Malam Yushau Abdullahi is a Kaduna-based artist and calligrapher. In this interview, he speaks on how he decided to study Arabic calligraphy and how his passion for the art has taken him to many parts of the world. Excerpts:
Daily Trust: How did you become an artist?
Malam Yushau Abdullahi: I started developing interest in Arabic calligraphy from my childhood. My keen interest in the art pushed me to trying my hand and copying calligraphy in foreign magazines sent from Arab countries. My copied works were well appreciated by people in many communities which encouraged me to make it a means of livelihood in 1989 by producing calligraphic frames for home decoration and later developed them into decoration of mosques.
Daily Trust: When precisely did you start calligraphy?
Abdullahi: In 2007, I sent some samples of creative artworks to the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) in Istanbul, Turkey and I got administration to study with calligraphy masters Hattat Hasan Celebi, Hattat Davut Bektas and Hattat Ferhat Kurlu. I graduated in 2013 as the first black African with Ijazah in Suluth and Nashk scripts from my three masters after refining the logo of the Ahmadu Bello University. I got employed into the Industrial Design Department of the university in 2013, which I am currently working with. I have participated in the following exhibitions; Art of Migration, Istanbul in 2012, Punjab University, Pakistan in 2012, Terengganu Islamic Art festival, Malaysia in 2013, Kuwait Calligraphy exhibition in 2014, Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial UAE in 2016 and Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy exhibition UAE in 2017.
Daily Trust: What is the meaning of Ijazah?
Abdullahi: Ijazah is like a license given to a calligrapher by his master that the student can represent him. It is usually given by a prominent calligrapher to represent the certificate anywhere in the world or a license that is given to a student that has studied the course for a minimum of five years. It is usually given by calligraphers and Islamic scholars. It is not well known here in West Africa.
Daily Trust: Why did you not study fine arts after secondary school since you were interested in creative arts?
Abdullahi: After I graduated from secondary school, I wanted to pursue my passion for calligraphy, but there was nothing like that in Nigeria or even West Africa so I was forced to take science courses despite the fact that my family knew that I was naturally an artist. Immediately after my secondary school, when I came in contact with Arabic calligraphy I changed my method of arts into Arabic calligraphy and it was then I decided that I would only further my education in that field. Though, after I completed my secondary school, I got automatic admission to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) because I was one of the best science students in my college and represented my school in quiz competitions in my state, Bauchi. So in 1987, I got admission but due to my keen interest in Arabic calligraphy, I decided to practice Arabic calligraphy as a profession. I was able to decorate many mosques around the country because I went around the country, especially in the North like the Central Mosque in Yola, Maiduguri, Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna and many others.
Daily Trust: When you say you decorated mosques, what do you mean?
Abdullahi: I write some inscriptions from verses of the Holy Quran and some Hadiths on the wall of the mosques. Apart from the mosques, there is home decoration aspect of Arabic calligraphy where you have some verses of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith decorated in our houses, sitting rooms and bedrooms because Arabic calligraphy has its own spiritual valve. We normally compose some Arabic verses that will be in form of protection, it depends on the request of the customer. We produce calligraphy posters that are normally bought by dealers from different parts of the country. They buy it in bulk and sell to retailers. The retailer could in turn place these posters into frames, these frames could be used at home, offices, Islamic buildings and so on. The most important thing about Arabic calligraphy is that it is the art used in writing the Holy Quran. They are hand-written and because of the perfection, people think it is written with computer or machine.
Daily Trust: What are the tools needed for Arabic calligraphy?
Abdullahi: There are two types of tools for Arabic calligraphy which include traditional and modern styles. The traditional tools are a hand crafted pens made from wood, hand-made paper (paper made especially for Arabic calligraphy). You will be taught how to make the pen, ink and paper used specially for calligraphy.
Daily Trust: Apart from calligraphy; what other things are you doing with your talent?
Abdullahi: I organize workshops so that I can impact the knowledge to people who have the interest. The first one took place at Arewa House. We got a lot of participants at that workshop and other series of workshops we organized for primary, secondary and tertiary school students. Participants at the worship decided to be calligraphers, with this development, we decided to open a center in a Kaduna and many of those that participated are now enrolled. We are hoping by next year the first three students that started the course even before we established the center will be graduating having spent five years learning calligraphy.
Daily Trust: What benefits are obtainable in calligraphy?
Abdullahi: Calligraphy is an international profession. If you are a qualified Arabic calligrapher and you are able to get your Ijazat, you can be invited to any part of the world to represent your region and that will add to the financial value of your work and you will gain recognition which will in turn promote your career.
