Zaria Journal of Liberal Arts (ZAJOLA) is a peer-reviewed journal, published bi-annually by the Faculty of Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The journal welcomes manuscript of original articles, from scholars around the globe, in the various areas of Liberal Arts. The articles may be product of descriptive or analytical research, field research notes, reviews of publications and printed materials, drawn from, but not limited to Languages and Linguistics; Law; Environmental Sciences, Education; Management Studies; Cultural and Literally Studies; Theatre Arts; Philosophy; Religion; History and Strategic Studies; Archaeology and Heritage Studies; Developmental Studies and Social Sciences. All manuscripts submitted for publication should adopt APA 8th Edition Style of referencing. The manuscripts should be typed double-spaced with sufficient margins and should count between 4,000 and 6,000 words, including the abstract, references, and appendices. The Manuscripts should not be under consideration for publication in any other research outlet.
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A Catalogue of Archaeological Sites in Southern Katsina, Katsina State,Nigeria
Southern Katsina occupies an important position within the wider historical landscape of Katsina Kingdom. Despite its recognized role in regional political development, craft production, and long-distance trade, the archaeological record of its southern districts remains insufficiently explored. This paper presents a structured catalogue of settlement sites in Southern Katsina, drawn from archaeological reconnaissance, oral traditions, archival references, and GISbased spatial documentation. Identified archaeological sites include settlement sites, that vary in scale, setting, and associated material remains. By consolidating dispersed data into a single descriptive framework, this study provides a baseline catalogue of sites for future exploration, chronological refinement, and heritage management. The paper contributes to the broader understanding of settlement evolution and development in Katsina Kingdom and highlights the archaeological potential of Southern Katsina. Recommendations are given for future work, including targeted excavation, scientific dating, and interdisciplinary analyses. These results provide a baseline for archaeologists and heritage managers to understand settlement history in Southern Katsina and to prioritize research. By consolidating dispersed data into a single catalogue, the study aims to support future investigations of settlement continuity, landscape use, and the archaeology of pre-emirate and emirate-era society in this part of northern Nigeria.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zaria Journal of Liberal Arts
Exploring the effectiveness of eco-friendly/alternative materials in the scenicinterpretation of Elaigu Ameh’s Climate of Change
The quest for ecologically conscious design has given rise to eco-scenography, a practice that foregrounds the dynamic interplay between the natural environment, material resources, and human experience in theatrical design. Despite growing global discourse around eco-theatre and eco-criticism, eco-scenography remains relatively nascent within the Nigerian theatre space, with limited scholarly and practical exploration of its effectiveness and viability. This study examines the effectiveness of eco-scenography as a framework for sustainable theatre practice through the design and interpretation of Elaigwu Ameh's Climate of Change, with a view to promoting environmental sustainability in Nigerian theatre. Anchored in Ecological Design Theory and the ADDIE Model, the study adopts a qualitative research design, drawing data from In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with designers, students, and audience members. Findings reveal that eco-scenography represents a viable and transformative alternative approach to theatrical design, one that effectively communicates performance environments, enhances dramatic narratives, projects themes of climate justice, and promotes the use of renewable, locally sourced, and repurposed materials in set and stage construction. Furthermore, the study establishes that ecoscenography can positively impact the economy of theatrical productions by significantly reducing the costs associated with set construction. The study concludes that eco-scenography constitutes a transformative approach to both theatre practice and education, aligning with broader global efforts to combat environmental degradation and climate change, while offering Nigerian theatre a culturally rooted, ecologically responsible, and creatively generative design philosophy for the future.
Participatory Learning and Action as a Communication Strategy forFostering Environmental Dialogue and Action in Makilolo-OkomuCommunity of Edo State
This paper examines how Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) functions as a communication strategy for fostering environmental dialogue and catalysing collaborative action within Makilolo-Okomu Creek Community of Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The study draws on empirical data generated through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews conducted with community members as well as other local stakeholders to contend that Participatory Learning Action (PLA) is a handy strategy for communicating environmental action. The findings reveal that, prior to PLA engagement, community members possessed rich experiential ecological knowledge yet remained structurally excluded from the formal communicative channels through which environmental and social development decisions were made. Okomu Oil Palm Company and the Okomu National Park operate within the community's territorial boundaries, yet residents reported no formal memorandum of understanding and no participatory input into decisions shaping their livelihoods. Following structured PLA intervention which incorporates community mapping, pairwise ranking, problem identification, and community action planning, participants reported measurable shifts in their environmental awareness, collective agency, and capacity for evidence-based advocacy with external institutional actors. This study concludes that PLA's communicative value transcends information transfer, to a more concerted methodical tool that serves multinational companies and their host creek communities in conflicts.
