Protest Arts, Gender, and Social Change: Fiction, Popular Songs, and the Media in Hausa Society across Borders

Ousseina Alidou's book examines how novelists, popular songwriters, and musical performers in contemporary Hausa society are using their creative works to effect social change, highlighting the oppression, social isolation, and marginalization experienced by vulnerable and underprivileged communities. It explores the ways in which song performances produce an intertextual dialogue between their lyrics and visual dramatic narratives to raise awareness against social ills, including gender-based violence and social inequalities exposed by biomedical health pandemics. The book focuses on the resistance narratives of one female novelist and six song composers and performers that generate alternative counterhegemonic responses to dominant patriarchal discourses, reaching out to marginalized local and national communities and global audiences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2024
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Protest Arts, Gender, and Social Change: Fiction, Popular Songs, and the Media in Hausa Society across Borders by Ousseina Alidou explores how a new generation of novelists, popular songwriters, and musical performers in contemporary Hausa society are using their creative works to effect social change. This book empathizes with the reality of the forms of oppression, social isolation, and marginalization that vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society in Northern Nigeria and the Niger Republic have been experiencing from the mid-1980s to the present. It also highlights the ways in which song performances produce an intertextual dialogue between their lyrics and visual dramatic narratives to raise awareness against social ills, including gender-based violence and social inequalities exposed by biomedical health pandemics such as HIV and COVID-19. In these creative Hausa narratives, the oppressed and marginalized have agency in articulating their own experiences.

While there is an abundance of social science studies giving voice to the dominant actors of hegemonic violence in Hausa society, there is a dearth of works that center the voices of the afflicted, unprivileged, and marginalized class, among whom are women and youth. One aim of this book is to examine the ways popular songs and fiction fill up the humanistic urgency to capture the dignity of the life of those dehumanized by local, national, and international hegemonic religious and secular forces. The book focuses on the resistance narratives of one female novelist and six song composers and performers that generate alternative counterhegemonic responses to dominant patriarchal discourses produced by cultural, religious, and political elites, thus reaching out to marginalized local and global audiences.

The book begins with a historical overview of the Hausa society, tracing its origins to the 11th century and its development into a complex and diverse society with a rich cultural heritage. It then explores the various forms of oppression and marginalization that have been experienced by vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society, including gender-based violence, social inequalities, and political repression.

One of the key themes of the book is the role of popular songs and fiction in shaping social change. The author argues that these forms of art have the power to challenge dominant narratives and promote social justice. Popular songs, for example, can be used to express the experiences of marginalized communities and to raise awareness about social issues. They can also be used to promote social cohesion and unity among different groups.

Fiction, on the other hand, can be used to explore the complexities of social issues and to provide a platform for marginalized voices. It can also be used to challenge dominant ideologies and to promote social change. The author provides several examples of Hausa fiction that have been used to address social issues, including the novel "The Girl Who Wore the Hijab" by Amina J. Mohammed and the play "The Woman Who Wasn't There" by Wole Soyinka.

The book also examines the role of the media in shaping social change in Hausa society. The author argues that the media has the power to influence public opinion and to promote social justice. However, the media in Hausa society is often controlled by political elites and religious leaders, who use it to promote their own agendas. This can lead to the marginalization of marginalized communities and the perpetuation of social inequalities.

To address these challenges, the author proposes several strategies for promoting social change in Hausa society. These include the promotion of cultural diversity and the recognition of the rights of marginalized communities. The author also suggests that the media should be more accountable and transparent and that it should be used to promote social justice and to challenge dominant narratives.

One of the strengths of the book is its use of a variety of sources, including interviews, fieldwork, and literature. The author has conducted extensive research in Hausa society and has interviewed a wide range of individuals, including novelists, popular songwriters, and musical performers. This has allowed the author to gain a deep understanding of the social issues that are facing vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society.

However, the book also has some limitations. One of the main limitations is the lack of data and statistics. The author relies on anecdotal evidence and personal experiences to support her arguments, which can make it difficult for readers to understand the extent of the social issues that are facing vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society.

Another limitation is the author's focus on the resistance narratives of one female novelist and six song composers and performers. While these narratives are important, they do not provide a comprehensive overview of the social issues that are facing vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society. The author could have included more examples of Hausa fiction and music that have been used to address social issues, as well as more examples of the media's role in shaping social change.

Despite these limitations, Protest Arts, Gender, and Social Change: Fiction, Popular Songs, and the Media in Hausa Society across Borders is a valuable book that provides a unique perspective on the social issues that are facing vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society. The author's use of a variety of sources and her deep understanding of the social issues that are facing these communities make this book a must-read for anyone interested in social justice and cultural diversity.

In conclusion, Protest Arts, Gender, and Social Change: Fiction, Popular Songs, and the Media in Hausa Society across Borders by Ousseina Alidou is a valuable book that explores the ways in which popular songs and fiction are being used to effect social change in contemporary Hausa society. The book empathizes with the reality of the forms of oppression, social isolation, and marginalization that vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society have been experiencing from the mid-1980s to the present. It also highlights the ways in which song performances produce an intertextual dialogue between their lyrics and visual dramatic narratives to raise awareness against social ills, including gender-based violence and social inequalities exposed by biomedical health pandemics such as HIV and COVID-19. The book also examines the role of the media in shaping social change in Hausa society and proposes several strategies for promoting social change. While the book has some limitations, it is a valuable book that provides a unique perspective on the social issues that are facing vulnerable and underprivileged communities in contemporary Hausa society.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 150 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472056682