Jigawa’s 70s music star bags award

Salmai Albasu is a name many who are above fifty years in Jigawa and other parts of the north may remember for her ‘Soriye’ songs.

The sleepy community of Albasu in Sule Tankarkar Local Government Council of Jigawa State came alive recently as dignitaries from all walks of life converged to honour one of its illustrious daughters, Malama Salmai Albasu, and her singing group.

The event, organized by Kano-based development professionals, Green Horizon Ltd, was a special recognition and honorary award for Salmai in appreciation of her efforts at promoting child education in the 1970s through her ‘Soriye’ songs. For many, it was an opportunity to come in contact with those whose voices they have listened to on the radio for more than five decades. So, they did not mince words as they took turns to pay tribute.

Makaman Dutse, Alhaji Ibrahim Yaya Aminu is one of such. He said, “I’m really excited to have met her. I have heard a lot of her songs and have a lot of her recordings on cassettes that I listen to from time to time. I wish I had come around with some of those cassettes.”

Aminu, who represented the Emir of Dutse at the occasion further said, “When I listened to her story on a BBC programme earlier this year, I was moved, but I kept praying that somebody would assist her and I never knew this day would come. For that, I’m very happy to be part of this programme.”

Managing Director of Green Horizon, Mrs. Aisha Ado Abdullahi said the singer was honoured for her positive contributions in promoting child education more than 50 years ago, and at a time when there was massive societal resistance to western education, especially in the northern part of Nigeria.

Mrs. Abdullahi explained that the organization’s attention was drawn to Salmai’s contribution in a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme earlier in the year. “It is one of our CSR activities to honour citizens, especially from the north, who have played significant roles,” she said. “When we stumbled on the interview, we felt we needed to honour and appreciate her, and also showcase her as an inspiration to youths that wherever you come from, whoever you are, you can be recognized and appreciated if you make positive contributions that will impact on the lives of average Nigerians.”

She added that the singer championed the cause of promoting the value of education, way back in the 1970s and for that reason, many benefitted and have grown to occupy positions of responsibility in various spheres of life, especially in Jigawa.

The Chairman of Green Horizon, Muhammad Tabi’u, a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said those sent to school in response to Salmai’s campaign have gone ahead to become important personalities in their chosen fields.

“50 years down the line, the issues she campaigned about are still with us,” Tabi’u said. “Is it education, unity, the need to revive our traditions and culture in Hausa land? There is none amongst these issues that you can say its relevance has declined today, instead their relevance has continued to increase.”

The Ward Head of Albasu, Alhaji Muhammad Adamu, who has been leading the community for over 55 years, gave the trajectory of the singer’s musical career. He said that she started as a local entertainer who became popular with time.

Salmai became popular in the course of the National Festival of Arts in the 1970s, when she competed and came out tops in various regional singing competitions and eventually ended up competing in the national edition in Lagos. Her group even went as far as Damagaram in Niger Republic to sing.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of a plaque, textile print material and N200.000 to Malama Salmai by Tabi’u on behalf of Green Horizon. Her co-singers were also presented with textile print materials and N20,000.

The Jigawa State government also followed suit with the naming of a Junior Secondary Day Secondary School in the area after Salmai. The State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawan Yunusa said the singer deserved the honour because of the role she played in the development of not only the Gumel Emirate Council and old Kano State, but also the entire north.

An overwhelmed Salmai, described the honours as her happiest moments. Her words, “I have never been this happy. I have been honoured before but not like today. I’m grateful.”

Salmai, who has seven children and 49 grandchildren, confirmed that she stopped singing years ago because she was a married woman. So, far, none of her children or grandchildren have taken after her. “They cannot do it because God has endowed them with a different talent. I am not bothered because if a woman is married, you don’t expect her to go out to sing.”