By Yusuf Gi Kuchi
The death of Hajiya Aliya Pelemi marked the final burial of our culture. In our community marriages are celebrated with traditional music and songs. It is an age-long activity.
In the 70s through 80s and 90s, Hajiya Fatima Nnazua, Hajiya Hassana Gulu Vatsa and Hajiya Aliya Pelemi top the most cultured and traditional singers that are invited to sing in wedding ceremonies. They are some times invited to sing in naming ceremonies too.
They were hot cakes, as such it depends on how early they are contacted. They have also participated as floor members of various political parties, therefore, they have sang songs for politicians is that regard.
Though the advent of universal basic education came with certain social phenomenon.Western culture infiltrated the socio-cultural behavior of our people. It dislodged our loves and beliefs in our cultural activities; the way we celebrates marriages and other ceremonies became bastardized. Western music gradually replaced our cultural way of keeping the warmth of our body and soul, and our relatives together as it disengaged us significantly from our traditional practices.
As nature would have it, Hajiya Nnazua and Hajiya Hassana died some years ago, living Hajiya Aliya Pelemi as the remaining cultural Flagstaff of Azza community. She was an epitome of gentility, well cultured representing the moral marble of the great people of Azza community and the Nupeverse.
Hajiya Aliya was a selfless philanthropist too. She would sing all through the night. Collate all the money made that night in the morning. She will direct her staff to give the lone-drummers who joined her troupe significant portion of amount made. They will both drummed and danced without hitch.They enjoy working with her. She loved everyone around her. She is quiet woman.
Hajiya Aliya hates to disappoint anybody. She would give her all to satisfy people, particularly when she is invited to perform. I attended a wedding of an Army officer at Kirikpo some years back. Her sound system disappointed. She directed her son to pick up new system from home in Pelemi. It was at the thick of the night. That is sacrifice. That is show of reliability and consistency.
She has sang a lot of songs. She is eloquent in her lyrics. One should not forget too early, the Barka yawo; Yawo man_re, yawo man; Estu gi ci zhi ( Outlined the twelve Emirs that has ruled Lapai and the duration each spent on the throne); Eya dede eya yiringi; Egi’o egi gan yan; Kpansanako mana,ya fi kpansanako. She was emotional when she sang ‘Egan dangi za kaa wun talobo’ (outsiders should keep off in people’s internal problem). I can’t forget Eni na mana sai Okene (dedicated to those who married from Okene). I was moved by her song titled Elugi biri lo langba…
In 2006, I invited her to grace my wedding. She obliged. While she is Pelemitsi my mother is Mutitsi, i.e Pelemi and Muti. I personally took the kola nut to her. She used to call me son because of the communal relationship she has with my mom. Her house is just a few meters away from my uncle’s.
It is sad to hear of the death of Hajiya Aliya Pelemi. I joined many in prayers. May Allah forgive her and grant her Aljannat firdausi. Ya’Allah we are humans, we will always be wrong, but we shall seek your forgiveness for ourselves and for others. We are pleading with you, Ya’Allah, bless the soul of Hajiya Aliya and all our dead relatives, friends and associates.
