Dabo's Bow: An English Rendition of Bakan Dabo by Aminu Ladan Abubakar (ALA)

Abstract

This work presents an interpretation of ‘Bakan Dabo’ by Aminu Ladan Abubakar (ALA). The praise-poem reiterates praise epithet to the 13th Emir of Kano, late Ado Bayero (1963-2014). The phrase ‘Baka+n+Dabo’ consists ‘Baka’ (bow), linker -n, and ‘Dabo’; the second Emir of Kano after the Jihad of Usman Ɗanfodiyo in the 19th Century. In general, the traditional epithet ‘Bakan Dabo’, has a historical association, royal significance, metaphorical meaning, and it is connected to regalia of Kano Emirate. The original composition praises the late Ado Bayero with ancestral honour and nobility of ‘Sarkin Kano’ late Sulaimanu (1807/1808-1819), -a flag bearer who was succeeded by the lates Ibrahim Dabo (1819-1846), Usman (1846-1855), Abdullahi (1855-1882), Usman (1919-1926), Alhaji in person of Abdullahi Bayero (1926-1953), and ‘Sarkin Kano’ Muhammadu Inuwa (1963) to mention a few. The aim of this paper is glocalization, for comparatists to lay hands on ‘Dabo’s Bow’ a rendition which preserves poetic and cultural identity of the original song to non-Hausa-readers. The researchers listened to the song ‘Bakan Dabo’ several times, then transcribed and translated it, they also consulted books on the history of Kano, books on literary appreciation and utilized the theory of personhood, purposely to examine praised on being a person, personal identity, moral status, moral virtue, and communitarianism of a monarch to strengthen values and leadership in Hausa society, as well as to appreciate joy, happiness, and harmony of the monarchs’ subjects due to enduring legacy of their leadership style.