Imam shi ne editan Hausa na farko na jaridar Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo. Ya rasu a ranar Juma’a, 19 ga Yuni, 1981 a Zariya, ya na da shekara 70 a duniya. Ya bar matar sa d'aya, da ’ya’ya 14, da kuma jikoki 42.

Imam ya kasance jagaba a harkar rubuce-rubucen hikaya na Hausa, ta yadda a yau da wuya a ce ga wanda ya fi shi. To amma ban da rubutu, ya na daga cikin ’yan kishin k'asa na farko da su ka nemi mulkin kan Nijeriya daga hannun Turawa ’yan mulkin mallaka. Haka kuma ya taka rawa k'warai a harkokin addinin Musulunci.

Rasuwar Imam ta gigita jama’a, musamman saboda gagarumar gudunmawar da ya bayar a fagage da dama na rayuwar jama’ar Arewa. Tun daga lokacin da ya mutu ake ta tunanin hanyoyin da za a bi a karrama shi, a rik'a tunawa da shi a kai a kai. Abin mamaki, har yanzu ba a gama tunanin ba, don haka ba a yi wani abin kirki a kan haka d'in ba - shekaru 27 bayan rasuwar sa!

Sakamakon rubutun da na yi a Weekly Trust, wanda babban k'alubale ne a gare mu duka mu masu hank'oron son Imam, an samu yunk'uri mai alfanu daga wasu sassa. A Jami’ar Bayero ta Kano, Farfesa Abdalla Uba Adamu ya yi wuf ya k'irk'iri dandalin tattaunawa (chat group) kan Imam a intanet, wanda ya sa wa suna www.abubakarimam@yahoogroups.com. An samu membobi a wannan dandali, to amma yawan su bai taka kara ya karya ba.

Yunk'uri mafi girma da aka samu na karrama Imam ya fito ne daga iyalan sa. Sun kira mutanen da abin ya shafa, ciki har da Farfesa Abdalla da Dakta Ibrahim Malumfashi na Jami’ar Usmanu D'anfodiyo da kuma ni. Shi Malumfashi, ya yi digirin sa na dakta ne a kan rubuce-rubucen Imam kuma tun tuni ya nad'a kan sa Sarkin Yak'in Imam a fagage da dama. To amma a yayin da mu ka amsa gayyatar iyalan Imam mu ka je Zariya wurin taro na farko don tattauna hanyoyin da za a bi a karrama Imam, a ranar 29 ga Agusta, 2004, Malumfashi k'in zuwa ya yi. Bai kuma aika da sak'on uzuri ba. Zargin da mu ke da shi shi ne, adawar da ya ke yi da wasu daga cikin mu ce ta hana shi zuwa. A gani na, ya na ganin cewa tun da ba shawarar sa ba ce tun farko, ba zai shiga ciki ba. Ka ji halin Bahaushe – mai ban haushi, na Tanko mai kan bashi!

Duk da haka, taron ya yi albarka. Akwai dattawa da dama a taron, kuma yawancin ’ya’yan Imam maza, da wasu jikokin sa, duk sun halarta. An tattauna kan hanyoyin da za a bi a karrama marubucin, musamman ma yadda za a sa a rik'a jin amon sunan sa a k'asar nan kwatankwacin yadda ake jin na gwaraza irin su Janar Murtala da Janar Yar’Adua.

Bayan wannan taron, an sake yin wasu tarurrukan a wasu ranakun. A k'arshe, an yi abubuwa biyu. Na d'aya, an gina gidan yana a intanet mai suna www.abubakarimam.com, wanda Dakta Haroun Adamu, mamallakin makarantar nan Zaria Academy, ya d'auki nauyin gina shi. Wani masanin intanet da bai dad'e da dawowa daga Amerika ba inda ya yi tsawon shekaru, wato Malam Salisu U. D'anyaro, shi ya yi gidan yanar kuma ya ke gudanar da ita. Na biyu, an kafa cibiyar tunawa da Imam, wadda a Turance za a iya kiran ta Abubakar Imam Documentation Centre. Ta na cikin wani gidan sama da ke kallon randabawul na Babban Dodo a Zariya.

A yayin da gidan yanar ya ke d'auke da tarihin Imam da rubuce-rubucen sa, a ita cibiyar kuma an adana wasu kayan tarihi da su ka jib'inci marubucin, ciki har da samfurin rubutun sa na hannu, da takardun sa, da littattafan sa, da lambon girma da ya samu, da hotunan sa, kai har ma da rigunan sa!

