Orality in Song and the Advancement of Traditional History: The Experiences of Saidu Faru

Abstract

Since antiquity, orality has been the only genre through which thoughts and ideas are commuted and disseminated by heart, either as songs or traditional historical antecedents to the nascent and generation unborn. It is usually in the form of traditional history by which information is collected, commuted and disseminated in song form through the mouth. Albeit, songs of variegated types have tremendously been instrumental to a plethora of transformations evident in all human global societies. This is a similitude of the invaluable multivariate songs sung by Mal. Saidu Faru- an African iconic song composer from Faru village in Talata Mafara in the present Zamfara State, Nigeria. Historically, some of his songs to some extent have indelibly contributed positively to the remoulding and repositioning of human life, psyche, and characters, and especially in strengthening, the governance, religion (Islam), cultural heritage and political advancement of northern Nigeria society. The nature of philosophical songs soothes the human mind, bringing solace and redirection of hopes through religious proclivity that has culminated in the serene ambience that makes Mal. Saidu Faru songs were indispensable. Based on the foregoing prism, the paper adopted the historical paradigm of data collection (primary and secondary sources) and equally used qualitative content analysis for interpretation. The paper recommended that Mal. Saidu Faru songs should be listened to, especially to derive the invaluable benefits in remoulding human character, repositioning societal malaises toward the creation of peace, and harmonious relations, as quintessential to good governance in Nigerian society.