Why Hausa Folk Tales Must Be Saved From Becoming Extinct

Hausa folk tales (tatsuniyoyi; sing: tatsuniya) wasn't just a form of entertainment – it was a tool for education.

The tales taught moral lessons and cultural values, warning against greed, pride, and other vices and exhorting kindness and bravery.
 
But, as the world evolves, the older generation – who are the guardians of oral tradition – are aging and few young people are interested in learning and passing down these traditions.

And with more families opting to raise their children on English, the language used in narrating tatsuniyoyi is slowly taking the back bench.

In this episode of The Bearing, we are going to listen to tales about the challenges faced by Hausa folk tales, opportunities for their revival, and their place in the life of modern day Hausa society.