Abstract

The conservative nature of North-West society in Nigeria regarding gender roles has curtailed the participation of women in many aspects of society, including communication. Most studies reviewed in this area were from Egypt and the United States of America (for example, see Khabeer 2007, Khan 2011, Alim 2005, Williams 2017, and McMurray 2007), hence the need for this research work. This study investigated the experiences of Muslim Hausa female rap artists in Kano State in the music industry and society at large. Therefore, the objectives were to find out the challenges faced by Muslim Hausa female artists in Kano and to analyze the content of their lyrics. The study used interview and textual analysis methods purposively. The feminist communication theory was also applied, which argues that women often receive unequal treatment compared to men. The study found that the artists faced many challenges at different stages of their careers and that female rap artists use rap music to express themselves and challenge gender norms. The study concludes that female artists are perceived negatively in Kano State. A pertinent contribution of this study is that rap music was found to be a medium of communication through which the marginalized female gender finds their voices and is heard in their society.

Key Words: Female Muslims, Hausa Artists, Rap Music, Female Rappers.

About the Author

*    Ummi Muhammad Hassan is a lecturer I in the Department of Mass communication Bayero University, Kano. Her area of research interest is cultural studies and film studies.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, October 2024, pp. 54-62

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Hassan, U. M. (2024). Experiences and challenges of female Muslim rappers in Kano State, Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 16 (2): 54-62.

Full Article

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