Burkina Faso serenades Bukar Usman in Ouagadougou

By HENRY AKUBUIRO

The prolific Nigerian writer, folklorist and historian, Bukar Usman, is one of the international guests to be honoured at the ongoing Hausa Exhibition and International Hausa Cultural Festival being organised by the Ouagadougou-based Association Makaranta, in conjunction with the National Museum of Burkina Faso. The three-day event, which started yesterday, will climax tomorrow, Sunday March 16, 2017.

In a Letter of Introduction and Nomination for Award of Recognition by the association addressed to Usman, the Association Makaranta said it aimed at promoting Hausa language, culture, education, socio-cultural and economic development, hence, its hosting of the festival.

“Therefore, it is with high sense of respect, appreciation and recognition of your commitment towards the development of culture integration and peaceful co-existence between and among Hausa Community and the globe at large that the above named organisation considered you worthy of conferment and award as underlined above,” the letter read.

Usman has since conveyed his acceptance of the award in a response sent to the organisers of the international festival and exhibition. Speaking to The Sun Literary Review on the eve of his departure to Ouagadougou, the President of the Bukar Usman Foundation said he was delighted to be honoured in the West African country.

“One surprising thing about this award is that I never saw it coming. In whatever I do, be it in promoting writing in Hausa language or folklores in Nigeria, I do it with the intention of advancing knowledge. I am delighted that some organisations, even outside the country, are taking notice.

“There is nothing that is more delightful than receiving an international award you never sought for. It shows you are impacting lives outside your borders. This award will spur me to do more in this regard,” he said.

Hausa is one of the 63 languages spoken in Burkina Faso, said the organisers, who also informed that the museum exhibition of Hausa cultural goods would continue till mid-June after the end of the festival tomorrow. The theme of the conference holding at the National Museum of Burkina Faso is “The Contribution of Hausa Culture to the Enlightenment of African Civilisation”.

Invited guests for the festival were drawn from Benin Republic, Cameroun, Central Africa, Chad, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Sudan. Usman, who is attending the festival, is expected back to the country at the end of the programme.

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