A Study of Hausa Praise Poetry (Waka) and Its Contemporary Social Functions in Kano

Hausa praise poetry, known as waka, has historically served functions of political legitimation, social commentary, and communal celebration. In contemporary urban Kano, waka continues to evolve, engaging with new social realities including political campaigns, religious observance, and entertainment. This study examines the contemporary social functions of waka in Kano, assessing continuity and change in its compositional conventions and performance contexts. A descriptive qualitative design was adopted, with data gathered through observation of waka performances at weddings, political rallies, and religious festivals, as well as interviews with 20 professional waka composers and performers. Audio recordings of 35 contemporary waka compositions were collected, transcribed, and subjected to content analysis focusing on themes, social referents, and rhetorical strategies. Secondary literature on Hausa oral poetry and the sociology of praise singing in West Africa was reviewed. Findings indicate that waka composers have adeptly incorporated contemporary social commentary, including references to mobile technology, political governance, and religious identity, while retaining classical structural features such as the refrain, tonal patterning, and praise epithets. Commercial patronage has significantly shaped the thematic content of modern waka, with political and business clients influencing praise subjects. The study recommends support for waka documentation through cultural institutions and integration of waka performance studies into Hausa literature programmes at Bayero University Kano. Keywords: Hausa waka, Praise poetry, Oral performance, Kano, Social functions.