Federal University Dutsin-Ma to Host International Conference Honouring APC Praise Singer Rarara’s Music
The Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, has announced its plan to host the first-ever international conference dedicated to the songs of Alhaji Dauda Kahutu Rarara, a controversial political praise singer widely known for his support of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Tinubu, and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The event, tagged “1st International Conference on the Songs of Alhaji Dauda Adamu Kahutu Rarara”, is being organized in collaboration with the Pleasant College of Advanced Studies (PCAS) and will take place from October 2 to 9, 2025, on the university’s main campus.
According to an official circular, the conference will feature a wide array of scholarly presentations exploring Rarara’s music through academic lenses. Submissions are invited under multiple themes, including the political, cultural, philosophical, and musical dimensions of his work.
Scholars will examine how Rarara’s songs have influenced political narratives, shaped public opinion, and bolstered party loyalty, especially in Northern Nigeria. Discussions will also focus on his role in political campaigns and propaganda, as well as how his music constructs political personalities and reflects socio-cultural ideologies.
The conference languages are Hausa, English, Arabic, and French. Abstract submissions are open from June 30 to August 30, 2025, and selected papers will be peer-reviewed for publication in a Book of Proceedings.
Rarara rose to prominence through his musical support for APC campaigns and is often criticized for using music as a tool for political propaganda. His songs have been labeled by critics as divisive and inflammatory, raising questions about the university’s decision to celebrate such a figure through an academic platform.
Critics argue that this initiative amounts to institutionalizing political sycophancy at a time when Nigerian public universities face severe challenges, including underfunding, deteriorating infrastructure, and frequent industrial actions by staff unions.
Despite the backlash, the organizers maintain that the conference represents a legitimate effort to study the intersection of music, politics, and society in contemporary Nigeria.
