Ali Jita’s Song: Arewa Women, please take it with a pinch of humor

At the moment when Ali Jita dropped his famous Uwargid song never, praising the “first wife” with the sweetness of an Northern Ape nest, the space of Arewa Internet caught fire, yes, real fireworks of digital artifice! The lines of the song float through WhatsApp groups as wedding invitation tickets and praise singers for the “original wives” dusted their dance shoes.

Let’s say only, while the Uwargidas were crogging in glory, smiling as someone who has just received Syya surprisingly in traffic, the Amaryas, the second, third or even the fourth wives felt left out of the cold, and did not silence themselves. Oh no, they have known their strong and clear displeasure. One has even published a hilarious video that said that the Amarya follow-up song, which seemed to be an attempt to balance the praise, did not offer them anything except a “Sannu Amarya”. She asked: “Are we sick you need a” Sannu “?” I have to admit it, that he made me a nice laugh.

Initially, I was not going to join the conversation. I had decided to sip my kunu in peace. But when my always interesting role model, dr. Zainab Bagu Shinkafi, entered the chat, Ah! I had to sit. Not only did he weigh, but he challenged North artists such as Rarara, Hamisu Breaker, Auta Waziri, Abdul D. One, Sheriff and the rest to compose a song for the second wives and make sure it passes Ali Jita. He even offered himself to sponsor him!

In a short time, the Internet has turned into an adequate city square, tweets flying, jokes that bounce and every average house that chases the most juicy title. The mood? It was similar to a carnival. The jokes? Infinite. Husbands also chuckled husbands in the corners of their homes.

Now, if you know Dr. Zainab Bagu Shinkafi like me, you wouldn’t be surprised. He is working alone like them, yet he knows how to mix the work with a good dose of free time. Once I participated in one of its cancer raising programs in the state of Kebbi, the week of cancer, to be precise, where alongside the series to save human lives, there were also dances, laughter and a profound commitment of the community.

So, he saddened me a bit when some people started to transform this carefree problem into a political boxing ring. “Why take a song so seriously?” they asked. “Why is an ex First Lady and a minister’s ex -First Lady also involved?”

“We have no more urgent problems like the insecurity that her husband should face?” Others have smoked. They went until they accused the Nordist of not being serious, chai!

Well, I allow myself to differ.

If history has taught us something, it is that the North is a land of courageous hearts and cheerful souls. Yes, we are warriors when duty calls, but when it’s time to laugh, we do it with our chest. The laughter, for us, are medicines. We exchange jokes in the way others exchange greetings. It is part of our cultural DNA.

Let it take you back time when I was a young journalist with the leadership newspaper. I made a film entitled “The Northern Culture of Playmates”. It concerned the tradition of playful jokes within the extended families, between cousins, between grandparents and grandchildren, between the co-wipes and their in-laws. One of the precious practices I wrote was the exchange of “Kuɗin Shaara or Kuɗin Tara”, where the playmates launch money on the ground for the other. Imagine that level of joyful mockery, made with a good spirit, of course.

Even among the tribes, this culture of playing prosperous. The Tiv and Fulani are playmates in which Fulani is called Tiv, Munci, the Kano play with those of Zaria, Katsina with Hadeja or Daura, Gwari with Kadara, call it! I remember that the particular relationship won the “Reporter of the Month” award, complete with an adorable 50k prize (which was a lot of money then, I assure you!).

So really, what is happening now is not new. Ali Jita, according to my modest opinion, did not intend to offend. As a Muslim man, he knows that before Allah, every wife, first, second or even fourth has its due respect and status.

So, dear women arewa, we train in this. Life is already hard enough. As we face issues such as insecurity and economic tension, we also learn to laugh at ourselves. A joyful heart, after all, is half of medicine. If you allow space to laughter, you will find yourself standing even when the challenges try to weigh you down.

And for those of you who follow my posts and wonder where this humble writer belongs, are a first, second, third or fourth wife? Well, let’s put your curiosity to rest. I am neutral. My husband has two wives and we are sisters. Yes, you read well, sisters in every sense of the word. They are for all of you.

So, Arewa, be happy. Be safe. And above all, he continues to smile. There is nothing innerous in joy.