Kidan shantu is an ancient tradition amongst the Hausa people, where women gather to sing songs during festive occasions using a traditional instrument.
Kidan shantu is mostly sung during weddings, naming ceremonies, or other festivities in Hausaland and it is performed voluntarily.
What is Shantu?
The shantu is a musical instrument played on the body using the feet and is created from the leaves of a spreading plant.
When Shantu emerges, it spreads like a pumpkin but is tall and lean. They are then dried and utilized as musical instruments after being harvested and split inside by creating doors above and below.
There are two primary categories of shantu:
Traditional Shantu: This kind of shantu, which is planted, and divided into two doors, is the one that was known to parents and grandparents, and there are several different designs.
Modern Shantu: This is a metal shantu modeled by the Farfaru people. This particular shantu makes a distinctive sound when blown.
When is Kidan Shantu Played?
Kidan Shantu is one of the tunes that young ladies play when a bride is about to get married. She is always taken to her husband’s house with her shantu so she can sing for him.
Numerous groups continue to perform shantu music nowadays. For instance, the Shantu Association of the Kano State Historical and Arts is a well-known group for its shantu songs and performances in other countries.
But the ancient custom is gradually fading away and it will take the combined effort of all involved to revive this dying culture.
Source: northpad.ng
