Unit 3: Amina Lawal Garba

Glossary

1. Amosani: Dandruff
2. Basarake: Member of the royal family
3. Cikas, ƙalu bale: Challenge, obstacle, problem
4. Ciwo: Illness, ailment
5. Ela, Ɗaɗewa: Diaper rash, rash
6. Gargajiya: Traditional, orthodox
7. Gidaje: Houses (singular, gida)
8. Hulba: Fenugreek
9. Jinya: Nursing, tending to the sick or infirm 
10. Ƙyasfi: Eczema
11. Magani: Medicine, cure
12. Maganin turawa: Western medicine
13. Mai cin gashin kansa: Independent, autonomous; also non-governmental organization    
14. Mankaɗe: Shea butter
15. Mutuwa, rasuwa: Death, dying
16. Rayuwa: Living, existing
17. Sa hannu: To sign, endorse, approve
18. Sabara: Guiera Senegalensis
19. Sabulun salo: Traditional local soap, black soap
20. Surace: Medicinal steam treatment
21. Tazargade: Artemisia
22. Tsuguno: Sitting bath  
23. Waraka: To heal, get well, get rid of an ailment
24. Wasiyya: Last will and testament, a dying person’s last message to their heirs

Notes

1. Al’adar mata: “Women’s menstruation.” The word al’adar means tradition in Hausa. When talking about women, it refers to the monthly menstrual cycle. Menstruation is sometimes called baƙo (visitor) because it “visits” women periodically. 
2. Allah ya ba da lafiya! “May God heal you!” This is the Hausa greeting for  a sick person. The phrase reflects the Islamic influence in Hausa society. It is rooted in the belief that only God heals and grants health, no matter how effective a medicine may be.
3. Asalin kalmar magani: “The etymology of the term magani.” The Hausa word magani can be traced to the phrase ma gani (we shall see). These are the words that people who are ill or their caregivers say whenever sick people take medicine. Over time, the phrase became a noun referring to the medicine itself ,magani, and has now become part of Hausa everyday language. It is now a generic term that applies to all forms of healing and medicine, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and spiritual medicine.
4. Cuta ba mutuwa ba: “Illness does not mean death.” This is a popular Hausa adage used to console the sick and their family members. It emphasizes that death is not necessarily the result of illness. The Hausa people usually add to this phrase: Da yawa marasa lafiya sun miƙe kuma da yawa masu lafiya sun rasu! (Very often the sick become healed while many who were healthy wake up dead!). This saying reiterates the Hausa belief that death can happen at any given time and to anyone and that one could be sick for decades and remain alive or become completely cured.  
5. Da magani a gonar yaro: “Medicine exists in a boy’s farm [yet he wanders around looking for it elsewhere].” The Hausa people use this proverb (often omitting the second part) to emphasize that traditional African medicine is useful, common, effective, and affordable. This is also applicable to other aspects of human endeavor. For instance, it can be used in the context when many African nations struggling with economic challenges rush to Western nations (especially their former colonial masters) for aid. Yet, sustainable development and solutions to their challenges can be achieved by ending corruption, mismanagement of local resources, and overreliance on foreign aid. Following this line of thinking, Ms. Amina Lawal Garba named her book Da Magani a Gonar Yaro (What you need to solve your problem is right in front of you.).
6. Jiki da sauƙi! “[My] health is improving!” This is the answer that sick people give to people who inquire about their health. Hausa culture (like many African cultures) expects ill people to always say that they are feeling better when asked, no matter how critical the illness may be.
7. Jinya ta ƙare: “The nursing is over.” This phrase is used when someone who has been ill for a long period of time dies. It is said mainly to the family members of the deceased to console them. Their response will typically be gaskiya ne (That is true).
8. Kallabi sakanin rawuna: “A head tie among turbans.” This Hausa expression describes a woman who stands out by accomplishing things or engaging in activities  usually reserved for  men. Examples include a woman who becomes an Emir in Hausaland such as Queen Amina of Zaria and Queen Daurama of Daura. The saying can also apply to some female scholars nowadays. For example, Ms. Amina Lawal Garba could be called Kallabi sakanin rawuna because she wrote a book on African traditional medicine using Hausa Ajami that many male Hausa scholars cannot do due to their lack of Hausa Ajami literacy skills.
9. Ƙan jiki: “A body that does not heal quickly or a long healing process.” This statement is often used to describe a condition that is difficult to heal. As an example, when Mr. A heals faster than Mr. B, then Mr. B is said to have ƙan jiki. The phrase does not convey any negative feeling towards the sick person, but simply describes the expected long healing process.
10. Ya jiki? “How is your health?” This question is used when inquiring about someone’s holistic health. It is the same question that one asks someone with a headache, stomachache, mental illness, emotional stress, and so on. It reflects the Hausa belief that all parts of the human body are interrelated and whatever affects one part affects the entire body.

Exercises: