Photo Album: Nigeria
Intensive Advanced Hausa Institute (Bayero University, Kano)
June-August, 1991
Abbie Anderson, Bill Anderson
including musical clips recorded by Abbie Anderson
The background image for this page was scanned from an embroidered men's cap ("hula") we bought in Kano.
- Babbar Salla (The Great Festival) (6/22/91)
Over a million people assembled for prayer in this celebration of the return of pilgrims from the Hajj.
- Hawan Daushe: Parade (6/22-23/91)
Traditional loyalties and tourist attraction: representatives of the traditional hierarchy and their musicians assemble to salute the Emir of Kano (an important cultural and religious leader but no longer a political one), making circuits around the perimeter of the palace courtyard.
- Hawan Daushe: Salute (6/22-23/91)
Horsemen salute the emir by charging towards his box on a balcony of the palace, fists upraised and thumbs pointing toward heaven.
- Wrestling (6/23/91)
Our class took a field trip to watch some traditional wrestling, which is accompanied by musicians who drum the praises of the wrestlers (and solicit tips for them)--and in this case a clown who provides additional entertainment. (Sound recording)
- Bori Ceremony (7/20/91)
Our group took a field trip to see a ceremony/performance of the bori possession cult--a vestige of pre-Islamic religion in Hausa culture, and also a repository of traditional medicine. The bori cult provides a place for "misfits" in traditional Muslim culture (including homosexuals and unmarried adult women) to go. Each member has a special relationship with the spirit who has cured him or her of an illness by possessing him or her, and studies the costumes and mannerisms by which the spirit is manifested during possession. Although Islamic fundamentalists would like to see the group stamped out, they enjoy special protection by the emir. (Sound recordings)
- Musical Events (7/5/91, 7/26/91, 7/25/91)
A female praise singer (zabiya) and her two young assistants at a bridal celebration (women only); traditional shantu music (long hollow gourd played while seated on the floor, tapped against leg and floor to accompany personal songs) at the School for Married Women; opening ceremonies for the launching of the Society of Nigerian Artists. (Sound recordings)
- The Kofar Mata Dyepits
This is where Bill was accepted as an apprentice to learn more about traditional indigo dyeing.
- ECWA-Hausa
The church in Kano where I sang in the Women's Fellowship Choir (in Hausa, of course). (Sound recordings)
- Miscellaneous
At home, at play, admiring a view; a portrait of one of our favorite denizens of northern Nigeria (a dainty brown goat).
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Abbie Anderson
Last updated 8/23/99
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