Arewa Voices

Stories from the community as told by the community. Arewa Voices documents the voices of Arewa women in the Hausa community of Nigeria.

Arewa Voices

Female Genital Mutilation in Northern Nigeria

Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115–130 million circumcised women in the world. WHO has conducted a study of the economic costs of treating health complications of FGM and has found that the current costs for 27…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedNovember 25, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

The Feminist Writings of Northern Nigeria

Writing, especially in English, was usually dominated by men in Northern Nigeria. Female writers like Safiya Ismaila Yero, and Zaynab Alkali who wrote about women's experiences in English novels started in 1984. Her novels reflect female northern Nigerian characters that tell the story of living in Northern Nigeria as a woman. Her latest novel The…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedNovember 18, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

Below the (poverty) line

Ina Bara balanced heavy loads on her small frame with ease. I was in my first year of school when I first met her and the other women who cleaned the hostel and washed clothes and played for students. I always wondered why they had to do this. These women were old enough to be…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedNovember 11, 20212Comments

Arewa Voices

Arewa Women in Tech

As career choices have shifted from the likes of medicine and law to modern technology options, the tech industry in Nigeria is on the rise. In recent times, the multi-million Naira industry is sought after by young people in Nigeria since the industry is flexible and very lucrative. Like all sectors, the representation of women…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedNovember 4, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

The Power of Naming

Names, this abstract thing that defines us and follows us from the day we are born to the day we die, is one of the most essential things in our existence. To name a thing is to own it and claim it as your own. Mark it with your love, your hopes of what you…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedOctober 28, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

The history of religion’s role in the oppression of Arewa women

Man-made systems were created to rationalise the spiritual and these systems are dominated by men, especially the Abrahamic religions, these sets of beliefs have proven inflexible when it comes to the rights of women. Over the years, religions have been used to monitor and police women and their bodies using the fear of hell (Jahannam…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedOctober 21, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

Body Autonomy in Nigeria’s North.

In May, the creative writing club at my university held a meeting. Sex education was listed as a topic for discussion. The posters announced the topic, time, and venue for the meeting; these were placed at different locations of the Kongo campus, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. It is common knowledge that anything related to sex…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedOctober 14, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

Henna Houses: A haven.

Henna is to Arewa women what hair is to black women!!!!! Henna is used to beautify Arewa women especially during ceremonies . These intricate designs are carefully drawn on hands and feet, Some designs come in geometric shapes with abstract symbols; others come in floral designs, lines and dots. Henna or Lalle in Hausa is…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedOctober 7, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

Arewa Girl Child Rights

Child Rights Act: adolescent girls are not brides Adolescent girls face a high risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, discrimination, violence, and forced marriage during conflicts and natural disasters. The most common form of discrimination the girl child faces is forced marriage and child Labour, especially in Northern Nigeria. Currently, Nigeria has over 3.5 million under-18…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedSeptember 30, 20210Comments

Arewa Voices

Beautiful Bodies

Growing up with mixed religious and ethnic backgrounds has helped me analyse the differences in the beauty standards of Northern and southern Nigeria. These two regions, different in many ways, are similar in beauty standards for women. The issue of colourism is a major problem in Nigeria and many other African countries, light skin is…

ByAisha Kabiru MohammedSeptember 23, 20210Comments

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