By Adamu Hamza Marree Talum
First and foremost, I want to make it absolutely clear that I have no personal, ethnic, sectional, or tribal affiliation with Alhaji Dauda Kahutu Rarara. He hails from Katsina State in the Northwest region of Nigeria, while I am from Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the Northeast. Rarara is Hausa by tribe, while I am a native Deera, also known as Kanakuru, from Talum village in Kiri District.
In addition, I do not subscribe to the political ideology or party of his political benefactor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nevertheless, my political differences do not warrant slandering or belittling a man who has distinguished himself as a cultural and political figure through music—Alhaji Dauda Kahutu Rarara.
In my view, many of those who celebrated the revocation or rejection of his Honorary Doctorate Degree acted out of envy—a trait that unfortunately plagues many African communities, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Regrettably, even some members of Rarara’s own music group expressed joy over the decision, a truly disappointing scenario.
Let me address those who have mocked Rarara’s disqualification. In my honest opinion, Rarara deserves not just an honorary degree but a national award. My stance was only strengthened when I reviewed the standard criteria for the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
Many of those who ridicule him, I believe, are individuals who have not achieved what he has. Their criticism, in many cases, is a mask for deep-seated envy.
Below are some of the eligibility criteria typically considered in awarding honorary doctorate degrees:
Eligibility Criteria for Honorary Doctorate Degrees
1. Distinguished Contributions: Individuals who have significantly distinguished themselves in any field of endeavor.
2. Academic or Professional Excellence: Members of academia or professionals who have gone far beyond the benchmarks set in their disciplines.
3. Alumni Recognition: Former students who have made significant social contributions or profoundly impacted their communities, the university, or society at large.
If the above are indeed the main considerations, then Dauda Kahutu Rarara is fully qualified to be honored. He has:
Popularized Hausa oral literature through music.
Mobilized political participation and civic awareness through songs.
Inspired a generation of Hausa youth to take pride in their language and culture.
Carried the image of the Northern region beyond Nigeria’s borders through his music and media presence.
If we are honest, we must ask: Which of these criteria does Rarara not fulfill?
His deep knowledge of Hausa oral tradition—orature, as it is known in African literary discourse—is a scholarly field in itself. His contributions have been both academic (preserving language and culture) and social (shaping political discourse and awareness).
It is worthy of note that the university in question has reopened the discussion, calling for a fresh application for his honorary degree. That shows the matter is not entirely closed—and it should not be.
This article is the first in a five-part series that will further explore why Alhaji Dauda Kahutu Rarara deserves not only an honorary doctorate but also a national honor for his cultural, social, and political contributions.
To Be Continued…
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