Wad'annan abubuwa uku, babu shakka, manyan hanyoyi ne na karrama Imam. To amma a yau, idan na waiwaya baya, sai in ga ai ba su isa ba. Kuma ma tuni an yi watsi da su. Na farko, dandalin tattaunawar da Malam Abdalla ya bud'e a intanet, bai hab'aka ba. Mutane k'alilan ne a ciki. Kuma babu sak'wanni a kai a kai a ciki. Don haka dandalin bai cimma nasarar bud'e shi. Mai yiwuwa dalilin shi ne saboda Malam Abdalla ya gina wani dandalin tun da fari mai suna www.marubuta@yahoogroups.com wanda ya shafe na Imam d'in. Yawancin marubuta ma ba su san da dandalin Imam d'in ba.
Ta b'angaren gidan yanar da Malam Salisu D'anyaro ke gudanarwa kuwa, ya yi kyau k'warai, domin hatta littattafan Imam za ka iya sauko da su kyauta. Sai ai ya kamata a ce ana saka sababbin abubuwa a cikin sa, kamar labaran marubuta da mak'aloli kan harkar rubutun Hausa. Kafin a yi hakan tilas sai an samu ’yan rahoto ko marubuta da za su rik'a aikawa da sak'wannin da za a rubuta.

Haka kuma ya dace a ga hotuna da bayanai daban-daban a ciki wad'anda su ka danganci Imam da iyalan sa har da mu ’yan amshi.

Ban da haka, shin har an k'ure tunani kan Imam daga yin ’yan wad'annan abubuwan kenan? To ai ba a ma fara yak'in ba! Dalili shi ne har yanzu ba a yi wa Imam karramawar da ta dace da mutum irin sa ba, wanda ya bauta wa k'asa ta hanyoyin da Allah ya hore masa - kama daga kaifin alk'amin sa har zuwa fagen siyasa inda ya taimaka wajen k'wato wa Nijeriya ’yanci daga hannun ’yan mallaka. Domin fa Imam ba marubuci kad'ai ba ne, a’a d'an siyasa ne na sahun gaba, kuma malamin addini ne wanda ya taimaka gaya wajen fito da al’umma daga duhun jahilci. Kuma d'an jarida ne wanda ya gina dandamalin da mu jikokin sa mu ke cin abinci a kai a yau.

Akwai hanyoyi da dama da za a bi don inganta tunanin mu kan wannan bawan Allah. Na d'aya, a fitar da rana d'aya a kowace shekara don yin laccoci kan rayuwar Imam da ayyukan sa. Wato dai kamar yadda ake yi kan su Murtala da Yar’adua da ire-iren su. A taron, za a dubi ayyukan da ya yi, a d'ora su bisa jigo ko sikelin da aka zab'a a shekarar da ake laccar; misali: rubutun hikaya, aikin hajji, siyasa, karatun boko da na addini, aikin jarida, wallafa, ds. Wannan hak'k'i ne na iyalan sa da sauran masoyan sa; idan sun yi jagora, sai abin ya yiwu.

Na biyu, ya kamata a rik'a shirya laccoci kan rubuce-rubucen Imam, wanda su kan su marubutan Hausa ya dace su yi. Misali, a yau d'in nan a K'ungiyar Marubuta ta Nijeriya (ANA) ta Turanci, babu b'ab'atun da ake yi sai na karrama marubucin nan d'an k'abilar Ibo, Farfesa Chinua Achebe, wanda a bana gwarzon littafin sa Things Fall Apart ya cika shekara 50 cur da bugawa. To, mu mu na ina Magana Jari Ce littafi na 1 ya cika shekara 69 da bugawa a cikin 2007? Ko ‘ihn’ ban ce su Malumfashi sun furta ba, ballantana Allah-maimaita-mana! To, ba a makara ba, domin littafi na 2 da na 3 na Magana Jari Ce an buga su ne a cikin 1938 - wato shekara 70 cur a yau. A cewar Dakta R.M. East, wanda ya jagoranci wallafa littafin, an buga littafin ne a wajajen watan Satumba 1938. Kun ga kenan akwai damar a yi wani abu, ko da na rana d'aya ne, don tunawa da wallafar littafin da aka yi.

