REVISITING HAUSA ORAL POETRY IN THE DIGITAL ERA: ANALYSING HARUNA NINGI’S SHEGIYAR UWA AS A TOOL FOR POLITICAL CRITIQUE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the role of Hausa oral poets in castigating
oppositions in the Nigerian political system, with a specific focus on
Haruna Ningi's poem Shegiyar Uwa. The primary objective of the
research is to explore how oral Hausa poets employ literary
techniques, satire, and socio-political commentary to criticize political
opposition and shape public opinion. The study also seeks to
highlight the influence of poetic discourse in fostering political
awareness among the masses. The research adopts a qualitative
approach, utilizing textual analysis as the primary method of data
collection. The poem Shegiyar Uwa is analysed for its thematic
content, stylistic devices, and symbolic expressions that reveal the
poet’s stance on political dynamics in Nigeria. The paper explores
how digital archives can safeguard oral traditions, focusing on a Hausa
political poem that critiques the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in
Nigeria. Through Marxist literary analysis, the poem is examined as
both a cultural artifact and a form of resistance literature that reflects
the struggle of marginalized voices against elite political structures. By
situating the poem within the broader context of Hausa oral poetry
and digital archiving practices in Africa, this paper argues that
digitizing oral traditions not only preserves linguistic and cultural
identity but also democratizes access to historical