Developing a Professional Translation Framework for Hausa Literature into English for Academic Audiences

The translation of Hausa literary texts into English for academic audiences represents a professional practice that is currently inconsistent, theoretically underdeveloped, and inadequately supported by university-level institutional frameworks in Nigeria. This study developed a professional translation framework specifically designed for the translation of contemporary Hausa poetry and prose fiction for academic publication and comparative literary study. A professional practice development methodology was employed, drawing on structured interviews with eight practising Hausa-English literary translators, review of ten recently published translations of Hausa literary works, and comparative analysis of translation frameworks from Swahili, Amharic, and Yoruba literary translation contexts. The review identified three consistent deficiencies in current practice: inadequate attention to cultural context annotation, inconsistent decisions about how to render culturally untranslatable concepts, and absence of translator notes that would enable non-Hausa academic readers to engage critically with translation choices. The developed framework encompasses four professional domains: pre-translation cultural competency assessment, translation process documentation standards, cultural annotation guidelines for academic editions, and peer review protocols for translated manuscripts submitted to literary journals or university presses. Sample annotation models and translator reflection templates are included. Expert review by six translation scholars and two Hausa literary experts confirmed the framework's professional adequacy. The study recommends adoption of the framework by the Hausa Studies journals and creative writing programmes at Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University Kano, which are the primary academic institutional homes for Hausa literary translation in the North West zone.

Keywords: Hausa literature, literary translation, translation framework, North West Nigeria, academic translation