The Participatory Shift in Community Theatre: A Case Study of the 2025Samaru Project
This paper discusses the metamorphosis of the migrant method to participatory migrant method in Samaru project. The paper argues that, over the years, there have been a norm for Samaru Theatre field project, that centers on the students, taking the theatre solely to the people. The paper notes that in recent times, there is a slight change in the normal that has made the theatre to be by the people, with the people and for the people. The participatory tools that were deployed are, community town hall meetings, interviews, songs among others. The paper concludes that result of the Samaru project brings development and unity between the community and the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts of the University.
Analyse de la condition d’apprentissage du FLE dans le secondaire : cas deGovernment Secondary School, West of Mines, Jos-Nigeria
This study examines the learning conditions of FFL at Government Secondary School, West of Mines, Jos, Plateau State. It seeks to investigate learners’ perceptions of the importance of French, assess the influence of the school environment on language learning, and determine students’ level of interest in the language. Anchored in socio-constructivist theory, the study adopts a quantitative approach using a questionnaire administered to sixty Senior Secondary School students. The findings indicate that learners demonstrate considerable interest in French because of the academic, professional, and communicative opportunities associated with the language. The results further reveal that the school's proximity to the Alliance Française and the Centre for French Training and Documentation (CFTD) positively influences the learning process. The study recommends strengthening interactive classroom activities, oral communication practice, cultural programs, and the integration of digital resources to enhance the teaching and learning of French in Nigerian secondary schools.
The Effective Use of AI in Teaching and Learning of French as a ForeignLanguage in Anglophone Universities: Nigeria as a Case Study
This study investigates the pedagogical effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the teaching and learning of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) in Anglophone universities in Nigeria. Anchored in educational technology and applied linguistics, the research examines how AI-powered tools such as neural machine translation systems, intelligent tutoring platforms, and adaptive language applications support vocabulary development, grammatical accuracy, learner engagement, and intercultural competence. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from undergraduate students and lecturers across selected Nigerian universities through classroom experiments, structured questionnaires, and semistructured interviews. Quantitative findings indicate measurable improvements in learners’ lexical acquisition, syntactic awareness, and reading comprehension when AI-supported activities are systematically integrated into instruction. Qualitative evidence further reveals that AI tools promote learner autonomy, immediate feedback, and sustained motivation, while enabling instructors to personalize learning pathways and monitor progress more effectively. The study proposes a structured AI-assisted pedagogical model for FFL instruction that aligns technological concordances with second language acquisition principles. The findings highlight the potential of AI to enhance instructional quality and learning outcomes in resource-constrained educational contexts, while underscoring the need for institutional policies, teacher training, and ethical guidelines to ensure responsible and pedagogically sound implementation.
The Anthropomorphic and Therapeutic Dialectics of Nature in Alembong’sGreen Call
This paper examines Alembong’s poetry collection entitled Green Call (2017) as an instance, in poetic practice, of demonstrating the many shaded dimensions of intersections of traditions and cultural diversity of the therapeutic and anthropomorphic permutations of nature in Africa to establish the extent to which man and nature cohabit across all cultures as far as history can record. While green is a universal metaphor for lush, vegetation and preservation of nature in its pristine form and all whatnots; the notion of green in this collection is far more encompassing. Through a green reading of selected poems in the collection, the paper demonstrates that nature (herein green) defines the poet’s sense of identity, as well as means of interpreting life and a therapeutic balm for soul and spirit. It is also an ideological means of navigating the vicissitude of life and travails of existence across space and time. The study, in this guise, establishes that even though this paper is not a comparative study, the poet has subtly debunked the much-taunted Eurocentric hype that nature in tropical region (as Africa) is inimical and incapable of inspiring compared to its pantheistic relevance in temperate region (as Europe).
Chronotopes de quelques récits graphiques de guerre centrafricains etrwandais
Graphic war narratives have been studied in different ways to show time and space putting into consideration the panel layout in a page. But this study does not talk about the panel layout, rather it uses images and words in the texts to investigate how time, space, date, and building mentioned and shown in the multimodal texts are able to represent the real history of the Centralafrican and Rwandan war. Applying trauma studies, conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy as theoretical frameworks, this work studies Tempête sur Bangui volumes 1 and 2 by Didier Kassaï, Maison sans fenêtres by Marc Ellison and Didier Kassaï, Déogratias by Jean-Philippe Stassen and Le grand voyage d'Alice by Gaspard Talmasse. These theories in collaboration with the chronotope propagated by Mikhail Bakhtin aim to exteriorize the four distinct levels of chronotopes which are: plot generating ability of chronotopes, the representational significance, the base for distinguishing types of genres and the semantic importance of chronotopes. Using textual and visual analysis as methodological approach, this study shows the obvious collision of the real world (the representing world) and the comic world (the represented world) which shows that these graphic war narratives represent the real history of the Centralafrican war and the Rwandan genocide.
