Overview
- Lesson Title: Political Unrest in Niger-This is a report about former Nigerian Prime Minister Hama Amadou and the current government.
- Language: Hausa
- Topic: Economics/Politics
- ILR Level: 1+/2
- ACTFL Proficiency: Advanced-Mid, Advanced-Low, Intermediate-High; This ACTFL rating is an approximation based on the ILR level
- Modality: Listening
- Learning Objective: Maintenance & Improvement
- Subject Area: Language
- Material Type: LO
- Publication Year: 2008
- ObjectID: HAUS_12647
Transcript
| Original | Translation |
|---|---|
|
Tsohon prime ministan Nijer, Hama Amadou ya bayyana cewa a tsakaninshi da shugaban kasan Tanja Mamadou, kunu ne ya ci amana koko A: Tsohon firayim ministan jamhuriyar Nijer, Hamma Amadou, ya bayyana cewa a tsakaninsu da shugaban kasar Tandja Mamadou kunu ne yaci amanar koko . Wakilinmu Yusuf Mammam ya halarci taron ‘yan jaridar da Hamma Amadou ya kira dazu a gidansa a Niamey, babban birnin kasar. B: Hamma Amadou ya ce jiya an ce yaci kudadan tallafawa a sha'anin ilimi a firmi ba, aka kuma ce ya tura wasu su kona motar wani, dan jan’iyyar MNSJ mai suna Moussa Keita. Yau kuma an ce ya yi rub-da ciki, da wasu kudaden tallafawa kafofin labarai ko kuma 'yan jaridu, har sai fa miliyan dari, wanda kan haka zai gabata gaban 'yan majalisar dokoki jibi Littinin, a wani taron majistar na gaugawa. Hamma Amadou ya yi dogon bayani kan wannan batu da sauran batutuwa, kuma ya ce in har aka ce yau, za a tona asiran abubuwan da suka faru, ko ya sani, ta da duk jami’an gwamnati daya bayan daya, zasu iske shi a gidan kaso. Hamma Amadou ya yi karin bayani game da wannan sabuwar badakalar kamar haka … C: Mutum ba mala’ika ne ba. Ko menene dabaranak, kana iya kayi kuskure. Amma ban yi i kuskure na cuta ba. Ban yi cuta ko guda ba cikin kasagga. Aiki ne nayi yi fi sabilillahi, da aiki fi sabilillahi zai kai mutum kaso, kenan za a sani kaso. Karya ne aka yi min, ba'a so ne in yi dan takara, don ina … eh … mutane da suke so su zamna har abada, gaban Nijer, an ce akwai kudin {petrol [English]}, kudin {uranium [English]}. Yanzu da kasa ya sami kudi da yawa, ba a barma yara, zasu yi wasa da shi. B: Hamma Amadou ya ce da ma dai ana so a hana mashi tsayawa takara ne. Kuma wannan badakala ta siyasa tun shekara dubu biyu da hudu ne ake ta cewa akwai sabani tsakanin firayim ministan da shugaban kasa Mamadou Tandja, wanda hakan yau ya fito fili karara, kowa ya tabbatar da cewa akwai wannan badakalar. Yanzu dai ba'a sa abin da zai faru ba jibi Littinin, a zauren majalisar dokokin ta kasar Nijer. Wala Allah ko za su kada kuri’ar cire mai rigar ta kariya, ko kuwa zai shallake, Allahu ya’alam. |
Former Niger Prime Minister, Hama Amadou, defines the relationship between him and President Tanja Mamadou as treachery A: The former prime minister of the Republic of Niger, Hama Amadou, has explained that there has been a breach of trust between himself and President Tandja Mamadou. Our correspondent Yusuf Mamman attended a press conference that Hama Amadou called a while ago at his residence in the capital city of Niamey. B: Hama Amadou said yesterday that he has been accused of misappropriating educational development funds, and that he was also accused of sending some people to burn a vehicle belonging to an MNSJ member named Moussa Keita. And today, he was accused of embezzling up to one hundred million CFAs that were earmarked to assist media agencies and journalists. He will appear before the National Assembly next Monday during its emergency session to discuss this accusation. Hama Amadou provided a detailed explanation about this and other topics, claiming that if he were to reveal all he knows today, a lot of government officials would also go to prison with him. Hama Amadou gave further clarification on the new allegations as follows… C: Man is not an angel. No matter how careful you are, you make mistakes, but I did not make a fraudulent mistake. I did not commit fraud in this country. I performed an honest service. If truthful service can lead a man to prison, then I will go to prison. I am being framed, because they don't want me to run for office, so that I… uh… there are people who want to rule Niger forever, now that there is money from oil and uranium. Now that the country is generating a lot of money, it should not be left in the hands of the youth; they will mismanage it. B: Hama Amadou claimed that some people want to prevent him from running for office. And as for this political situation, there have been speculations of squabbles between the Prime Minister and President Mamadou Tandja since 2004, which were in fact revealed today, confirming these speculations. As of now, no one knows what will happen on Monday, at the Nigerian National Assembly session. Perhaps they'll take a vote to quash his immunity, or maybe he'll escape, God only knows. |
