By Mukhtar Jarmajo
Without doubt, the passing away, last Saturday, of Prof. Ibrahim Ayagi and the demise today of Mallam Muhammadu Sule Alfindiki have combined to shake what is now known as the Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo Secondary Schools family. Both of us at Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo Old Students Association (HIGOSA) and the current students have received enough shock that is of gigantic proportions.
But like Prof. Ayagi, Mallam Alfindiki lives. Some men don’t die not because they live for ever, but because they have impacted positively on others. And thus, until we join them in the hereafter, they still live. My first contact with Mallam Alfindiki was in JSS2 in 2000. Mallam Auwal taught us Hausa Language in JSS 1 in 1999.
I cannot claim to be a good Hausa Language student. After all, it is not easy as it may seem. In JSS1, we were taught the parts of speech which include Hanɗa, Ganɗa and Tantanin Maƙwallato and the rest. Mallam Auwal taught us the entire class syllabus and I picked what I was able to. I barely passed Hausa Language examinations.
I remember very well how in JSS 1, third term, I removed my Hausa Language marked examination script from the envelope containing the entire subjects scripts and results sheet before handing it over to my father because it was poor. But trust the wisdom of the elderly, he soon found out.
Mallam Alfindiki as I mentioned earlier, taught us Hausa Language in JSS 2 and one of the topics I can remember very well was the one that dealt with the regularisation of Hausa Language, Daidaitacciyar Hausa. Some of the British and our northern learned decided in 1939 to work on standardizing Hausa Language.
Hans Visch also known as ƊanHausa (the present Gidan ƊanHausa in Kano was named after him) with the support of Sir Mai-Wandon-Ƙarfe Lord Lugard led the efforts at coming up with Daidaitacciyar Hausa also known as Karɓaɓɓiyar Hausa. I remember very well Mallam Alfindiki’s classes.
My classmates and I also remember him tell us, on the original Hausa man: “Bahaushe ƙato ne, baƙi, mummuna, mai kumfa a hammata.” We also remember his pronunciation of “saboda haka” and many more. I hardly enjoyed Hausa Language classes, but both Mallam Alfindiki and Mallam Auwal made them memorable.
Generally, Mallam Alfindiki was a pool of knowledge who was willing to give it out at any material time. Once, while were in SS2, there was argument between my classmates Jadeed Beita and if I can remember very well, Aliyu Abdulkadir Adamu as to which is right:”Akwati ta ce” or “Akwati na ne?” We had a complete lecture at the old staff room before he gave us a “verdict.”
The late Mallam Alfindiki was also simple and even like cracking jokes with virtually everyone. There was this unfounded story of how he started calling the Geography teacher, Mr. Okpara, Mr. Okara after severally correcting him that his name wasn’t Mallam Alfindikai.
Mallam Muhammadu Sule Alfindiki was a committed teacher, a devoted Muslim and a gentleman. His absence will be felt by both his immediate and close families.
Heartfelt condolences to his immediate and close families. Condolences to Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo Secondary Schools and Hassan Ibrahim Gwarzo Old Students Association. May his soul rest in peace.
Jarmajo is a lecturer in Architecture.
