By Adamu Hamza Marree Talum
This is the third article in a series of five that I promised to write, advocating that Alhaji Dauda Kahutu Rarara deserves not only an honorary degree but a National Award for his contributions to society.
When people compare Rarara with earlier Hausa poets such as Alhaji Dan Kwairo, Mamman Shata, Sani Sabulu, and others, the common argument is that Rarara’s talent does not measure up—mainly because his work focuses on political panegyrics (praise-singing), unlike the earlier poets.
But I want to challenge that view.
Let us ask ourselves: If those legendary poets like Dan Kwairo, Dan Maraya Jos, and Mamman Shata were alive today, living in this current socio-political and economic climate of Nigeria, would they still be singing the same type of songs as they did decades ago? The answer, in my view, is no. They would likely have adapted to the times—just as Rarara has.
The Nigeria of Mamman Shata's era was a very different country. Back then, talent and knowledge were appreciated, regardless of one’s tribe or religion. Today, favoritism, tribalism, and inequality have ravaged the country. Merit is no longer enough—you need "connections" to succeed.
Rarara is a talented artist who has adapted his creativity to suit Nigeria's current realities. He sings political songs, yes—but he does so to survive, to feed himself, and to remain relevant. If Rarara had chosen to focus on other forms of poetry, who would support or promote him in today’s Nigeria?
Let’s be honest—today’s youth from less privileged backgrounds who have talents turn to singing, TikTok, Facebook, or football because there are no clear paths for them to succeed academically or professionally. The system has failed them.
In this context, Rarara has wisely used his talent to build a career, and I ask—what is so wrong about that?
Let me be clear: I do not support his political godfather, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Many of his policies, in my opinion, are not in favor of the common man. However, this does not take away from Rarara's achievements or the recognition he deserves.
Rarara, like the poets before him, is contributing to national discourse—just in a different form. Today, you need money to publish books, music, or research. The country is not structured to make it easy for poor but talented individuals to contribute meaningfully to national development.
There are countless others—possibly more talented than Rarara—who remain unknown because they lack the resources to showcase themselves. This is the reality we live in.
In conclusion, I encourage Rarara to continue his work. One day, his songs may be studied in schools—just as Mamman Shata’s and others' works are being analyzed today. The same people criticizing him now may later realize his value to our cultural and political history.
To be continued…
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