An Examination of Hausa Linguistic Features in the Poetry of Sa’adu Zungur

Sa'adu Zungur is one of the most celebrated figures in modern Hausa literary history, renowned for political poetry that combined classical Hausa verse conventions with sharp social commentary on colonial rule and post-independence governance. This study examines the distinctive linguistic features of Zungur's poetry, focusing on vocabulary, rhetorical devices, stylistic innovations, and the relationship between his work and the classical Hausa poetic tradition. A literary linguistic analysis design was employed, applying close textual reading to a selected corpus of 20 poems by Zungur drawn from published collections and manuscript sources held at Bayero University Kano library. Analysis focused on phonological patterning, metaphor structures, proverb integration, Islamic intertextuality, and political vocabulary. Secondary literature on Hausa literary history and the political context of Zungur's writing was reviewed. Findings reveal that Zungur's poetry is characterised by innovative lexical choices that blend classical Hausa vocabulary with Arabised Islamic terminology and accessible colloquial expressions, creating a distinctive register accessible to both scholarly and general Hausa audiences. His metaphorical constructions frequently draw on agricultural and natural imagery familiar to rural Hausa audiences while encoding sophisticated political critiques. The study argues that Zungur's linguistic innovations represent a significant contribution to the development of modern Hausa literary language. Recommendations include development of an annotated critical edition of Zungur's collected works and inclusion of his poetry in Hausa literature courses at Nigerian universities. Keywords: Sa'adu Zungur, Hausa poetry, Linguistic analysis, Literary Hausa, Political verse.