Continuities in Female Social Learning in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of Godand Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s the Last of the Strong Ones
Within the last two to three decades, there has been an intense clamouring for women’s emancipation. In this paper, we use deconstructionist criticism as theoretical fulcrum to critique the condemnation of modern decadence in the 21st century, which undermines the wholesome contribution of women to society. Through content analysis, the study adopts an interpretative qualitative methodology, drawing on tools of narrative, thematic and character analyses to deconstruct literary portrayals of gender roles and pedagogy in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s The Last of the Strong Ones. Findings reveal that contemporary societies are grotesquely portrayed as characterised by painful cynicism, particularly among young females, who are disillusioned by stark realities and nostalgically yearn for a perfect past. This nostalgia inspires fiction that mourns the loss of Nigeria’s innocence, specifically, the post-World War 1 and the Nigerian Civil War era. The paper argues for the adoption of progressive tutoring practices, offering holistic approach for the new generation that could serve as parameter for national progress and integrity. It further posits that Nigerian women should be circumspect of Western-worldfeminist views and understand that, educating female children in the traditional African values is essential for a sustainable socio-political and socio-economic uplift of society. It surmises that effective training yields positive consequences, particularly in terms of the values a woman acquires and transmits to her family and society at large.
Les séquelles psycho-traumatiques de la guerre chez Dongala Emmanuel :une étude psychanalytique de Johnny chien méchant
La présente étude fait une lecture psychanalytique en s’appuyant principalement sur les concepts freudiens de refoulement, de pulsion de mort, et de retour du refoulé. L’étude interroge les mécanismes inconscients à l’œuvre dans la construction et la destruction de l’identité des jeunes personnages notamment Johnny, dont la dissociation mentale, les hallucinations et l’agressivité apparaissent comme les symptômes d’un psychisme fracturé. À travers cette analyse, nous postulons que la guerre, en plus de sa dimension géopolitique, opère comme un traumatisme collectif et individuel, désorganisant les structures du Moi, du Surmoi et du Ça chez les sujets impliqués. Cette étude conclut que le roman de Dongala s’impose non seulement comme un témoignage littéraire sur les conflits africains mais aussi comme un espace symbolique de mise en récit du trauma où se disent l’aliénation, la perte de repères et l’impossible résilience.
Where are the Natives? Mongo Beti’s Mission to Kala as Parody ofAuthenticity
This article reengages Mongo Beti’s Mission to Kala as a retrospective conversation with colonial discourses of authentic Africa, a depiction of Africa that fulfills the metropolitan audience’s desire for exotic images of distant and purportedly different people. Set within the theoretical contexts of Paul S. Landau’s “Empires of the Visual: Photography and Colonial Administration in Africa” and Manthia Diawara’s In Search of Africa, it analyzes the novel’s ironic portrayal of the colonial civilizing mission. Through the satirical device of parody, the novel destabilizes the colonial desire for pristine, pure, and timeless Africans and instead privileges a hybrid appropriation of colonial culture, thereby mitigating the prejudiced colonial gaze.
Tasirin Daidaita Rubutu ga Al’umma: Tsokaci daga harshen Hausa
Sanannen abu ne cewa harshe shi ne mafi girman ni’imar da Ubangiji ya yi wa ɗan’adam baiwa da ita don kyautata rayuwarsu da kyautata fahimtar junansu. Wannan kuma shi ne sinadarin more rayuwar ɗan’adam da ci gabansa da bunƙasarsa ta kowace fuska ta rayuwa. Rubutu kuwa hanya ce ta isar da saƙo cikin alamu musamman zuwa ga wanda yake nesa. Watau wanda wurin rayuwarsu ko zamanin rayuwarsu ya bambanta. Sannan kuma ga shi ana buƙatar rubutu ya iya wakiltar murya wacce kuma take cancanzawa daga wani lafazi ko yanayi zuwa wani. Bugu da ƙari kuma shi rubutu ba a iya maimaita shi don inganta fahimtar wanda aka yi wa saboda tazarar da ke tsakaninsu. Don haka dole ne a samar da wani daidaitaccen salo na baiɗaya wanda zai iya wakiltar kowace murya a kowane yanayi kuma ya sauƙaƙe hanyar hulɗa a tsakanin al’umma. Shi kuwa daidaitaccen rubutu, shi ne salon rubutun da aka yi tanajin ƙa’idoji da dokokin da za a sarrafa harshe da su. Daidaita rubutu shi ne yake bayar da damar iya bincike da rubucerubuce a cikin harshen al’umma, sannan kuma a iya koyo da koyar da shi. Waɗannan abubuwa da aka ambata game da harshe su ne ginshiƙan haɓaka da bunƙasar kowane harshe na duniya da kuma ci gaban al’umma ta kowace fuska. Wannan dalili ne ya sanya wannan maƙala ƙoƙarin zaƙulo ire-iren waɗannan fa’idoji, musamman ga harshen Hausa da al’ummar Hausawa domin jawo hankalin al’ummar Hausawa game da ƙara kula da tsare wannan muhimmin aiki ga harshen Hausa. Sannan kuma maƙalar ta faɗakar da Hausawa dangane da sakaci ko watsi da irin wannan muhimmin aiki da kuma zaƙulo irin haɗarin da ke tattare da haka.
