By Mairo Muhammad Mudi
The moment Ali Jita dropped his now-famous song Uwargida Mai Capacity, praising the “first wife” with the sweetness of a northern honeycomb, the Arewa internet space caught fire, yes, real digital fireworks! Lines from the song floated through WhatsApp groups like wedding invitation cards, and praise-singers for the “original wives” dusted off their dancing shoes.
Let’s just say, while the uwargidas were basking in glory, smiling like someone who just received surprise suya in traffic, the amaryas, second, third, or even fourth wives felt left out in the cold, and they didn’t keep quiet about it. Oh no, they made their displeasure known loud and clear. One even posted a hilarious video saying the follow-up song Amarya, which seemed like an attempt at balancing the praise, offered them nothing except a “Sannu Amarya”. She asked, “Are we sick that we need a ‘sannu’?” I must admit, that one got a good laugh out of me.
Initially, I had no plans to join the conversation. I had decided to sip my kunu in peace. But when my ever-inspiring role model, Dr. Zainab Bagudu Shinkafi, entered the chat, ah! I had to sit up. Not only did she weigh in, she challenged Northern artistes like Rarara, Hamisu Breaker, Auta Waziri, Abdul D. One, Sheriff, and the rest to compose a song for the second wives, and make sure it outshines Ali Jita’s. She even offered to sponsor it!
Before long, the internet turned into a proper town square, tweets flying, jokes bouncing, and every media house chasing the juiciest headline. The mood? It was carnival-like. The banter? Endless. Even husbands were chuckling in corners of their houses.
Now, if you know Dr. Zainab Bagudu Shinkafi as I do, you wouldn’t be surprised. She’s as hardworking as they come, yet she knows how to mix work with a good dose of leisure. I once attended one of her cancer awareness programmes in Kebbi State, the Cancer Week, to be precise, where alongside the serious business of saving lives, there were also dances, laughter, and deep community engagement.
So, it saddened me a little when some people started turning this lighthearted issue into a political boxing ring. “Why take a song so seriously?” they asked. “Why is a former First Lady and a wife of the minister even get involved?”
“Don’t we have more pressing issues like insecurity that her husband is supposed to tackle?” others fumed. They went as far as accusing Northerners of not being serious-minded, chai!
Well, I beg to differ.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that the North is a land of brave hearts and merry souls. Yes, we are warriors when duty calls, but when it’s time to laugh, we do so with our full chests. Laughter, for us, is medicine. We trade jokes the way others trade greetings. It’s part of our cultural DNA.
Let me take you back in time, back when I was a young reporter with Leadership Newspaper. I did a feature titled “The Northern Culture of Playmates”. It was about the tradition of playful teasing within extended families, between cousins, between grandparents and grandchildren, between co-wives and their in-laws. One of the cherished practices I wrote about was the exchange of “kuɗin shaara or kuɗin tara”, where playmates throw money on the ground for the other to pick. Imagine that level of joyful mockery, done in good spirit, of course.
Even between tribes, this culture of playfulness thrives. The Tiv and Fulani are playmates where the Fulani called Tiv, Munci, the Kano people play with those from Zaria, Katsina with Hadeja or Daura, Gwari with Kadara, you name it! I remember that particular report won me the “Reporter of the Month” award, complete with a lovely 50k prize (that was plenty money back then, I assure you!).
So truly, what’s happening now isn’t new. Ali Jita, in my humble opinion, didn’t intend to offend. As a Muslim man, he knows that before Allah, every wife, first, second or even fourth has her due respect and status.
So, dear Arewa women, let’s ease into this one. Life is tough enough already. As we tackle issues like insecurity and economic strain, let us also learn to laugh at ourselves. A joyful heart, after all, is half the medicine. If you allow room for laughter, you’ll find yourself standing taller even when challenges try to weigh you down.
And for those of you following my posts and wondering where this humble writer belongs, am I a first, second, third or fourth wife? Well, let’s put your curiosity to rest. I am neutral. My husband has two wives, and we are sisters. Yes, you read that right, sisters in every sense of the word. I am for all of you.
So, Arewa, be happy. Be safe. And above all, keep smiling. There’s nothing unserious about joy.
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