Na uku, ya kamata a gina gida na musamman wanda zai d'auki Cibiyar Tunawa da Abubakar Imam kamar yadda ake da Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre a Abuja ko Murtala Muhammed Foundation a Legas da Abuja. Idan iyalan Imam sun ga cewa ba su da halin yin hakan, to su rungumi gwamnati, ko da ta Kaduna ce, domin a taru a san yadda za a fitar da jaki daga duma. A tunani na, wannan ba abu ba ne da zai gagare su.
Na hud'u, a fito da babbar gasa ta rubutun littattafan hikaya masu ma’ana na Hausa ta shekara-shekara da sunan Imam. A rik'a kafa kwamiti da zai duba littattafan da su ka shiga gasar don fidda zakarun da su ka cika k'a’idojin da gasar ta tanada. Yin haka zai k'ara saka juyayin Imam a zukatan marubuta da manazarta. Idan an tuna, babbar gasar rubutun littattafan Hausa a yau ita ce ta tunawa da Injiniya Bashir K'araye wadda maid'akin sa Hajiya Bilkisu ta sa. Gasar ta samu nasara. An yi ta farko a bara, kuma har an fara ta bana a yanzu. Wannan gasa ta Imam za a iya bai wa k'ungiyar ANA ta k'asa ita domin ta rik'a gudanarwa.

Na biyar, a inganta gidan yanar www.abubakarimam.com, ta yadda zai k'unshi abubuwan da bai da su a yanzu.

Na shida, ina labarin littafin tarihin rayuwar Imam na Hausa da Malumfashi ya ce ya na yi ya kwana? Shekaru kamar biyar da su ka wuce, Malumfashi ya fad'a mani cewa har ya k'are aikin, wai “zai fito kwanan nan.” To, amma shiru ka ke ji, wai malam ya cinye shirwa! Ya zuwa yanzu, tarihin Imam a littafi guda d'aya ne, wato Abubakar Imam Memoirs wanda surukin sa marigayi Dakta Abdurrahman Mora ya fito da shi a cikin 1989. Wannan littafi shi kad'ai ne madgora wajen samun ingantaccen tarihin Imam, amma da Turanci aka yi shi! Kuma ba “kammalalle” ba ne, domin babu bayanai kan iyalan Imam a ciki, da ya ke shi Imam d'in ne ya rubuta shi, kuma ya fi maida hankali kan ayyukan sa na harkokin addini da na siyasa fiye da na adabi. In dai ba Malumfashi ya lak'ume shirwa ba ne, to don Allah ya fito mana da wancan littafin da ya ke magana. Mun gaji da gafara sa, ba mu ga k'aho ba. Idan kuma shi ba zai iya ba, to ya ba yara wuri, su su yi!

Na bakwai, malamai masu sha’awar Imam tare da nazarin ayyukan sa su cire gasa/kishi//hassada/gaba da ke cikin ran su, su had'a kai, su taru su fito da hanyoyin karrama Imam da su ka dace. Al’ummomi daban-daban a duk duniya su kan yi wasu ayyuka na musamman don tunawa da gwarazan su, to amma mu “ninanci” (kamar yadda Malam Abdalla ke cewa) ya yi mana tarnak'i. “In ba ni na yi abu ba, babu wanda ya isa ya yi shi,” ko kuma “Wane ai ba fagen nazarin sa ba ne wannan, da har zai zo ya na yi mana shiga-sharo-ba-shanu.”

Mu sani cewa idan fa ba mu karrama gwarzayen mu da kan mu ba, babu wanda zai karrama ma mana su. Su dai sun taka rawar su sun tafi, sun bar mu a fagen. Don haka, hak'k'in tunawa da su ya rataya a wuyan mu, ba a wuyan kowa ba. Kamar yadda marigayi Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardaunan Sakkwato ya tab'a fad'a, idan har ba mu buga tambarin kirakin kan mu ba, babu wani bare da zai zo ya buga mana shi. Kukan kurciya jawabi ne, mai hankali ke ganewa!

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An buga wannan sharhin a jaridar LEADERSHIP HAUSA ta ranar Juma'a, 20 ga Yuni 2008 makon jiya

Hira da Kamaruddeen Imam

Agajin Harkar Rubutu: Ya Kamata Gwamnati Ta Shigo Ciki - K'amaruddeen Imam

Daga Ibrahim Sheme


Kamaruddeen Imam yana daga cikin ’ya’yan kakan marubutan Hausa, wato marigayi Alhaji Dakta Abubakar Imam, marubucin littattafai kamar su ‘Ruwan Bagaja, Magana Jari Ce,’ Tafiya Mabud'in Ilmi,’ Tarihin Annabi Da Na Halifofi, Tambaya Goma Amsa Goma, da sauran su. Shi ma Alhaji K'amaruddeen marubuci ne, kuma mawallafi, kuma shi kad'ai ne daga cikin ’ya’yan Imam da ya gaji mahaifin sa a fannin adabi.