Glossary
| Hausa term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| kunu ya ci amanar koko | “Porridge ate porridge's trust” is a saying in Hausa that uses two different words, _kunu_ and _koko_, for the same thing—“porridge”—to imply the closeness of two people or things that have been divided by a breach of confidence or are no longer compatible. |
| ci (kuɗaɗan, amana) | _Ci_ is commonly used to imply different actions depending on the noun that follows it, as demonstrated ny _ci amana_ (to betray) and _ci kuɗaɗan_ (embezzle). |
| yi rib da ciki | "Cover the stomach/inside" is an expression that refers to keeping something secret or covering something up. In the text, it means "monoplize the fund." |
| majalisar dokoki | "Parliament" refers to as the National Assembly in Niger. |
| taron majalisa na gaugawa | "Urgent" means "extraordinary meeting" in the text. |
| gidan kaso | "Prison" |
| badaƙala | In the text, this item infers "controversy." |
| kaɗa ƙuri'a | "To vote" |
| wala Allah | "Walla Allah" carries the implication of unpredictability and is derived from the Arabic phrase "Allah wa a'lam" (only Allah knows). |
| Ƙarara | "Crystal clear", like water, It can also be "very cold" |
| shallake | "To pass", "to jump", "to skip" (usually in a test). Shallake can also be Tsallake In Kano Hausa |
| Allahu wa a'lam | "God only knows" is an Arabic phrase. |
Notes
Political Unrest in Niger
1. The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country situated in the area called the Sahel in western Africa. After gaining independence from France in 1960, Niger was run by a single-party civilian regime under the presidency of Hamani Diori who was ousted in a military coup d'etat in 1974, as Seyni Kountche and a group from the military took over. After Kountche's death in 1987, Ali Chaibou, one of the military group members, succeeded him and started the democratic process that led to the 1993 elections with the country’s first democratically-elected president, Mahamane Ousmane.
Niger is rich in natural resources. It is one of the world's largest producers of uranium, which is the pillar of the country's economy, along with agriculture, and, recently, oil. However, Niger is also one of the world's poorest and most under-developed countries and is dependent on foreign aid. The aid usually comes in the form of development projects implemented in various sectors. Mismanagement of funds has led to the failure of many projects, but because of the openness and transparency brought about by democracy, Nigerians hold officials accountable for the management of the country's affairs, as in the case of former Prime Minister Hama Amadou.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5474.htm
2. In Niger, Hama Amadou had held many administrative and political positions from the military regime of Kountche to the fourth republic with Tandja Mamadou. He was the director-general of the Radio Broadcasting and Television of Niger, minister of information, secretary general and president of the National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara (MNSD-Nassara) party, and prime minister from 1995 to 1996 and 2000 to 2007.
Following a no-confidence vote prompted by allegations of embezzlement in the "Affaire MEBA " (Ministry of Basic Education and Literacy case) and other charges, Hamadou submitted his government resignation in May, 2007. In 2008, another charge was put on him regarding funds allocated to the development of independent press and communications. After legal procedures from a parliamentary examination of the case, followed by censure motions, the vote to strip him from his political immunity, like all sitting members of the Parliament and the High Court of Justice, he was arrested.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hama_Amadou
CONTENT SOURCE: Sahabu Maman Aliyu, Ibrahim Alfa Ahmed, Yusuf Maman (2008, June 14). Former Niger Prime Minister, Hama Amadou, defines the relationship between him and President Tanja Mamadou as treachery . Labarai Washington, DC: Voice of America. http://www.voanews.com/hausa/webcasts.cfm
You selected a Learning Object that offers practice on this objective: Demonstrate your comprehension.
Content Description: This is a report about former Nigerian Prime Minister Hama Amadou and the current government.