A Linguistic Analys is of Bade Personal Names: Structure and Meaning
This paper undertakes a linguistic analysis of Bade personal names, spoken in Yobe State, Nigeria, examining their structure and meaning. The paper is anchored on Morphosemantic Theory and complemented by the Referential Theory of Meaning. It investigates fifty-one (51) Bade personal names, collected through oral interviews with eighteen respondents across six villages in Bade and Jakusko Local Government Areas. The names are analysed at two levels. Structurally, the analysis identifies the morphological processes involved in their formation: prefixation, suffixation, compounding, reduplication, and borrowing. Semantically, it classifies the socio-cultural motivations the names encode. Findings show that thirty-one names (60.8%) are morphologically transparent, exhibiting recurrent prefixes {a- , da-, ma-, ga-}, a nominalising suffix {-be}, and a gender-marking suffix pair (- an/-ən}, while twenty names (39.2%) are morphologically opaque and function as pure referential labels. Semantically, the names fall into twelve categories, the largest being circumstances surrounding birth (21.6%) and twin status (15.7%). Cross-tabulating structure and meaning reveals a clear pattern. Descriptive, eventmotivated names remain overwhelmingly transparent, while classificatory names, especially those marking twin status, are overwhelmingly opaque. This suggests that Bade twin-naming constitutes a closed, traditionally memorised sub-lexicon rather than a productive naming process. The paper concludes that Bade personal names function simultaneously as linguistic and cultural texts, and recommends the continued documentation of Bade naming practices as a means of preserving the community's linguistic heritage.
Derivation in Fulfulde: Affixation as a Preferred Strategy overCompounding
Compounding is the frequent way in which words are formed in most world languages. Combining two or more words to form a compound word is most often common in many languages; however, affixing of a bound morpheme to a root to derive new word can also serve the purpose. This paper is a study of Fulfulde derivation which aims at comparing derivation through compounding and affixation in the language. The objectives of the study are: to identify some derivational morphemes and lexemes in the language; to compare the derived words through affixation and compounded words; and to analyze the semantic relevance of the words formed through the two processes. The sources of data are introspection, observation, interview, and published and unpublished materials. The published sources include but not limited to books, journals, articles and proceedings. The unpublished ones include theses, dissertations and projects. Data obtained from the primary and secondary sources have been analyzed using Descriptive Method. The paper re-affirmed that affixation is a better choice for the native Fulfulde speaker than the compounding in deriving words considering the data presented in table III, as in examples: Suudu-kaa’e → kaa’eeru, Nebbam na’i → Na’iijam/kaynaaɗam, ndiyam ɓundu → ɓunduujam, maaroori-lare → lareeri. However, some speakers of the language who lack derivational morphemes choose compounding as a process in their word formation. Apart from being extravagance of words in forming the compound words, it also indicates the incompetence of the speaker of the language.
The Role of the Arabic Language in Nigerian Society in the 21st Century:Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Dynamics
This study seeks to analyze the cultural and social influence of Arabic language in Nigerian society during the 21st century, by tracing its historical roots prior to the colonial period and examining its presence in religion, education, literature, culture, and social identity. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, supported by historical and comparative methods, in order to explore the development of Arabic in Nigeria and its current position in relation to other languages, particularly English and local languages. The findings demonstrate that Arabic has, for centuries, served as a principal medium for transmitting religious knowledge and Islamic sciences, as well as a vehicle for shaping cultural consciousness. It has also produced a rich intellectual and literary heritage, exemplified in African Arabic poetry and numerous works in jurisprudence and theology. Furthermore, Arabic has reinforced the social authority of scholars and religious elites, and has linked Nigerian society with broader Islamic world. However, the study also highlights significant challenges confronting Arabic today, including the dominance of English as the official language of education and administration, the pervasive impact of globalization and modern media, and the relative weakness of formal Arabic educational institutions. The study concludes that the future of Arabic in Nigeria remains promising if its historical and cultural legacy is effectively harnessed through curriculum modernization, strengthened academic cooperation with the Arab world, and the strategic use of digital media, while also linking Arabic to contemporary intellectual and social development.
