Haidar's Corner

I think that writing has an edge over oratory. Yes I believe people gain acceptance by speech, but I feel they etch themselves in time by writing. For writing it is that captures moments like a photograph making it possible to engage in a conversation with someone who is long gone. An instance that keeps revolving in my mind is how fast the oratorical specimen of a great like Dan Masanin Kano Alh. Maitama Sule would fade in memory and how much so would it have gained more permanence if written (though luckily we now have video capture) Yet this is not without remembering the fact that oratory will never have been better 'written' than 'spoken.' For instance we are blessed to be endowed with the light of Islam due to the process of documenting what was said, done and sanctioned during the Holy Prophet(SAW)'s time. On another hand many wonderful writers would make the worst public speakers (which is essentially what oratory is all about). Even with the p...

Let me start by saying that today the biggest marketing tool in use is 'fear'. Just take a look at the advertisements and jingles marketing products and even in day to day interactions from office to home you will find out that what ensures there is 'sales' is 'fear'. Is it the fear of getting tooth decay or is it to avoid hypertension, diabetes and cancer? We are today driven by fear and because the media know it they surreptitiously employ it to get us 'consuming' and spending. I call this 'emotional blackmail' as they feed fat on the fear of people. But who cares since you will always find that we are ever ready to be 'blackmailed' so... Another tool that is employed is 'mob tactics' because many people live their lives for others. It is thus very easy to lure a whole 'demographic' into buying a product simply because they need to maintain 'status and sustain an image of 'success' that they are hanging onto...

Today I happened upon a report that highlighted the precarious situation which we that are normally referred to in Nigeria as the Hausa-Fulani are in. The issue at hand is that of drug abuse and addiction which has gradually become a phenomenon that people seem to accept as part of the realities of today. Well gradually this 'monster' is carving out our communities and making the most valuable members into hollow shells worth nothing more than an empty barrel or even less for empty barrels do serve as containers for storage, something I'm sad to say a 'druggie' can't be. Thus though this is applicable to any community that wants the best for it's people I particularly have the following advice for my people. From the youths to the housewives that are said to be one of the largest users of some of these drugs, it behooves those who are the 'intelligentsia' of our various communities to ensure that there is an engagement (positive) towards making t...

How do you get to be heard? Does a 'shout' avail you the opportunity? Does 'doing nothing' mean something has been said? Does a sign afar say more than seeing it from near? Does a mouth have to talk before you 'speak'? Does an ear have to be 'present' to have 'understanding? Well I want writing that's 'audible'... I want a speech that is infused with 'purpose'... I want listening that can 'create'... I want action that is a flower of the plant of 'discussion'... I want vision that's nearly 'prophetic'... I want 'to be' no less than I want to be 'heard'... Haidar Wali 201401211711hrs

Ka shi na Farko Tanko: Salamu Alaikum (Ana gyara da babbar murya). Ina kike, maza kowa mun abinci inci zanje majalisa. Ladidi: Wa alaika Salam, toh Maigida baza ka dan huta ba. Tanko: Wane hutu, so kike in kunshe a daki kamar marar lafiya. Ladidi: A'a wai ka shawo aiki tun safe kuma da sai ka dan huta ba muyi hira. Tanko: Hira! Hirar me zamuyi banda kiyi mun tsegumi da gulma. Ke ba fita kike ba bare ki san abun da duniya take ciki. Dan Allah yi maza kar labari ya wuce ni! Ladidi: Allah ya baka hakuri (Ta kawo abinci da ruwan sha ta ajiye to kome gefe guda ta zauna). Tanko: (Ya bude kwanon abinci ya fara zubawa) Ke kuwa Ladidi ba kya jin magana ta na ce bana son zumbutun kazan nan amma sai da kika sa min a abinci (murtuke fuska da fushi). Ladidi: Yi hakuri maigida mantawa nayi ban cire ba ina sauri, ka kusan dawowa ban idda girki ba. Bara inje in gyaro maka shi, kasan tsokar tafi yawa ta nan bangaren ne. Tanko: Kyale kawai zan cire. A dai lura dan gaba. Gashi...

Today I came across a comment that said: "You can own anything in the world, but know that you are going to leave it all when you die." This made me ponder over the reality that we actually never came to this world with anything.  Even if a person was born with a silver spoon as the saying goes, a blink of an eye is enough to change a destiny like the case of the Japanese man who just of recent found out that he got switched at birth and was actually born to wealthy parents.   If this is so then it behooves us to continuously endeavor to give back as much if not more than what we are taking from the earth and it is on this note that I have chosen the following poser: Have you ever put a plant into the earth and seen it grow into something beneficial to humanity? What does it really take to plant a tree or any plant for that matter. This is one of the reasons why we have an environment that keeps degrading because we have failed to inculcate the habit of giving back...

Someone asked me to give some tips on writing and after putting them down in writing :) I decided to share it here. The following are some very effective strategies that I have used effectively over the years and they've worked for me: 1. Write as much as you can. You can do this by opening a journal and documenting your thoughts everyday in an exercise book or anything you find convenient. You can also write on things you see around you etc. 2. Make the Dictionary your companion. In order to to have certain degree of ease to write you have to gain a significant amount of words. You can do this by learning synonyms of words. This will give you enough room to play around with words such that you can say one thing in a variety of ways. Also, try to note down new words you come across and find their meanings. 3. Perhaps the most obvious advice is for you to read, read, and read. And when you talk of reading, it should be wide. For instance, just go to a library and ...

Poetry is many things to many people...like the proverbial touching of the elephant by the blind men, we take what is branded poison and make a sumptuous meal while the next man may still be recovering in the hospital from ingesting it. But one thing for certain is that no piece can out rightly be counted out as not being 'poetic' enough to be classified 'poetry' simply because it does not follo w 'our' specifications. We can rightly prescribe 'forms', 'tools' and other things which the poet may use to increase the aesthetic value of his/her piece. But I advise us to stay clear of dismissing pieces as not being poetry. Terminology, classification, and Naming are nobody's preserve. Art only recognizes 'recognition' and not castigation. Do not pull out the plant that lacks flowers as a 'weed'. Patience and careful tending rewards the gardener with surprises beyond comment.  Much Ado about Poetry Prosaic ...