ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Maryam Umar, Credit: BBC Africa

Maryam Umar [PHOTO: BBC Africa]

20-year-old wins BBC Hausa women short story writing competition

Now in in its fifth year, BBC Hausa introduced the competition to give female writers a platform to tell and share their stories.

byMohammed Lere
December 5, 2020
2 min read

“Rai da Cuta” (Life & sickness) by Maryam Umar has won this year’s BBC Hausa short story contest for women.

The author of the story, Ms Umar, is a 20-year-old student of Law at Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

in “Rai da Cuta,” she tells the story of Azima whose husband returns from a trip with the symptoms of Covid-19.

Although his wife is heavily pregnant, he refuses to isolate himself because he is in denial of the disease. Azima locks him in a room but soon finds out she has already contracted Covid-19 from him. This leads to the loss of her baby and a long battle for her life.

In an Interview with PREMIUM TIMES HAUSA in Abuja, Ms Umar said this is her third year of entering for the competition.

“I tried two times before now and this is the third time I am trying and luckily for me, this time around I triumphed,” she said.

“I thank Allah for this opportunity by BBC Hausa and I am calling on other female writers to take advantage of this to show their skills in writing.”

The first runner-up in the competition is a story by Surayya Zakari Yahaya titled “Numfashin Siyasata” or “My Political Life.”

It is the story of a young woman who ventures into politics to address the underdevelopment of her village.

RelatedNews

Again, Buhari blames banditry on mining activities

17% of Nigerians don’t believe COVID-19 is real – Report

UPDATED: Presidency cautions Islamic group over Father Kukah

SSS alleges plot to incite religious violence in Nigeria

But she is rejected by the same people because she is a woman. Her determination to win over the conservative people leads to the death of her parents and almost cost her her own life.

The story that came third is by Rufaida Umar Ibrahim titled “Farar Kafa,” which loosely translates to “The One Who Brings Bad Luck.”

This is the story of Ramatu who is tagged ‘harbinger of bad luck’ after her husband experiences losses in his business shortly after their marriage.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

His business crumbles due to poor financial decisions and his small shop was burnt to the ground. He divorces Ramatu because he believes she is the cause of his bad luck. Ramatu remarries but her second husband dies just a week after their wedding and this causes more trouble for her.

Also speaking to PREMIUM TIMES HAUSA the two runners up, Rufaida Ibrahim and Surayya Yahaya, applauded the BBC Hausa for encourging women writers.

” I was really excited when I received the call that my story made it. It is the second time I am putting up sometime, and luckily for me this time around, I made the top three,” Rufaida said.

Now in in its fifth year, BBC Hausa introduced the contest to give female writers a platform to tell and share their stories.

The editor of the Hausa Service, Aliyu Tanko, says: “I’m thrilled that this year’s awards were won by very young writers which show how our primary targets have embraced this competition. Many writers have been empowered by these awards over the last five years which is a testimony of how we value our young female audiences.”

Bilkisu Funtua, the lead judge, said “To me all the writers are winners. We see a sharp change in the themes and writing styles from what is typically seen in Hausa women’s writing.

ADVERTISEMENT

“But Maryam Umar’s ‘Rai da Cuta’ is outstanding. This writer was able to incorporate wit and humour in what could have easily been a sad story. She brought to the forefront the nonchalance of our people towards the coronavirus pandemic with a unique style.”

Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Head of BBC West Africa, says: “We are pleased to be supporting this competition. It is so important to provide female Hausa writers with this platform to tell their stories. This year’s winner highlights a story that everyone can relate to in these unprecedented times.”

The winner and runners up received their prizes on Friday, December 4, at the award presentation ceremony at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Bye-elections: Late court orders, violence and low voter turnout could mar polls – Report

Next Post

Voter apathy trails Lagos bye-elections

Mohammed Lere

Mohammed Lere

More News

A Graffiti mural wall

Three Nigerian artists to unveil graffiti wall murals

January 15, 2021
Dr. Dakuku Peterside

Dakuku’s Drive that Turns the Ship Around 

January 11, 2021
Frontpage cover of the book: 'Ayinla Omowura: Life and Times of an Apala Legend'

BOOK REVIEW: Dissecting Ayinla Omowura with literary and surgical scissors, By Gabriel O. Apata

December 20, 2020
The Yoruba

INTRO: “The Yoruba: A New History”

December 19, 2020
ANA land Pictures.

ANA Crisis: Nigerian authors continue bitter squabble, hold parallel conventions

December 14, 2020
John le Carre [PHOTO CREDIT: @AFP]

British spy novel author, John le Carre, dies aged 89

December 14, 2020
Next Post
Lagos By-election

Voter apathy trails Lagos bye-elections

Nigeria Police Force [PHOTO CREDIT:@rrslagos767]

Bayelsa Bye-elections: Police officers drown in Southern Ijaw River

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,607,005 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.