De Beauvoir’s Potpourri: A Feminist Philosophical Interrogation
Existentialism questions the conditions of human freedom, responsibility, and meaning, whereas feminism aims to undermine gendered inequalities and challenge sociopolitical institutions that uphold women's subordination. Simone Beauvoir holds a unique place at the nexus of these traditions, proposing a novel synthesis that uses the existential grammar of choice, embodiment, and situated freedom to theorise women's oppression. Even though her work, The Second Sex, has been the subject of a great deal of current scholarship, most of it either isolates her existential philosophical beliefs or highlights her feminist political ideas. The methodological innovation of "potpourri" combines political critique, ethical inquiry, phenomenological contemplation, and literary narrative. This paper critically analyses how Beauvoir uses existential ideas to reveal the social and moral causes that place women in the role of the Other. This synthesis presents a radical feminist epistemology that acknowledges lived experience as a place of philosophical inquiry and opposes patriarchal conceptions of gender. Beauvoir's potpourri is reinterpreted as a strong analytical framework that informs decolonial feminist theory, feminist phenomenology, and care ethics. This paper argues that Beauvoir's writings illuminate gender, freedom, and ethical agency in both historical and modern contexts, demonstrating a transformational philosophical position that cuts across rigorous academic bounds.
Beyond Bilingualism: How Multilingual Education Boosts MemoryDevelopment in Early Childhood
The role of multilingual education in enhancing memory development has gained increasing attention in cognitive science, yet its application within the Nigerian educational landscape remains limited. This study explores how introducing more than two languages at the early stages of schooling can significantly boost memory capacity, attention span, and cognitive flexibility in children. Drawing on evidence from psycholinguistic research and classroom observations, the paper highlights the underutilised potential of Nigeria’s rich linguistic diversity as a tool for mental development. It examines how the current National Policy on Education, which supports the teaching of French as a foreign language, aligns with global goals for multilingual competence but lacks full implementation and reinforcement at foundational levels. The study argues that beyond the mother tongue and English, the integration of French, Arabic, and other local or international languages into early childhood curricula can strengthen not only communication skills but also long-term memory formation and brain development. The findings advocate for a deliberate shift in language education planning, urging policymakers and educators to go beyond bilingual instruction and embrace structured multilingualism from the primary school level. Ultimately, the paper recommends that French and Arabic be repositioned as key developmental languages in early Nigerian education, not merely as subjects, but as cognitive assets that support holistic learning and national integration.
تدريس النحو العربي في المدارس الثانوية بمدينة رو: مشاكل وحلولاتََمدTeaching Arabic Grammar in Secondary Schools in Damaturu: Problemsand Solutions
The problem addressed in this article lies in the researcher's observation of the weak performance of secondary school students in Damaturu in understanding Arabic grammar and applying its rules. After a thorough investigation, the researcher realized that some of the causes are related to the problems facing grammar instruction in classrooms, which calls for an urgent solution. Accordingly, this research attempts to address those problems. The following questions arise from this problem: What are the problems facing the teaching of Arabic grammar in secondary schools in Damaturu? What are the causes of these problems? What are the methods employed to solve them? This research aims to identify the problems facing the teaching of Arabic grammar in secondary schools in Damaturu, explain their causes, and propose the methods used to solve them. The analytical approach is employed to analyze these problems and explain their causes. The significance of this research lies in improving the level of secondary school students in Arabic grammar through the quality of its instruction. This research is limited in subject matter to addressing the problems of teaching Arabic grammar, excluding other pedagogical grammar issues. It is limited in place to secondary schools in Damaturu, and in time to two years, from 2025 to 2026. The paper has reached several findings, the most important of which are: some secondary school students in Damaturu suffer from a lack of proficiency in grammar as a result of being taught using traditional teaching methods that focus on memorizing rules without comprehension, in addition to a lack of interactive activities that help students apply these rules properly. Furthermore, there is a deficiency in capacity building regarding continuous teacher training to develop their professional competence in modern strategies for explaining Arabic grammar, as well as reliance on inappropriate curricula.
