Responsibility And Sexual Pleasure In Hausa Culture

Responsibility And Sexual Pleasure In Hausa Culture By Hajiya Bilkisu (mni) Citizen Communications Kaduna Paper Presented at the Third Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights Abuja Feb 4-7 2008

The Hausa People • Hausa people live in mostly the Northwestern Nigeria, Southwestern part of Niger Republic and Northern Ghana • Their population of 20 million make them the largest ethnic group in West Africa(Gall:1998) • Their constant interaction and absorption of other groups have made their language Hausa the most widely spoken in West Africa • It is spoken by 22 million native speakers and 17 million other who speak it as a second language • Several foreign stations broadcast in Hausa to reach a wide audience • They are predominantly Muslims and Islam affects their mode of dressing, diet, art, laws and rites of passage etc (Murdock:1981) • There are pockets of non Muslim Hausas who are known as maguzawa • The maguzawa worship nature and spirits

Hausa Culture • Hausa social stratification and location of people in the rural or urban area influence the culture • Wealth gives the possessor a certain amount of power which also has an effect on one’s position in society, the number of wives a man marries • Wives are ranked according to the order of marriage and arrival in the house • Family relations are marked by respect and avoidance behavior- concealing of names, restraint in open show of affection (Swanson and Lagace :1947) • Partial seclusion is still observed inmany households as wives do not go out except with the expressed permission of husbands

Responsibility • Responsibility implies being accountable to somebody for an action. • It confers authority to take decisions independently and requiring conscientiousness and trustworthiness • One is expected to be rational and accountable for one’s action, capable of taking moral decisions and therefore accountable for one’s actions (Encarta dictionary:2005) • In discussing this topic Hausa culture does not give license for sexual pleasure without responsibility to anybody • Even scholarship which is reflected in what I stand before you to undertake today is guided by norms of decorum and decency • Where inhibitions are lowered and seemingly obscene things are mentioned it can only happen in our effort to learn and expand the frontiers of knowledge • Teachers are not expected to be shy when they teach Fiqh the science of Islamic jurisprudence • Fiqh includes sexuality education from where Muslims derive knowledge of what constitutes sexual pleasure and the responsibility for it

Sexual Pleasure • Defined simply pleasure is :a feeling of happiness, delight, or satisfaction. • It also connotes sensual gratification which is gratification of the senses, especially sexual gratification • It is a source of happiness or joy and satisfaction (Encarta:ibid) • Sexual pleasure as discussed in this presentation is about happiness and satisfaction that comes from sex but not limited to it • It includes activities, perception, imagination, visions or events that remind one of sex or processes that precede sex from which some people derive pleasure

Sexual Pleasure and Socialisation • Sexual pleasure is accommodated in Hausa culture through the institution of marriage • There are some processes taken to reflect these in the sexuality education children receive in school, at home and in the preparation of girls for courtship and brides for marriage • Some aspects of art such as fashion, songs, drama and language also make explicit or implicit reference to sexual pleasure

Fashion and courtship • Young girls are encouraged to dress well and often a small pack of cosmetics kayan kwalliya- pomade, powder, eye pencil, lipstick is provided by parents. • Some local beautifying substances such as henna lalle is also widely used • Girls are consideredlucky if theyget suitors samari when they are teenagers and begin courtship-zance

Religion and Sexual pleasure • Hausa culture being predominantly Islamic, the concept of sexual pleasure is derived from religion • Islamic injunctions are strong on promotion of chastity and this is reflected in the culture • Girls are married off early about 13-15 years because it is believed that this promotes chastity and prevents pre marital sex and unwanted teenage pregnancy • Virginity is valued and young brides are given a present by husbands if they are virgins when marriage is consummated- kama hannu • Those who are not virgins attract ridicule

Religion and Sexual Pleasure • The Qur'an in Surah Rahman, Insan Waqiah etc provide a glimpse of muslim heaven • It is as an abode of perpetual peace, Dar Salaam • A place where there will be boys of everlasting youth, beautiful companions who are virgins, ageless maidens of celebrated beauty like pearls- Hur ain • Fruits, gardens, springs of pure water, wine that does not intoxicate served in crystal goblets, raised thrones, green brocade, gold bracelets

