Its called Alayyahu in Hausa.

Just call a spade a spade. El-rufai was the best thing to happen to abuja. Love him or hate him, he got the job done! Ever since he left, its been one idiot after the other. El rufai made abuja what it is and he had amazing vision. Its sad that honest men don't get far in Nigeria.

@OP. Is it your money?

Since its not yours, why are you complaining? Women often think about the future when shopping. These shoes are not just for the first child. She bought excellent quality shoes so that her future children can also benefit from it. We all used hand me down shoes. Not because we cudnt afford new ones, but because my mum invested in extremely good brands that lasted all thru her 6 kids.

$osisi:

This is the most intelligent contribution from a Muslim on this subject.
You almost make me want to wear a hijab

Personally,I have no problems with women that choose to wear a hijab
what I have problems with is men who insist a woman must dress a certain way
It is not their decision to make
It is a woman's choice to choose her dresses and not have one forced on her like some Muslim areas do
I am a Christian
There are Christian women who believe in covering their hair 24/7
That is their choice.
But whenever any insitution or state insists that they must control a woman's freewill,that institution ought to be challenged.
Saudi Arabia insist that their women must dress in black flowing uniforms ,that is wrong
Iran arrests women for wearing sexy hijabs
That is also wrong
A woman's dressing should not be legislated.

A Christian woman with the Spirit of God should know not to dress provocatively
A Muslim woman who believes in the teachings of her religion should also know not to be provocative in her dressing.
Wearing an abaya because it's forced on you when your heart is as dark as a ogbunike cave is hypocrisy
The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart,the mouth speaks.
Dressing a certain way to please men is useless
My Lord Jehovah cares more about the condition of one's heart
Legislating morality does not bring about holiness

You are very right. Hijab or maybe faith in general cannot be forced on a person. You can teach a person, advise a person but at the end of the day it should be their choice on if or how they practice it. Even the Qur'an is very clear that "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256). So these people that exert force on women to dress a certain way are going against that which they believe in. It's funny because Islam has been explained in such a simple way yet, people still find a way to twist it to their personal opinions.

Hehehe! Please don't get me started on Saudi Arabia. If I start lashing out at the authorities *mind you, it's only the authorities that have such terrible views, the citizens want a reform but they have been silenced and they almost have no rights to do so: check out saudi blogs*

That's why I'm very grateful that in Nigeria, women have a choice to wear Hijab or not to wear Hijab. Granted they may face little issues in their communities but at least there's no law that enforces or outlaws it. We're quite free Nigerians. I just we were more grateful of this.

*sigh* wouldn't the world be a much better place if we all get along? I wish people just kept an open mind and became more tolerant of each other.

$osisi:

This is the most intelligent contribution from a Muslim on this subject.
You almost make me want to wear a hijab

In Islam the woman is supposed to cover her hair because it is seen as a beautiful thing that attracts men. I always wondered though if a Muslim woman is completely bald is she still required to wear hijab?

Another thing is that hair does not necessarily make one attactive. Some women are gorgeous even without any hair. I have also seen some women who wear hijab and are so beautiful and then they remove it and they are ugly So in their cases the hijab makes them more attractive. Should those women remove their hijabs as to avoid attention from men?

Just wondering

I agree with you about the whole attractive thing. I wish people will keep an open mind when it comes to the issue of Hijab. Like many things in religion, it is open to interpretation by the individuals. Islam talks about physical decency with both men and women, although the women's aspect may seem a bit more strict due to anatomical differences. Let's not mix up the original intention of the hijab with what we see in the world today.

The intention behind the hijab is to prevent women from being objectified. It is supposed to be a way to empower women so that they won't be judged based solely on their physical attributes.

It is sad that the exact opposite is what people use the hijab for in this century. Some countries use hijab as an excuse to coccoon women away from the public eye when that's not what it was intended for. The intention was to make women more comfortable in the oiutside world and to give an even playing ground for women in the community.

No matter how messed up the world view of women in hijab is, you have to say though that in many parts of the world, women that dress relatively decently are more likely to be respected and ess likely to be objectified by men than women that dress provocativelty.

