What is art or entertainment in a northern concept?
It is public knowledge that every society gets the art it deserves.
So, basically, every piece of entertainment we get is a replica of our day-to-day dealings.
But the concept seems to be lost in translation or definition because whatever piece of content or entertainment that pops on the internet or TV within the northern context either offends or does not impress some people.
Also, it’s not an issue to be unimpressed or critical, always being antagonistic is.
Regardless of how much we try dissociating from the fact, arts and entertainment are major propellers of societal growth and we will keep seeing more of it.
We can’t also deny the fact that there’s a whole wave of negative impact or impression got from bad content but the ability to distinguish the bad from the good is lost when we antagonize everything and every creator in that space feels like they are in a system that is against their artistic growth.
Some days ago, I watched a YouTube documentary about the Hyena men in Kano.
They demonstrate their immunity to weapons, they make displays with their Snakes and other reptiles too. Scary, but entertaining and pretty insightful into the culture.
I know for a fact that there are reservations and disapproval for those kinds of displays within our society.
The funniest part is that the documentary was shot and publicized by a southerner and going through the comments, it was filled with awe and appreciation of how much culture and arts are not getting their deserved attention.
The entire Hausa film industry has been demonized and sometimes there’s a definitive reason to it and sometimes it’s just bare face condemnation.
The older and “more decent generation” had their league of entertainers like Mamman Shatta and his peers. They are even globally recognized majorly based on societal reverence and the art has evolved but the mass appeal has declined.
At least within the demography of the audience that decides what is an art and what is just indecency.
So, I ask again.
What is art or entertainment in a northern concept for you?
By @hausaa_fulanii Arewa Instagram influencer.
