“The Water of Cure” by Alhaji Abubakar Imam as an example of Hausa early fiction

Abstract

The 1930-s are known as a turning point in the history of Hausa literature of Northern Nigeria. It was a time during which a new form of creative writing, prose fiction, emerged. The present article analyzes one of the first creative works of Hausa literature — “The Water of Cure” by Alhaji Abubakar Imam. Particular focus is given to the genre and compositional characteristics of the work under discussion; main features of key characters are also examined. In conclusion, the genre specificity of the work is established.