Power, Literacy and Ideology in Hausa Political Songs: A Discourse Analysis of Rarara’s Song for Tinubu’s Second Term Agenda

Abstract

This study investigates how political discourse and adult political literacy are constructed in Dauda Kahutu Rarara’s song endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition. Drawing on Norman Fairclough’s (1995) three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research explores how language strategies such as lexical selection, metaphor, repetition, ideological polarization, and code-switching function in shaping political ideologies, reinforcing power relations, and mobilizing public support. The data, derived from a pre-recorded Hausa-language song, were carefully transcribed and translated into English by linguists who are also Hausa native speakers to ensure linguistic and contextual accuracy. Validation was achieved through cross-checking with native speakers and contextual references. Findings reveal the elevation of Tinubu’s political image through praise-names like “Aṣíwájú” and “Jagaba”, contrasted with derogatory epithets used for political opponents. The use of metaphors such as “Ìwìn” (ghost) and “tsintsiya” (broom) evokes deep emotional and symbolic meanings, while repetition and call-and-response techniques foster communal solidarity. The integration of Hausa, Yorùbá, and English reflects a multilingual strategy aimed at broader cultural inclusion and national unity. The study concludes that indigenous music, as exemplified by Rarara’s lyrics, serves as a potent tool for political propaganda, public persuasion, and grassroots ideological control in Nigeria. It underscores the intersection of language, music, and politics as an evolving dynamic in African political communication.