Title:
GENDER SPACE AND THE PARADOX OF SELF-ASSERTION IN AMADASONG PERFORMANCE IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Authors:
Oluwatoyin Bimpe Jegede And Maryam Yusuf Magaji

Abstract:
Amada music performance is a form of Hausa art that is given motivation by the impulse to change certain cultural and religious restrictions placed on the female gender. These restrictions, like the Kulle system of marriage, have also constrained scholarly interests in Amada. However, the few studies in Amada performances have mostly focused on the origin, literary techniques, thematic preoccupation, forms and features of Amada with none paying attention to the performer’s attempt at refusing oppressive gender traditions. The current study therefore examined gender and the paradox of self-assertion with a view to identifying elements and strategies of performance which affirm and transgress gender cultural norms. Womanist theory provided theoretical orientation because of itsregard for women’s struggle and maintenance of cultural family values as instruments of true emancipation. Data were collected through field-work, oral interviews, andparticipant –observation methods. Two live performances of two Amada musicians (Yan Asharalle andAsiya Mai Zairo) were recorded in audio and video compact discs at formal and informal occasions whileBarmaniChoge’s performances were downloaded from the internet. Purposive selection method was used to obtain the three samples for the study: “Asharalle”, “Song of the Buttocks” and “Unwind”. The data were transcribed, translated and critically analysed using the womanist theory. ............