REMEMBERING THE GREAT MAMMAN SHATA
Late Alhaji (Dr) Mamman Shata
Katsina, if you’d ask me, I’ll say he’s the best ever! He was.
He was born in the year 1922 in
Musawa village of Katsina state. Mamman Shata got his famous & unique
nickname from his kolanut & sweets’ sales, one man ‘Magaji’ was the first
to call him Sha-ta (meaning lick-it, the sweets). Since from that time Shata
started to sing at just 14 in 1936. his father Yaro Ibrahim objected
vehemently. Yaro, the father had to surrender to see Shata go on to became one
of the greatest of men, lived almost 80 years with over 50 years of that to
ganga & kalangu music. It’s equally good to add that he was a very good
dancer.
Dr. Shata married his 1st wife
in 1947 and had his first daughter, a year later. He was to later marry a lot
of women. At that time he died he left 3 wives, about 20 children and a lot of
grandchildren. Shata Katsina lived in Funtua till his death, prior to that, he
lived in Kano around mid-1940s and then between 1954-1959, once lived a while
in Daura city, northern Katsina, he enjoyed a very good relationship with Late
the Emir of Daura, Muhammadu Bashar even before he became emir, after then at
times Shata celebrate Durbar or Gani festivals in Daura. Dr. Shata lived some
times in Lagos, in Obalande area.
Apart from Emir Bashar, who
Shata regarded as someone a father, Late Shata also enjoyed a tremendous
relationship with Late Muhammad Adamu Dankabo (Jarma of Kano), Alhaji Garban
Bichi (who was close with his father, Yaro), again Mammada Dan Sambo (A
super-rich farmer and businessman). Mamman Shata also enjoyed a decent
relationship with other singers of his time, like, Dan-Kura, who became one of
his band-boys. Shehu Ajilo, who at a time became his in-law. Dan-Maraya Jos,
known as ‘Garkuwan Shata’, and Barmani Coge, etc.
Mamman Shata songs touched
almost every area, of religion, military, national development, Culture &
values, nature, life, lifestyle, erotica, a lot, lot & lot. Shata have sung
for women, students, young men, white men, leaders, all, you have it. Shata
made songs for everything from Beans cake (Wainar rogo), to a Dog (Karen malam
Lalo), crocodile (Kadan Musawa), tuo, suya, even dead forests, name it. That’s
what happens when you do your work with passion. All this is worth to say, the
Late Shata Katsina never writes a song, he makes them on the stand. He only had
Islamiyya scholarship and no sound basic modern knowledge. In an interview, he
said he has about 40 albums, in each estimated no less than 200 songs, which
was still when he was in the business, besides that most of the songs were not
even recorded before. From Imri Al-Qays of Pre-Islamic Arabia to Micheal
Jackson, to 2-pacs and Jay-Z, it is difficult to find an Artist with over 10, 000 songs to
his name.
Quite a number of Shata’s music
were recorded. Late Shata was much travelled and so experienced, travelled to
several African states since in the 40’s; Maradi, Yemai (Niamey). In 1954 he
visited Ouagadougou, Abidjan, Kumasi, Ankara, Cotonou, Lome, and Saudi for
pilgrimage in 1956. He went to the United Kingdom in 1989, same year he visited
the U.S. Dr. Shata received several awards: National award, Member of the Order
of Niger (MON) in October 1975. Shata also received honorary doctorate degree
from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from the department of
Nigerian languages & culture by veteran Professor Dalhatu Muhammad in 1988.
On that day, the late musician sang the whole night in his academic gown with
joy all over in Samaru-Zaria. In 2014 Shata was among those honored by the
Nigerian government with Centenary award by the Nigerian Government.
Dr. Shata participated in
politics, one way, or another, since the 1st republic, he joined the NEPU
before being persuaded by the ‘Sarakai’ to dump the Progressive opposition for
the elite NPC. After the coup of 1966, he went back home, his village Musawa.
During the 2nd republic he joined the GNPP party at first, later on, left for
the NPC-re incarnated ruling NPN, served the office of councilor in his ward.
Similarly when the ban on politics was lifted after military interventions, he
joined the SDP occupying an office in the party, which later had to vacate for
some reasons. The last time he performed was at the Katsina state government
house in 1999, shortly after Ummaru Yaradua won the gubernatorial election,
which was the last moment. A lot of people enjoyed from his goodwill, his
relatives, close associates, even ex-wives and every other body including us
today. Shata died in Kano on Friday 18th June 1999, and was buried in Daura,
the city of his own ‘Mamman Bashari.’
Today, 18th June means Shata left us exactly 20 years ago, on a Friday!
May his soul continue to rest in peace.
Allah ya jikan Sarkin wakan duk duniya!
Ance ba a jam'i nayi. Sarkin kidan duk duniyar nan. Ko taba Jin mawaki kamar Alhaji Mamman Shata? Ina yake...? Wanene wanen? -
Muhammad Malumfashi tweets from
@m_malumfashi, writes from everywhere.
First published years ago.
