History of the Department
The Department was established in 1976 to teach the appreciation of the phenomenon of language through the systematic study and effective usage of particular indigenous Nigerian and other African languages in their major manifestations including literature and culture. Prior to this date, however, the ABU had for over a decade been turning out graduates of two African languages (Hausa and Arabic) in two distinct departments at its Kano (Abdullahi Bayero College) Campus, which thenceforth attained full University status. The Kano Campus also commenced postgraduate graduate programmes during that period. The then Department of Nigerian and African Languages commenced its Hausa degree program at its inception in 1976, the Arabic program in 1981, and in response to pressing needs began a postgraduate program as early as 1978. Since the late 70s and early 80s, the Department has graduated numerous undergraduate students in Hausa and Arabic, many masters and several PhD students in African languages with specialization in the linguistics, literature, or culture of Hausa, Arabic, and other African languages such as Twi, Shona, Shuwa-Arabic. In line with global academic pattern and in agreement with NUC approved minimum academic standards (July,1989) the Departmental and Faculty Boards as well as the Senate of Ahmadu Bello University approved the split of the erstwhile Nigerian and African Languages Department into African Languages and Cultures and Department of Arabic respectively. In addition to the increase in its student enrolment and the development of the curriculum through organised review over the 30 years of its existence, the Department has also achieved uniqueness in:
- Spearheading the evolution of a Hausa Metalanguage for teaching all aspects of Hausa linguistics, literature and culture entirely in Hausa, resulting in a book publication sponsored jointly by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the Hausa Studies Association, (whose founding leadership has been based in the Department). This effort in turn, has speeded up the spread and use of the evolved terminologies not only among tertiary but also secondary institutions offering Hausa across the nation and even overseas.
- Establishing in1982, the Oral Documentation Unit (ODU), a unique teaching and research outfit of the Department that currently houses thousands of professionally recorded, archived and preserved audio tapes of several traditions of several Nigerian and other African languages. The ODU which in recent years has also acquired visual equipment has high potentialities for revenue generation.
- Forging an academic bilateral relationship/link with Chinese Universities leading to the hosting of visiting Chinese Scholars into the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as for short stay (acculturation) in the Department for over or quarter of a century.