Kamar Baba Imam, shi ma Alhaji K'amaruddeen ya kwanta dama. Ya rasu a ranar Juma’a, 12 ga Mayu 2006 a gidan Imam da ke Tudun Wada, Zariya, a Jihar Kaduna, bayan ya yi fama da rashin lafiya na tsawon shekara biyar. Shekarun sa 56 a duniya.

Ya rasu ya bar mahaifiyar sa da matar sa da ’ya’ya shida da kuma jikanyar sa. Allah ya jik'an sa, amin summa amin.

Abin ikon Allah, na samu damar yin hira da K'amaruddeen a Zariya tun yana da rai, wato a ranar 29 ga Agusta 2004. Mun tattauna a kaset lokacin da na halarci wani taro da iyalan Imam suka kira don k'addamar da kwamitin Gidauniyar Tunawa da Alhaji Abubakar Imam (Abubakar Imam Foundation) tare da gina gidan yana a intanet. Ni memba ne a kwamitin. Mun yi tarurruka da dama don d'abbaka wannan muhimmin nufi, wanda a k'arshe an kafa cibiyar tattara bayanai kan Imam a wani gini da ke duban K'ofar Babban Dodo a birnin Zariya, sa’annan an gina gidan yanar (www.abubakarimam.com).

Malam K'amaruddeen mutumin kirki ne, mai sauk'in kai, mai sanyin murya, mai fara’a – kamar dai dukkan ’ya’yan Imam da na gani. Lokacin da na buk'ace shi da mu tattauna, nan da nan ya amince, muka zauna muka tattauna kan sha’awar sa ta rubuce-rubuce, da matsalolin sha’anin wallafa a Nijeriya da kuma halin da ake ciki.

Na so in wallafa hirar a jaridar Leadership lokacin ina editan ta, amma sai abubuwa suka rincab'e; haka lokacin da na ke babban editan jaridar Public Agenda, na so buga hirar, amma nan ma abubuwa suka giggitta. Sai a yanzu ne Allah ya ba ni damar wallafa wannan tattaunawar da marubucin.

Wannan hira tana da muhimmanci, domin kuwa ita ce ta farko da Malam K'amaruddeen ya yi da wani d'an jarida a kan rubuce-rubucen sa, kuma ita ce ta k'arshe.
Bismillan ku:

SHEME: Zan so ka fad'i sunan ka da kuma dangantakar da ke tsakanin ka da marigayi Alhaji Abubakar Imam.

KAMARUDDEEN: To ni suna na K'amaruddeen Abubakar Imam, kuma ni d'an Alhaji Abubakar Imam ne.

SHEME: Yanzu aikin me ka ke yi?

KAMARUDDEEN: Yanzu ni marubuci ne kuma ina buga littattafai, kuma ana ba ni gyaran rubutu kamar na 'manuscript'.

SHEME: To ko za ka gaya mana yawan littattafan da ka rubuta da kuma sunan su?

KAMARUDDEEN: Na rubuta littattafai da dama. Akwai "Tsaka Mai Wuya," "Hannun Ka Mai Sanda," sannan kuma na rubuta "Halaye Nagari a Cikin Musulunci," "Sir Usman Nagogo" – amma da Turanci ne ni da (D'ahiru) Coommassie muka rubuta shi – da kuma "To Use Knowledge."

SHEME: Kamar daga wane lokaci ne ka fara rubuce-rubucen nan?

KAMARUDDEEN: Na fara wannan rubuce-rubuce tun lokacin da marigayi Baba Imam yake da rai, har ma ya sa ni a kan wasu hanyoyi inda ya ke ce mani, “In za ka rubuta tarihin mutum, to rubuta abin kirkin da ya yi na alheri ga jama’a, maimakon ka yi yabon shi.”

SHEME: Yanzu kenan kai kad'ai ne cikin ’ya’yan marigayi ka gaji baban ka ta wajen rubuce-rubuce?

KAMARUDDEEN: I to, haka ne, don har yanzu ni kad'ai ke yin irin wad'annan ayyuka na rubuce-rubuce.