Responsibility and Pleasure • In Hausa culture as in Islam, sexual pleasure can only be derived from a relationship with a legally married husband/ wives • Lack of sexual satisfaction in marriage is a enough grounds for divorce. • Marriage is strongly encouraged and celibacy discouraged • All five senses sight, hearing, touch, taste and speech are to be used with responsibility • Modest dressing for women hijab is enjoined and men are to lower their gaze and avoid staring at women. • Fornication, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality are grievous sins because Islam gives every child the right to a genealogy and some of these sexual activities distort the paternity and rights that genealogy confers on children • All activities that lead to or encourage such deviations –alcohol, blue movies, nudity, pornography, lewd songs are prohibited

Deviations from the Norm • There are deviations from the norm which is reflected in the behaviour of those who do not conform • There are brothels gidan karuwai where prostitutes live • There are Kawalai pimps who broker illicit sex between prostitutes and their clients • There are pimps Dan Hamsin or Dan Daudu who hang around women of easy virtue, mimic women’s voice, and mannerisms and run errands for them • They sometimes engage in commercial cooking of food • Obscenity ashar is frequently used in speech to offend and abuse people, • The world shege bastard is freely used and male and female sex organs are often used in such foul language-Buran ubanka, dan gaton uwa • The former are paradoxically also often used by those addicted to foul language as a sign of admiration when some feat is accomplished • In spite of this liberal use of foul language decent speech is valued as a sign of good breeding and socialisation.

Sexuality and Films • Recently there is a boom in production of Hausa Home Videos HHV • The Hausa film industry known as Kannywood because Kano city is the base for the production, marketing and location of the Censors Board is expanding the frontiers of Hausa culture • The films produced mirror the multiple dimensions of Hausa culture, sexuality, gender relations and other aspects of life(Yusuf:2004) • Recently the HHV producers incurred the wrath of the Kano State government which banned Hausa film production for six months over the alleged production of a pornographic film involving one of the actresses Maryam Hiyana and her lover

Sexual Pleasure In the Arts • There are expressions of obscenity in arts such as literature songs where veiled references are made to sexual act • Such songs are called songs of obscenity wakokin batsa such as Barmani Choge’s wakar duwawu the song of buttocks which she sings at all women wedding parties with suggestive moves gwatso making women reel with laughter • Saadu Bori’s songs which he sings at women’s wedding parties, also have veiled references to obscenity • In Hausa drama, characters like kwarto a man who sneaks into a home to have extra marital affairs with married women are common • In classical Hausa literature contain lewd details such as Dare Dubu da Daya (one thousand and one nights) a book translated from Arabic but with Hausa flavour.

Culture and sexual Pleasure • Hausa culture promotes the concept of sexual pleasure in marriage • This is reflected in Hausa marriage events as brides are beautified and prepared to give sexual pleasure to husbands • Part of the gifts the husband’s family brings to that of the bride include a box full of cosmetics kayan zance, boxes full of clothes kayan lefe, henna lalle. • Certain grain items are offered from the husband’s family is used to prepare tukudi, a sexual enhancing porridge for the bride

Bridal Beautification • Part of the Hausa bridal marriage events include Kunshi when the bride and her friends are decorated with elaborate patterns of henna on their feet and hands. • Some brides are also given facial and body lift halawa to remove debris from their skin • The millet, sugar, and milk from the husband’s family is used to prepare a porridge tukudi for the bride • Some date and herbs are added to tukudi which are believed to have aphrodisiac qualities • This is believed to enhance sexual pleasure for the couple

Aphrodisiacs In Hausa Culture • Aphrodisiacs are known as women’s medicine maganin mata or kayan mata (women’s affair) in Hausa culture • The one for male is known as yajin nama or gaggai often eaten with roasted meat • A booming industry has developed around it. Women dealers sell to women and men to male clients • Women are often seen clustered around dealers at weddings or naming ceremonies or talking among themselves in low tones, sharing experiences • Local aphrodisiacs are produced from food stuff such as honey, millet, yoghurt, camel cheese (chukwui ) and a variety of spices • Herbs are added, mainly pollen from flowers of edible vegetables such as zogalai • Aphrodisiac producers often conceal the herbs they add to their products as a trade secret • The best varieties are obtained from Sokoto and Niger Republic where the business is well established

