The Depiction of Hausa Women in Contemporary Hausa Romance Novels

Contemporary Hausa romance novels, known popularly as littattafan soyayya, have become a widely read popular genre among Hausa readers, particularly younger women, and carry significant cultural weight in their portrayal of female identity, romantic aspiration, and social norms. This study examines how Hausa women are depicted in a sample of contemporary Hausa romance novels, analysing character construction, agency, and the values communicated through female protagonists. A feminist literary analysis design was employed, applying textual analysis to eight Hausa romance novels published between 2020 and 2024 by both male and female authors. Analysis focused on characterisation of female protagonists, narrative resolution of romantic conflicts, representation of women's educational and professional aspirations, and the portrayal of marital and family relationships. Reader reception data were gathered through focus group discussions with 25 female Hausa readers in Kano. Findings reveal that while soyayya novels have evolved significantly from earlier conventions and now regularly feature educated, professionally active female protagonists, narrative resolution frequently reinforces conservative gender norms through characters' ultimate submission to familial or romantic male authority. Female authorship correlates with more complex and autonomous female characterisation. Readers report high identification with modern female characters while also valuing narratives that navigate Islamic social values authentically. Recommendations include support for female Hausa authors and development of literary criticism that engages specifically with the gender politics of the soyayya genre. Keywords: Hausa romance novels, Soyayya, Women, Literary analysis, Gender representation.