XML
<activity>
<problemset>
<problem>
<type>L2_Purpose-Audience</type>
<stim>Who is this report intended for and what is its purpose?</stim>
<fdbk>This report is intended for the Hausa audience of Voice of America. Its purpose is to inform listeners about a press conference called by Hama Amadou, Niger's former prime minister, concerning his indictment for embezzlement as he is scheduled to sit for questioning in the National Assembly.</fdbk>
<hint>Consider the announcer's first statement and the correspondent's introduction of the report's topic. Please refer to the Notes for an explanation of the Hama Amadou case.</hint>
</problem>
<problem>
<type>L2_Facts-Figures</type>
<stim>How are the reasons for Hama's indictment presented in the report?</stim>
<fdbk>The reasons are presented in a chronicle of accusations. First he was accused of embezzling funds allocated to the Basic Education and Literacy project (MEBA), plotting the burning of Moussa Keita's car, and another embezzlement allegation concerning funds allocated to the improvement of journalism.</fdbk>
<hint>Consider the use of _jiya_ (yesterday) and _yau_ (today) in the correspondent's narration of Hama's comments. Please refer to the Learn More section for details on the "Affaire MEBA."</hint>
</problem>
<problem>
<type>L2_Sequence-Steps</type>
<stim>How did the former prime minister respond to the accusation?</stim>
<fdbk>Hama Amadou denied wrongdoing or embezzling a hundred million CFA, and other accusations. He accuses other government officials and reveals the suspected disharmony between him and Tandja Mamadou.</fdbk>
<hint>Consider the use of negative sentences in the prime minister's explanations of the issue.</hint>
</problem>
<problem>
<type>L2_Supporting_Detail</type>
<stim>According to the prime minister, what is the motive behind the allegations?</stim>
<fdbk>The allegations are politically motivated according to Hama Amadou. False accusations have been used to prevent him from running for president by the leaders whom he called "children" that covet the potential revenues to be made from uranium and oil sales.</fdbk>
<hint>Consider the use of the word _an_ and the reference to the people who want to be in power forever in Hama Amadou's arguments.</hint>
</problem>
<problem>
<type>L2_Implied_Meaning</type>
<stim>What can be inferred from the report about the future of Hama Amadou?</stim>
<fdbk>For now his fate is uncertain. The prime minister is entitled to political immunity, which, depending on the results of the parliamentary vote, would be applied or denied.</fdbk>
<hint>Note the reason for mentionong the National Assembly session and the vote. Consider the use of the phrase _Allahu wa a'lam_.</hint>
</problem>
</problemset>
<instr type="eng">Read each question and type your response in the box provided. Click CHECK at the bottom of the screen to view the model response.</instr>
<instr type="target" />
<bgnotes>
<bg>
<category>Background Information</category>
<note>1. The "Affaire MEBA" is a legal case on the "Ministère de l’Education de Base et de l’Alphabétisation" (Ministry of Basic Education and Literacy) concerning the mismanagement of assistance funds allocated to the improvement of the education sector under Hama Amadou's leadership.
In 2006, at the request of Niger's technical and financial partners, an investigation was carried out by an international auditor who revealed some irregularities in the use of the funds. The findings and other charges led to Hama Amadou's indictment and resignation.</note>
</bg>
<bg>
<category>Culture</category>
<note>1. Niger is a country situated in the area known as the sahel, zone between the humid areas to the south and the Sahara desert to the north of Africa. I was colonized by France and became independent on August 3rd, 1960. It is named after the river and Niamey is its capital city. The official language is French.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger
2. The CFA franc stands for the Communaute Financiere Africaine (African Financial Community), which originated from the colonial _Communauté française d'Afrique_ (French community of Africa) and is the name of the currency shared by twelve west African countries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFA_franc
3. The National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD) is a political party in Niger. Founded under the military government of the 1974-1990 period, it is currently the ruling party of Niger and the party of President Tandja Mamadou.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Movement_for_the_Development_of_Society</note>
</bg>
<bg>
<category>Vocabulary</category>
<note>1. _Fissabillillahi_ is an expression derived partly from Arabic, meaning “truly” or “honestly” can also be for the sake of Allah(God)
2. _Hal abada_ or _har abada_ (forever)
3. _min_ or _mini_ (to me)
4. _Gina_ (as in _...don gina, mutane da..._) is from the Djerma language, meaning “yet.”</note>
</bg>
</bgnotes>
</activity>