About the balness I wear hijab and I have enough hair to make a lion jealous.

So people, understand the intention and don't be blinded by what the world/media wants you to see.

nagoma:

Sarauniya you said "more to come" where are they. Amma dai Rashin Hakuri shi ya kawo - "me aka shuka?"

yi hakuri, ban shigo nan ba kwana biyu.


Ka tambaye zakara hanyar rafi?
Will you ask a rooster the way to a pond?

Ka tambayi kunne dadin miya? Ka tambayi baki ka sha labari
Will you ask the ear how sweet the soup is? Ask the moth and you'll hear a mouthfull.

Andre Uweh:

I am from Etiti in Imo state (mum Anioma). We have two local government areas namely Ihitte/Uboma and Obowu.
Tourism-Abadaba lake, Biafran bunkers at Madonna Isinweke, Oturugo stream, Aham Umuoke River.,Nze River, Imo River.
Factories- Nwaoku paper mill, Avutu poultry, Uboma rice mill.
Festivals-Nwam-akwa, Mbomuzo, Nkishi ukwa, Wiyi, Ntumaka, Oturukwekwe.
Dances-Okonko, Asa-Abadaba, Wogbom, Egwu nwatali, egwu owa, otigba, Agbata ekurunwa.
Prominent personalities dead-Dee Sam Mbakwe, Chief Benjy Uwajumogu.
Prominent Personalities alife-Nze Fidelis Chukwu, Eng Charles Ugwu.
Prominent towns-Umuihi, Onicha-Uboma, Umuariam, Ikenanzizi, Okata, Amainyi.
Population: Ihitte/Uboma 200,00. Obowu 150,000. Total 350,000 (2007 est).
Dialects: Uboma-Isu and Ihitte, Obowu-Obowu.
Neigbours-Okigwe in the north, Umuahia, east; South Mbaise; west Mbano.
Nairalanders, if you are proud of your people, please let us know.
ANWUNOOO.

That's interesting! I love traveling around Nigeria. I haven't been to your place but I have been to Okigwe for a wedding. I absolutely loved it. I'm probably going

to explore the Igbo land more when I return to Nigeria. So far I have been to Onitsha, Okigwe, Ogidi, Nnewi, Ihie, some other parts of Abia, Enugu and Asaba.

Maybe you should make a wikipedia page for Etiti.

Abu-Maryam:

@poster. You extremely distort Sarauta and it aura. But thank God SARAUNIYA has give a glance of whats SARAUTA.

Just had to clarify. The poster may have not any harm but it is important to get these facts right especially in a place like Nairaland where people believe stereotypes like they are facts.

Nice Topic. I have to clear some things up though.

Sarauta means a title. It varies from rank to rank. It's not only given to rich people. It's given to people that have earned it and most importantly, it's people that have serviced the community one way or the other. For example: a person may get it because they helped many youth in the community to gain education and employment. Wealth is not the important factor.

another example: in my community a man (commoner) just recently got given a sarauta because he is an advocate for human rights. The current emir in my community is not a rich man. He was a mere teacher that was eligible and respected.

It's the version of government that existed (and still exists in some areas) from the earlier Habe civilisations. They are like parliaments and are in charge of running the communities. although these days with democracy, they don't have as much power as they used to. Still, they're respected and loved just like what the queen is to the English. May I also mention that Sarauta is not just given to men but also to women who fit the selection criteria.

Dogarai (plural for dogari) are not slaves. They are guards in charge of the security of the palace and the masarauta. Today, it's like any old security job. They even get paid and subsidised education in some emirates. They have rights, they can even quit when they want. From what I have seen these days its actually a form of employment.

Jarus:

English: Padlock

Yoruba: Agadagodo

Wow! Seriously? Padlock in Yoruba is Agadagodo? Hehehehe! I have always thought it was a word made by Daddy Showkey!

No wonder he goes "Agadagodo, Open the door for me" Nice! We learn everyday.

Phemour:

Unique Hausa Girl. lol

Phemour:

Sarauniya, ke dan wani gari ne?