From Tradition to Fusion: The Evolution of Yoruba and Hausa Fashion andthe Emergence of Contemporary Interwoven Aesthetics
This article examines the transformation of Yoruba and Hausa fashion traditions from distinct indigenous sartorial systems into increasingly hybridized aesthetic forms in contemporary Nigeria. It argues that fashion in both cultures functions not merely as bodily adornment but as a culturally embedded philosophical system through which identity, morality, spirituality, and social hierarchy are expressed. Rather than treating clothing as superficial appearance, the study situates dress within indigenous aesthetic thought, showing that both Yoruba and Hausa fashion systems are grounded in ethical conceptions of beauty that link appearance to moral character and communal order. Using a comparative and critical analytical approach, the study examines clothing and body adornment as culturally encoded practices. It shows that Yoruba aesthetics are anchored in iwa l’ẹwa (character is beauty), which integrates moral virtue with aesthetic judgment, while Hausa aesthetics emphasize modesty and dignity, reflected in the maxim kyaun hali ya fi kyaun kama (good character is better than physical appearance). Although both traditions converge in their ethical grounding of beauty, they differ in symbolic emphasis and stylistic expression shaped by distinct historical and cultural trajectories. The study further demonstrates that contemporary Nigerian fashion has reconfigured these indigenous systems through cultural exchange, urbanization, and globalization. Garments such as the agbada and babban riga, alongside indigenous textiles and adornment practices, now circulate beyond their original contexts, generating hybrid styles that blend Yoruba and Hausa aesthetics with global fashion influences. These transformations reveal fashion as a dynamic site of cultural negotiation. The study contributes to African aesthetic philosophy by repositioning fashion as an archive of cultural memory, ethical reasoning, and aesthetic innovation within a plural Nigerian cultural landscape.
The Role of Colonialism in Labour Migration in Funtua, C. 1903-1945
The paper examines the role of colonial factors in labour migration, in the establishment and growth of Funtua town in the colonial period. Using primary sources such as archival materials and secondary data including textbooks and other extant literature in conducting the research, it reveals that the concept of migrations has an international dimension that permeated economic, cultural and demographic global institutions. While narrowing it to Funtua town in Nigeria, the paper assesses the role of colonial government policies on land, labour and establishment of colonial government’s firms such as John Holt, P.Z., Miller Brothers, and so on, which led fortune seekers and disturbed population to migrate and take up jobs of all kinds in Funtua to meet the challenges of the new imperial capitalist subjugation. The research concludes that with such dual occurrences the once traditional economy of Funtua was transformed and integrated into the world capitalist economy leading to the labour migration. This Funtua in the colonial period became a receiving society of most of the labourers, which by extension, made Funtua a semi-urbanized city in Katsina Province.
An Ethnographic Study of Nupe Pottery at Badeggi: A Chaîne OpératoireApproach
This study presents an ethnographic investigation of Nupe pottery-making traditions at Badeggi in the Bida Basin, Niger State, with particular attention to the chaîne opératoire of ceramic production. Employing participant observation, oral interviews, and desktop surveys, the study presents the entire production sequence, from clay acquisition and preparation through vessel forming, decoration, firing, and post-production use. The analysis demonstrates that Nupe pottery-making embodies a sophisticated body of indigenous technical knowledge grounded in material science, artistic skill, and cultural symbolism. Findings from this study reveal that the craft is predominantly practised by women and children, with men participating marginally in clay mining and marketing. The study indicates that pottery retains multifunctional value within Nupe society, serving domestic, ritual, economic, and symbolic purposes. Despite the increasing dominance of plastic and metal substitutes, Nupe pottery endures as a resilient cultural practice, adapting to contemporary conditions through modified decorative techniques and shifts in production strategies to meet market demand. The ethnographic evidence presented further highlights the role of intergenerational knowledge transmission, communal labour organisation, and environmental adaptation in sustaining the craft. The study concludes that Nupe pottery should be regarded as a dynamic indigenous technology that continues to shape identity, sustain livelihoods, and preserve cultural heritage in the Bida Basin.
