Mamman Shata facts for kids

Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata was a famous Nigerian singer. He was born in 1900 in Musawa, Katsina State, Nigeria, and passed away on June 18, 1999.

Mamman Shata was a well-known griot (a storyteller, praise singer, and musician) among the Hausa people of West Africa. He often sang with the sound of talking drums, called kalangu. He performed for the Hausa people and others in Northern Nigeria for over 50 years.

Early Life and Family

Mamman Shata was born into a Fulani family. His mother, Lariya, was from the Fulani people who moved from the Borno Empire. She met Shata's father, Ibrahim Yaro, in Musawa, and they got married. Shata had a half-brother, Ali, and a sister named Yalwa.

His father, Ibrahim Yaro, was also Fulani. His family had moved from the Sokoto area and settled near Musawa. They are even credited with starting the village of Musawa.

As a boy, Shata went to an Islamic school in Musawa. This was a common tradition for Hausa Muslim children. Musawa was part of the Katsina area when Shata was born. Today, Musawa is its own local government area in Katsina State.

Shata's father wanted him to be a farmer or a trader. These jobs were seen as more respected than being a musician. Many people thought music or praise-singing was like begging. So, Shata choosing to be a musician was a bit rebellious at the time.

Music Journey

Mamman Shata got his nickname 'Shata' from a relative named Baba Salamu. When Shata was young, he sold kola nuts. After selling them, he would give away all his earnings. When asked what he did with the money, he would say, "Na yi shata da su," meaning he had given it away. Because of this, Baba Salamu started calling him 'Mai-Shata', which means someone who gives away their money.

Later, Shata also sold sweets before becoming a full-time musician.

Shata started singing with other young people for fun. They would gather in the village square after dinner. He became very good and stood out from the others. At first, he didn't sing for money; it was just a hobby.

He eventually stopped selling sweets and became a full-time musician. This job took him to many villages around Musawa. He later moved to Bakori at the request of Abdullahi Inde, a prince who helped him. In Bakori, Shata married his first wife, Iya. They had a daughter, Amina, who sadly died young.

From Bakori, Shata and his band traveled to places like Katsina, Sokoto, and Kano. His fame grew in Kano in 1952 after he performed at a big wedding party for princes. In 1960, he moved to Funtua, a larger town. Funtua became his home for about 40 years until he passed away.

Mamman Shata was one of the best-selling artists from Northern Nigeria from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was a respected folklorist, someone who studies and shares traditional stories and music. He spent about 50 to 60 years making music.

Shata made thousands of songs, but he couldn't remember the exact number. Many of his early songs were never recorded.

He traveled to many countries, especially in West Africa. Outside Africa, he visited Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. He also went to the United Kingdom, France, and the United States.

Shata was known for singing about almost every topic in Hausaland. This included farming, culture, religion, money, politics, animals, and trade.

He received many awards for his work. These included an award from the Nigerian government (Member of the Order of the Niger, MON). He also got awards from music associations, state governments, and the U.S. Embassy. Ahmadu Bello University gave him an honorary doctorate degree for his contributions. He also received a special award after his death from the government of Goodluck Jonathan.

Shata had different relationships with other musicians. He had some disagreements but generally got along well with most singers. Many musicians looked up to him as a leader.

Some important people who supported him included the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Usman Nagogo, and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Political Involvement

Shata was active in politics throughout his life. He often supported left-wing political ideas, even though many of his supporters were from royal or wealthy families. He said this was because of his humble beginnings.

In the 1950s, he joined the left-wing NEPU party. Later, in the 1970s, he was elected as a Councillor in Kankia Local Government Area. In the 1980s, he was part of the GNPP party and then the NPN. In the 1990s, he was elected chairman of the SDP in Funtua. However, he was removed from this position because of his left-wing views. Shata did not participate much in politics in 1999 due to his health.

Passing Away

Alhaji Shata became very ill and was hospitalized in Kano and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After an operation, he felt a bit better. But he was later hospitalized again in Kano, where he passed away on Friday, June 18, 1999.

He was survived by three wives (Furera, Hadiza, and Binta), 19 children, and 28 grandchildren. He was buried on the same day in Daura. The Emir of Daura, Muhammadu Bashar, who was one of his supporters, attended the funeral.