Types of Aphrodisiacs There are different types of aphrodisiacs for women • They range from liquid ones tsimi that is supposed to regulate vaginal secretion • To hakin maye, siminti etc, that are supposed to increase sexual pleasure for the couple • A particular brand which is supposed to rejuvenate older women is cooked like pepper soup and made from chicken and 101 herbs. It is called kaza • Some brands dan manau are applied to tighten vaginal muscles • A famous and expensive one called Ko gida ko mota (a house or a car) is reputed to be very effective. It is so named because it produces such sexual pleasure that the husbands give presents of valuable items to wives in appreciation!!! • I am not aware of any research conducted on the efficacy of these aphrodisiacs, however sustained patronage of these products by both sexes indicates satisfactory returns on investments.

Marital Economics of Aphrodisiacs • Some husbands particularly in the Sokoto area pay to have their wives supplied with aphrodisiacs • Women who do not use them are said to be in need of repair gyara • In Kano, a night tea seller Dan Gujungu who was famous for the aphrodisiacs he used to sell with his tea and meat shayin Dan gujungu to male clients attracted criticism from wives who accused him of encouraging husbands to spend more money at his tea joint than they used to give their wives as daily subsistence allowance! • Unfortunately for Dan Gujungu, he was sent packing after the police discovered that his tea joint around zoo road in Kano was a security risk as night marauders used it to track potential victims

Aphrodisiacs as Health Risks • Gynaecologists have expressed concern about the effect of substances applied to the vaginal tract which could lead to pelvic inflammatory diseases or infections • The vaginal area is a delicate part of the body with it’s own fauna and chemical balance. The application of substances could destroy the fauna and kill beneficial organisms that promote immunity to invading pathogens • As the aphrodisiac business continues to boom, imported brands usually imported from India and China are now been hawked by dealers. • Local women dealers were seen hawking prescription antibiotics and vaginal inserts usually prescribed for common sexually transmitted infections like candidaisis and trichomonas vaginalis to clients as aphrodisiacs! • This is abuse of antiboitics which could lead to resistance from pathogens making the drug ineffective when it is administered again for treatment of infections

Imported Aphrodisiacs • It is becoming common for the hawkers of aphrodisiacs to include exotic brands imported for India, China and Indonesia in their wares • The majority of them are not literate and some of the instructions on the label are not written in languages they can read • This constitutes a health risk to the unsuspecting users who accept the prescription given to them by their dealer and pay exorbitant prices for such them • Some of these imported brands are also sold on the open market

Conclusions • It is obvious that sexual responsibility and pleasure is an integral part of Hausa culture • Islam has a pervasive impact on responsibility and sexual pleasure in Hausa culture • It is expressed in some rites of passage and like all aspects of culture, it is undergoing slow but steady transformation • This process of transformation is not adequately captured through documentation and research • It is also a neglected aspect of study that all stakeholders should address.

Recommendations • All members of the society should take responsibility for generating knowledge around the issue of sexual pleasure without responsibility which puts the society at risk • It is important that the health authorities and NGOs/CBOs particularly those working in reproductive health take an interest in the multiple activities surrounding sexual pleasure in Hausa society. • The National Agency of Food and Drug Administration should regulate the production and importation of aphrodisiacs • Research should be conducted into the history of aphrodisiacs, their chemical composition, the socio economic dynamics they generate and their impact on gender relations

References • Carrie Martin-Hausa: Location and culture- www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/africa/hausa.html • Gall, Timothy L-1998,Encyclopedia of cultures and Daily Life. Cleveland: Eastword Publications Department • Muazu,Sani-2008- Hausa Film as a New economic and Cultural Frontier. Daily Trust Abuja 19/1/2008 P.46 • Murdock, George P.-1981-Atlas of World Cultures. Pittsburgh: Feffer and Simons, • Swanson Eleanor and Lagace,Robert-1955-Her Majesty’s Stationery Office London • Yusuf Bilkisu-1991-”Hausa-Fulani Women: The State of the Struggle in Hausa Women In the Twentieth Century in Catherine Coles and Beverly Mack eds. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison • Yusuf,Bilkisu-2005-Gender and Reproductive Health Themes In Hausa Home Videos, Development Research and Project Centre, Kano

Responsibility And Sexual Pleasure In Hausa Culture