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 ones 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 ones action,
capable of taking moral decisions and therefore accountable for ones
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 considered lucky if they get
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 womens 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 Choges wakar duwawu the song of
buttocks which she sings at all women wedding parties
with suggestive moves gwatso making women reel with
laughter
Saadu Boris songs which he sings at womens 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 husbands 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
husbands 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 husbands
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 womens medicine maganin mata or kayan

mata (womens 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 its 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 culturewww.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 Majestys 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