Ni Bakatsiniya ce. Yar garin Daura.

Aloy.Emeka:

He he, so Jacob Zuma[South Africa's president] means Jacob Honey?

Hehehe! Must be a very sweet guy

Aloy.Emeka:

What are these called in Yoruba and hausa?

1. Paw Paw

2. Soursop

3. Sugar

4. Honey

5. Dirt

Hausa

1. Paw Paw - Gwanda

2. Soursop - Tuwon Biri (Hehe! Literally, Monkey's Tuwo)

3. Sugar - Sikari

4. Honey - Zuma

5. Dirt - Depends on the context. Daud'a - generic for dirt (not to be confused with the name); Datti derived from the english word; Kazamta - more on the disgusting side, Shara - dirt from sweeping the floor.

MrCrackles:


Ah oh well!
I will ask around for it, doubt i will get it around where i live though!
Must try that thing called DOKWA

Goodluck finding it!

@Kuli kuli lovers, if you ever find yourself in the North, ask for something called "Yajin Masau" aka. Masau's pepper. It's a bit powdery and it's eaten like that. It's made from kuli kuli mixed with lots of yummy yoummy ingredients including crayfish and co and then fried. A must try for all kuli kuli lovers. Don't forget o! It's Yajin Masau

MrCrackles:


Alrite!
I need to try that stuff but someone said on here, it makes you fart?

Hehehehe! Does it? I never really noticed. It shouldn't though because it's got very little protein. Like Ogaga mentioned it is very very spicy sha. SO if pepper makes you fart then, you know. Excuse yourself a little. It's worth it

MrCrackles:

Fuc.k Kulli Kulli, dokwa is the deal apparently!

What is DOKWA?

"DOKWA" or actually, Daquwa aka Ta Aya, is also a type of Hausa snack that's made in the shape of balls. It's made from Tiger nuts (Aya (some people call it Hausa groundnut)) It's fried, ground, sweetened with some herbs and spices and moulded into the yummiest thing you'd ever put in your mouth.

Ko min nisan Jifa kasa zai dawo - No matter how far a stone is thrown it's still going to come back to the ground.

Idan ka ga gemun abonkinka ya kama wuta ka zuba wa naka ruwa - If you see your friend's beard on fire pour water on yours.

Abun da babba ya hango, yaro ko ya hau Dala da Gauron dutse ba zai hango ba - What a grown up has seen, even if a kid climbs the rocks of Dala and Goron Dutse (highest peaks in Kano) he/she won't see it.

Bakin ciki ba bakon uwar barawo bane
Agony is not a new concept to the mother of a thief.

I guess there are 2 types of proverbs in the Hausa language. The more structured one (as I have posted above) and the 2 part ones the ones that have two phrases. One suggesting the situation and the other predicting the outcome. Usually occurs in a dialogue where one person says the first part and the other person completes the sentence

e.g.

Aikin Banza - Harara a duhu
What a waste of time - Eyeing a person in the dark

Aikin Banza - Kiba a kunne
What a waste - Growing fat on the ears

Na shiga ban dauka ba - ba ya fidda barawo
I wen't in but I didn't steal anything! - Doesn't acquit a renowned thief

, Rashin Hakuri - Kamar Zawo
, So impatient - Like waterry diarrhoea

Abu mai sauki - fidda wando ta kai
It's Easy - Like removing trousers through your head


More to come. Welldone to the people posting, na karu sosai a nan faggen.

Abuzola:

Idan kunne yagi to jiki ya tsira: meaning when the ear hears the body is safe

Hmmm, the way I translate this proverb is with "ya" being a command as in

If the ear has heard, the body should be careful.

ifyalways:

it shld be Ubankiji(sp)

Kwarekt! It's actually spelt Ubangiji which means Lord. God can also be referred to as Mad'aukaki (the almighty) or Mahllici (pronounced Ma-ha-lli-chi) meaning the creator.

smile4kenn:

Igbo - Obodo Liberia
Yoruba - Ile Liberia
Hausa -

In Hausa

Liberia - Jamhuriyyar Laberiya

Aloy.Emeka:

Candle:

Igbo: Ori ona

Yoruba: ?