قضاَا اجتماعُت نذي انشُخ آدو اإلنىرٌ مه خالل كتاب "مع رائذانفكز اإلسالمٍ فٍ انقزن انعشزَه نهشُخ آدو َحًُ انفالو:ٍ دراستوصفُت
Social issues are among the most important topics that the scholar Al-Aluri addressed. These issues and ideas are dispersed throughout the works of Al-Aluri. One of his noble students, Sheikh Adam Yahya Al-Fulani, undertook the task of collecting these issues and explaining their objectives in his book titled 'With the Pioneer of Nigerian Islamic Thought in the Twentieth Century.' Given the scientific value of this book in elucidating social issues as perceived by Al-Aluri, the researcher proceeded accordingly. One of the significant aspects of this article is its aim to guide researchers on how to approach various social issues within religious, intellectual, and literary texts. The scientific objectives that this article seeks to achieve include: identifying the sources to which Al-Aluri’s social issues can be traced in his various writings; presenting the social issues he discussed and the solutions he proposed for each; recognizing the most knowledgeable of his students in understanding his methods for addressing different social issues; and identifying the one who best clarified his various ideas. To achieve the goals of this study, the researcher adopted both inductive and descriptive methodologies. Although many social issues are discussed in the book, the researcher will focus on two of them: the educational issue and the religious issue, as the remaining issues are rooted in these two.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zaria Journal of Liberal Arts
Patriarchal Authority, Gendered Displacement, and Women’s Entry intoTransactional Prostitution: A Comparative Analysis of Kannywood FilmsƘona Gari and Ankon Biki (Korarriya)
Film strongly shapes societal perceptions by conveying powerful images, messages, and moral narratives to a wide audience. Particularly in African cinema and Kannywood (Hausa-language Nigerian cinema) in particular prostitution is often portrayed at the intersection of poverty, gender inequality, and socio-political dynamics. This paper examines transactional prostitution the exchange of sex for material gain as depicted in Ƙona Gari, and Ankon Biki (Korarriya). Using Social Constructionism and Feminist Theory, it explores these films’ portrayals of the dangers and moral complications of prostitution, the influence of patriarchal rejection, and the wider societal implications. It also draws on Differential Association Theory, Social Bond Theory, and Differential Opportunity Theory to critique how Kannywood both reflects and potentially shapes public attitudes toward transactional sex. The analysis argues that patriarchal structures and gendered displacement serve as key catalysts for women’s turn toward prostitution.
Poetry as an Educational Transformative Agent: the Legacy of ỌlátúnjíÒpádò ̣ tun’s ̣ Ewì Àsìkò
Education stands as the foundational pillar of a nation’s progress, tirelessly working to cultivate well-educated, informed, and morally upright citizens who embody personal and collective pride, honor, and a profound sense of identity rooted in their cultural heritage. In Nigeria, a nation marked by rich diversity and complex social dynamics, education is pivotal in fostering national unity, economic advancement, and ethical integrity. However, not all educational approaches are adequately equipped to uplift young people and adults in today’s rapidly evolving, multifaceted society, where challenges such as social vices, economic disparities, and cultural erosion persist. Only purposeful, transformative education, designed with intentionality and cultural relevance can achieve these goals, as ignorance or flawed educational systems often lead to detrimental social, cultural, and economic consequences that undermine societal progress his paper explores the critical and dynamic role of poetry as a powerful, accessi le, and culturally resonant tool for transformative education, with focus on l t nj p d t un’s Ew s k , a profound and impactful collection of Yoruba poems. The study reveals that poets, through their creative, insightful, and morally grounded works, consistently condemn pervasive issues such as immorality, corruption, and social vices while passionately advocating for ethical values, cultural preservation, and communal harmony. The paper recommends the systematic and strategic integration of age-appropriate poetry into educational curricula, from early childhood through adulthood, to nurture moral development, deepen cultural awareness, and drive societal transformation. The paper advocates that future generations should be equipped with the knowledge, values, and resilience needed to build a more just, cohesive, and culturally vibrant Nigeria, capable of navigating the challenges of the modern world while honoring its rich heritage.
Censorship of the Creator and His Creation: a Postcolonial Reading ofMongo Beti’s Perpetua
The liberty to express one’s self either in speech or in writing, since antiquity, has always been curbed by repressive governments. Even leaders of the nations who boast of freedom of expression for their citizens today were once bastions of gruelling repression against anyone who dared criticize any of their actions. African nations have not been spared from this very negative phenomenon most especially when one considers the aftermath of the quest for and gain of independence that manifested in the early nineteen sixties. In this paper we delved into a postcolonial analysis from two perspectives: censorship of the creator and his creation. The creator in this case, Mongo Beti, suffered greatly under the yoke of censorship which eventually led to self-exile from his home country, Cameroon. In one of his literary works, Perpetua and the Habit of Unhappiness chosen for this analysis, we examined how Beti uses symbolism, fictional characters and setting to surreptitiously depict real individuals and places in Cameroon thus attempting, though unsuccessfully, to escape the censor’s eagle eyes. In order to effectively drive home our point, we depended on post colonialism as a literary theory.
