Baba Issahak discusses his background. Tamale, Ghana, 24 January, 2019.

As told by Baba Issahaku Yusif to Saeed Dawuni. Text transcribed and translated by John Alhaasan Issah.

[Initial greetings; Baba Issahak is asked to speak about his training as a Muslim scholar and singer.]

Response: (Arabic introduction). N zo silimiŋa, his name, the Sapashini, muni yen n tɔɣisi nunye so. Tɔ, piligu, mani n-nye Baba Issahaku Yusif. N yu’paa nyela Baba Kutu. Bɛ dɔɣi ma la tiŋ yuli booni Gburima-Tibɔɣu, Tolon tiŋgbani n-nyeli. N yuma anahi ka bɛ zaŋ ma kuna Tamale. Di saha bɛ ni zaŋ ma kuna Tamale ŋɔ, ka mba ti zaŋ ma niŋ karim. M pila karim Suniya. Achempong regime saha ka m pili. Di bela Warizehi Nanton-naayili. Ti ni pili ti karim maa nimaani, ni ka n karim Al-Qu’ran n-naagi. Yili sheli varanda n-daa nyeli. Ka Makaranta maa ti nya polo Gumbihini, ka bɛ yihi ti labsi ni ka ti Afa ti yihi ti niriba pia n-zaŋ ti tahi Anbariya. Ti chaŋ Anbariya maa nti joini P6. Ni ka n naangi middle school. Ni ka n lahi naagi secondary school 1991. Ka bɛ pii ma ka n wuhira. Nimaani ka n wuhiri hali n-ti paagi 1998 ka nya scholarship n-chaŋ Libya nti kpe University ni. Nimaani ka n daa karim naagi ka kuna 2011 nti lahi be n karim wuhibuni. Amaa Afa so ŋun wuhi ma Al-Qu’rani karim Afa Muɣalam ŋun daa yoli kpi ŋɔ. Pa mba n-daa zaŋ ma kana Anbariya. N Afa maa n-daa zaŋ m mini n tuzo Afa Alhassan kana. O gba lahi kani. O gba daa ti nya scholarship n-chaŋ Riyat, Suadi Arabia. O ni daa naagi o karim university nimaani ka kuna, o daa bela Paɣ-naa shikuru n-wuhira Islamic.

Translation: My friend, the white-man whose name is the sapashini, my name is Baba Issahaku Yussif, popularly known as Baba Kutu. I was born in a community called Gburima-Tibɔɣu in the Tolon district of the region. I was brought to Tamale at age 4. When we resettled in Tamale l was sent to Arabic school to study the Quran. I started my Arabic education in a school called Suniya. It was Achempong’s regime when l started it. This Arabic school is located around Warizehi, a suburb of Tamale. I completed my Arabic studies of the Qu’ran in this school. The school later got a space for a permanent site at Gumbihini, also a suburb of Tamale. From there 10 of us were transferred to Anbariya. At Anbariya, we joined from primary 6. I had my middle school education at that place. I also had my secondary education there in 1991. I was chosen to teach in the same school. I taught there until 1998 when I received a scholarship to further my studies at a university in Libya. I graduated from that university in 2011 and returned home to continue my Arabic teaching.

It was not my father who sent me Anbariya. It was my Arabic teacher who took me and Afa Alhassan to continue our studies at Anbariya. He is no more. He too had a scholarship to study in Riyat- Suadi Arabia. When he returned home after his studies, he was posted to teach Islamic studies at Paɣ-Naa Senior High School here in Tamale.

Question: Puŋpɔŋɔ, ya ka a wuhira?

Translation: Now, where do you teach?

Response: N wuhirila Ambaariya part-time. Amaa gonamti tahi ma la JHS sheli ka n ti wuhira.

Translation: I teach at Anbariyya on part-time. I am posted to teach in a public Islamic Junior High school

Tags: Tamale, Ghana, West Africa, Islamic Singing, Dagbamba, Dagbamba Music, Dagomba Music, Afa Ajura, African Ajami