Hausa: ?

Key:

Igbo: Mgbachi

Yoruba:?

Hausa:?


Padlock
Igbo: igodo

Yoruba:?

Hausa:?


N/B:
If you have other translations like Benin, Fufulde, Efik, Ibibio, Urhobo etc please add them.

Hausa

Candle - kyandir

Key: - Makulli (something that locks)

Padlock - Kwad'o (also means frog )

ohaechesi:

can some one help: Pawpaw, garri, maggi, tomatoes

Igbo

Hausa

Yuroba

Hausa

Pawpaw - Gwanda

Garri - Gari in hausa means any powder/granular form. If it's soaking or Eba garri - Garrin kwaki

Maggi - Maggi or Rayko

Tomatoes - Tumatiri

mbulela:

my mother once told me,you are on your own.
you go make am as ---------

It's that song by Faze, face alone. That's the one line I haven't been able to understand!

my mother once told me,you are on your own.
you go make am as says the Lord?

My song

Eenie meenie minie mo, who's tha flyest of them all?

i_laugh:

something is not right here - why is it that the Nigerians who live outside Nigeria contribute and comment with so much venon in them whereas the contributions of Nigerians living in Nigeria are always subtle- the Nigerians in Nigeria always see things good about their country, they are more hopeful but the ones lost in the diaspora, speak with lost hope, their thinking is so rubbish and sikly that you often wonder if they ever see good food to eat - do they leve Naija more than the people living in it or what is the matter? The frustration?

I_laugh, I agree with you! Many people that probably haven't even set foot into the country for years to decades have the nastiest impression of Nigeria and a very narrow mind when you try to convince them otherwise. When Nigeria produces a wonderful musical sensation they jump on the bandwagon and claim to "rep Naija to the fullest". But when it comes to everything else its a different story. Sometimes it's like something is biting them. Why so angry? I thought you left for a "better life"? Kilo n fa? It's so easy to be cynical, but a little optimism can go a long way. Some people just fail to realise that.

oge4real:

I really apreciate the fact that Mr President can even come up with such a policy even if his surbordinates are not sincere. I think he needs encouragement and not slight remarks.

Spot on! I think so too! A little positive thinking never hurts.

Nigerians are funny! There's just no impressing you people! If they had increased their salary you people will be angry, they have reduced it now and you people are also angry. What should they do, leave it the way it is? Nope, you people will still be angry!

I get why we are all pissed about the money they continually embezzle, it's terrible. But at least slowly (but hopefully, surely) they are being EFCCed one by one.

God in the end is the ultimate judge of who's a thief and who's not. But please my people, take it easy. The point they are trying to make is that they feel everyone's pain and they're shouldn't earn more just because they're in power. I say it's a good move. Good on them!

[size=16pt]The Knowing! [/size]

The end of the knowing was so cliched and annoying!

I was at the edge of my seat thinking WTF?

I was so annoyed that I was expecting to see a Nollywood-esque finish, complete with "To God be the Glory!"

Stupid alien-like things!

That pretty much ruined it for me!

sojioguns:

IGNORANCE, IGNORANCE, IGNORANCE. That is what I hate most about every Nigerian culture.

Thank you! I was just about to post it up! I call myself an open minded, tolerant and accepting Nigerian. But one thing I cannot accept is the ignorance and over dependence on ridiculous sterotypes.

I'm Hausa so naturally to every other Nigerian I got married while i was a foetus and I probably have a great job prospect as a nightwatch lady.  

Seriously, We need to open our minds.

It's Amazing to see how narrow minded, strong headed and Daft Nigerians can actually be. You come into a Muslim Forum and insult that which they believe in, how mature! Funny thing is most of the anti-Islamic posts here come from prejudiced and angry people who know NOTHING whatsoever about Islam. So hey, my advice to you people here is: "Whether you agree or disagree with our views, Just LIVE and LET LIVE!"

Eid Mubarak Ya Ayyuhal Muslimeen!