Artistic Imagery in the Romantic Poetry of Hafiz Chiroma Kabara Kano
The study of rhetorical artistic imagery is one that aims to understand how language is used creatively and rhetorically to convey emotions and ideas in impactful and engaging ways. This involves examining how rhetorical images, such as similes and metaphors, are used to convey deep meanings or to depict certain situations in a different light. It also explores the use of contrast in words or ideas to highlight meaning or generate an artistic effect, as well as the use of repetition and linguistic balance to give the text an impactful rhythm or to emphasize a certain meaning. Additionally, the analysis includes how metaphors in language add depth and meaning to the subject and how sound and words in literary or rhetorical texts—such as sound manipulation or phonetic repetition— enhance the text’s impact. This research refers to the analysis and understanding of rhetorical artistic imagery in the poetry of Hafiz Chiroma Kabara kano, focusing on how the poet uses these devices to express his thoughts and feelings in different artistic and aesthetic ways such as simile, metaphor, and allegory, and demonstrating how these techniques are used to enhance meaning or influence the reader or listener. This study contributes to our understanding of how language affects audiences and opens the horizon for comprehending how literary and artistic texts are shaped in an impactful way. It also helps improve literary style by creating vivid images that make the text more captivating and enhance its power to influence the reader.
The Hajj as a Colonial and Post-Colonial Experience in the Gambia:1945-1970
The Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj, is a journey of fulfilment for all Muslims. Indeed, Susan O’Brien, who was writing about the Hausa Bori in Nigeria, calls it ‘such a marker of prestige throughout the Muslim World’. The journey to the Holy sites of Islam in Makkah and Madina is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. This is why the study of Islam in The Gambia will not be attained without a mention of the nature and motive of Hajj. This article seeks to centre the hajj as a key indication of the pattern of collaboration and accommodation between the Gambian state and its predominantly large Muslim population. It is argued that the failure of the colonial government to prioritise the Hajj made Gambian Muslims quite disappointed, and they saw the introduction of Cadi courts in 1905, or the setting aside of Muslim Eids as public holidays, as not quite sufficient. On the contrary, the strong action of the ruling Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) soon after independence in 1965 to modernise hajj operations by introducing air transportation for intending pilgrims, adequate forex allocations and simpler inoculation regimes, made Gambian Muslims notice a safer and hassle-free hajj. Indeed, it is argued that the ease of doing the hajj due to strong state support was one of the first dividends of independence for Gambian Muslims. Using recently released files at The Gambia National Archives in Banjul and digesting the available secondary literature, this study shows how decolonization positively impacted on Gambian Muslims.
The Role of the Military in Nigerian Politics: Governance and PoliticalInfluence
The military has been a significant actor in Nigerian politics, shaping governance, democratic transitions, and institutional structures through a series of coups and prolonged military rule. This paper examines the historical context of military interventions, their impact on governance, and the influence of military leaders in civilian administrations. It also explores the challenges of transitioning from military rule to democracy and the ongoing implications of military involvement in politics. By analyzing the effects of military governance and its influence on democratic development, this study provides insights into civil-military relations and the necessity of reinforcing democratic institutions. Strengthening civilian control over the military and ensuring political accountability remain crucial for Nigeria’s democratic consolidation and political stability. Secondary historical source materials constitute the bulk of information used for this paper.
An Assessment of Illegal Solid Minerals Prospecting and Extraction and theDestruction of Archaeological Materials and sites in Nok Village and itsEnvirons
This paper examines the devastating impact of illegal solid minerals prospecting and exploitation on archaeological materials in Nok village and its surroundings, Northwestern Nigeria. Through collection of oral traditions, review of several relevant literatures and a detailed case study, this paper investigates how this activity of man has affected the preservation of the invaluable archaeological materials and sites associated with the ancient Nok civilization which is known for its terracotta sculptures or figurines in the study areas. It also discusses the general implications of this destruction in terms of heritage preservation and offers recommendations for mitigating such damage.
Kwatancin Al'adun Haihuwa Tsakanin Hausawa da Ga’anda
This study compares the birth traditions between the Hausa and Ga'anda communities in Gombi town of Adamawa state. The paper provides a summary of the history and the union of the two communities to compare the traditions of the birth between Hausa Muslims and Ga'anda Christians. Observation was used as a means of data collection during the birth ceremonies of the two communities. The results of this study shows that there are some customs that the Hausas do, but the Ga'anda do not do, such as: sharing of cow's leg and pepper soup among the relatives of woman who deliver (shan ƙauri), shaving the babies at the naming ceremony, slaughtering an animal for the babies and so on. There are other customs as well that the Ga'andas do, but the Hausas do not do them, they are: frequent taking of a sesame pap, preventing a patient with stomach ache from coming near the woman who delivers; so that she can not spread the disease to her, presence of women during the naming ceremony, choosing adoptive parents for the baby, in case something will happen to the parents of the baby later in life. Then there is the impact of the Hausa culture on Ga'anda, which includes: bathing the babies three times for a male child and four times for a female child, offering a feast to the woman who delivers the baby with the expectation of payment in the future, and gifts for the parents or the husband's family to the woman who deliver and so on.