By Naja’atu Ta’Annabi
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always
Your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Yee, the steadfast elder statesman, the community centre-piece,
Interjection: Dr. Bukar Usman
Verse: O friendly canopy a strong pillar to many
Interjection: May Allah assist you
Verse: Elder Dr. Bukar Usman, O connecting bridge
Interjection: Dr. Bukar Usman
Verse: Like the plane, seamlessly you travail, bump-less
Interjection: May Allah assist you
Verse: Law-abiding hard worker that you are
Interjection: Dr. Bukar Usman
Verse: Magnanimous non-prodigal helper you are
Interjection: May Allah assist you,
Verse: Patriotic and astute retired civil servant,
Interjection: Dr. Bukar Usman
Verse: O kind tender of the weak and struggling,
Interjection: May Allah assist you
Verse: Farmers are up and doing with your aid
Interjection: Dr. Bukar Usman
Verse: Handy hoe in the nation’s agricultural flourish
Interjection: May Allah assist you
Verse: May Allah assist you, Dr. Bukar Usman, sturdy vessel that you are
Interjection: We hail you,
O blessed striving soul
Unrivaled you are in kindness and cordiality
O courageous strong-hearted Knight, solid as a rock
Go ahead, Lion, in the forests, you’re beyond scare
Dr. Bukar Usman, lead the way,
You forged ahead when they backed off
It’s Naja’atu Ta’annabi singing your praises, O hero of struggles,
A prayer and a plea – may Allah increase your wellbeing.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: I begin my praise in the name of the Almighty, The One and Only Controller of days and nights, the Eternal Absolute
You are my Anchor, O Most Honorable
My worship is solely for You –
Shower peace and blessings upon Muhammad,
His progeny and companions; their likes I have not seen.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Today the naturally-endowed I shall hail
Dr. Bukar Usman, the scholarly researcher
Great, admirable generous man who strives…
O brave, you are a bright shining star,
O assiduous man, all praise your efforts,
You conquered all, firm without falling.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Dr. Bukar Usman, a sapling planted by God,
Ahead you’ve marched, leaving others squatting,
Dr. Bukar Usman, already famed you are;
Today, the world knows your worth,
May your end be great, o heroic elder,
Dr. Bukar Usman, Allah-conscious you are.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Behold! You are famed across the world,
Dr. Bukar Usman, the charismatic elder –
Great author, with literary expertise,
Distributing his works magnanimously for free
Your books are studied in universities globally,
A famed writer accepted by the world.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Our Dr. Bukar Usman patriotic is he,
A leader to Literary Critics and Researchers,
In the field of Literature a genius he is,
An Encyclopedia in the field of history
And Treasure Chest in the cultural realm…
Writer Bukar is indeed an elder and leader.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Yee, here’s a caring kinsman, a benevolent soul,
With a pure heart and gifting hands requiring no thanks,
Sharing goodness for the sake of God,
A man with a noble lineage and a content heart,
Simple in his affairs, not prone to bragging,
I, Naja Ta’Annabi, a witness to the progress
Of this just, equitable, un-crumbling Pillar!
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Here’s one loved by all, the pure-hearted,
Dr. Bukar Usman, the well-meaning
Noble Soul with a content Heart
Whose possessions never blindfold him
Humble in his affairs, never found bragging,
Hence his generosity a ladder to his progress!
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: A rainy season, showering raindrops everywhere –
He who acquires and shares without tiring,
Adorable to the people, who’s unaware of you?
Your name has spread everywhere,
Outstanding you are yesterday and today,
A night downpour, present everywhere.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: Yee, the prayers of thy ancestors haven’t left thee,
Your rapid progress, a living testimony
Blessed by Allah you are, not just your doings
Praise Him the more, for greater progress
May you end well, o great father,
With faith on your lips, we pray.
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Verse: You started well and so shall you end well,
All who do good for Allah’s sake shall soar,
Prayed for by all and sundry,
May Allah prolong and uplift your life.
O, Dr. Bukar Usman! We greet our honeypot,
You’ve outshined your foes, O full moon!
Chorus: O fortunate rich, God has accepted you,
Dr. Bukar Usman the honourable elder statesman,
You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
Interjection: You upheld the truth always, your end shall be a great fortune
•Naja’atu Ta’Annabi, a song artist from Kano, rendered this song initially in Hausa in Kano on 16th October, 2024. Khalid Imam a poet, education administrator and a freelance researcher also based in Kano, transcribed the song and translated it into English in a readable and analysable format.