SHEME: A da, ka d'an rubuta littattafai na k'irk'ira, amma kuma daga baya sai ka bari. Ko me ya kawo haka?

KAMARUDDEEN: To dalilin dai shi ne saboda rashin kud'i, kuma in ka rubuta ka kai ma wasu su taimake ka sai su ce ba su da kud'i, ko kuma su ce kai ka kawo rabi, in ka kawo ma in ba a yi sa’a ba sai ka ga kud'in ka ma ya mak'ale.

SHEME: To ban da matsalar rashin kud'i, ko za ka iya fad'in wata matsala da ke iya shafar aikin wallafa, musamman a nan Arewa?

KAMARUDDEEN: Akwai matsaloli mana. Misali irin yadda mutane ke rubuta littattafai barkatai ba tare da an tsara shi yadda ya kamata ba, musamman masu soyayya. Ba wanda bai iya soyayya ba, to amma ya kamata in za ka rubuta ka tabbatar da ka rubuta abin da yake mai kyau kuma mai inganci.

SHEME: Menene maganin abin?

KAMARUDDEEN: Maganin abin shi ne gwamnati ta shigo ciki, ta zo ta rik'a sayen littattafan. Ya kamata kuma a rik'a sayar ma makarantun sakandare. Ta haka za a samu tarbiyya a makarantu, ba wai mutum ya je ya kalli fim ya zo ya maida shi littafi ba, ko kuma irin yadda ake cusa ma matasa ra’ayin soyayya ba; misali, duk wanda ya karanta Magana Jari Ce ya san lallai wannan Bahaushe ne ke magana, kuma ba batsa, sannan ga tarbiyya a ciki.

SHEME: To Alhaji, ga shi Allah ya had'a mu a nan Zariya don tunawa da shi marigayi da k'addamar da kwamitin tunawa da shi. Ko za ka gaya mana abin da ya sa ku ke son a kafa wannan kwamiti?

KAMARUDDEEN: To, akwai wani d'an jarida wanda ake kira Ibrahim Sheme, yana yawan rubutu a kan Dakta Abubakar Imam. A gaskiya ya nuna mana k'auna, ya nuna yana son marigayi Dakta Abubakar Imam. To kwanan nan sai ya yi wani rubutu wanda ya zama mana kamar tuni ko k'aluballe, don kuwa har wani shagub'e ya yi mana inda ya nuna mana cewa ’ya’yan marigayin kamar ma sun manta da shi. To jin haka sai mu ma muka harzuk'a muka fara shirin kafa wannan kwamiti don tunawa da marigayi Dakta Alhaji Abubakar Imam.

SHEME: Ya ka ke ganin wannan abin zai amfani mutane a nan gaba?

KAMARUDDEEN: In aka kafa wannan Foundation, to kowa da kowa zai zo ya zauna ya duba duk abin da ya ke buk'ata na Dakta Alhaji Abubakar Imam, kuma wannan ya had'a kowa da kowa. Misali, akwai wata mata, mutuniyar Jamus ce, take bincike a kan Dakta Abubakar Imam, yanzu haka har ma ta yi nisa ta kai wata matsaya babba. Ka ga yanzu in ta zo sai kawai mu nuna mata wannan wurin don kuwa da man an tab'a yi mata bayanin ana wannan aiki.

SHEME: To a k'arshe, ko za ka iya ba ni d'an tarihin rayuwar ka?

KAMARUDDEEN: To ni shekaru na 54 da haihuwa, kuma a nan Zariya aka haife ni. Bayan na gama karance-karance na na sakandire da jami’a, na yi aiki da jaridar Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo, lokacin Edita Baban Zarah.

SHEME: Ai ina zaton kai a Katsina ka ke.

KAMARUDDEEN: Asali na shi ne Katsina, kuma muna da yawa, misali su Shamsuddeeni Imam, Nuruddeen Imam, su suke can Katsina; amma mu da aka haifa a nan Zariya - Najmuddeen Imam, K'amaruddeen Imam, Amadi Imam, Jalaladdeen Imam – nan Zariya muke.

SHEME: To Alhaji, na gode.

KAMARUDDEEN: Ni ma na gode. Allah ya saka maka da alheri, amin.

(BAYANI: Hoton Kamaruddeen da ke wannan shafin ya dade da dauka, watakila sama da shekara 20 kafin rasuwar marigayin, domin ya zama dattijo lokacin rasuwar sa)