Hasashe Book 1 Complete

Introduction to Hasashe Book 1

Hasashe Book 1 is a captivating Hausa novel exploring the complexities of modern relationship dynamics, traditional expectations, and family pressures during wedding preparations. Below is the complete, line-by-line English translation of this emotional excerpt featuring Halifa, Bilkisu, and their friends.

Hasashe Book 1 – English Translation

Sulaiman was one of them; they were all filled with excitement for Halifa’s upcoming wedding, which was just nine days away. Right at that moment, the delegation presenting the traditional bride gifts (lefe) was over at the house of Bilkisu, the bride.

They were sorting out the wedding invitation cards, which they planned to start distributing in three days.

Halifa’s phone rang. Eagerly, he pulled it out, assuming it was the bride, as he had been anxiously waiting for her call.

It was Hafsa, his aunt’s daughter, who was among those delivering the lefe.

He answered with a question: “Hafsa, are you done already?”

He heard raised voices in the background, as if an argument was taking place. She interrupted him, saying, “Uncle Halifa, I swear they have looked down on these gifts! And they are saying no henna ceremony gifts were included. Baba explained to them that henna gift packages aren’t done anymore since perfume is sprayed nowadays, but they insisted they still hold onto that tradition. They’re complaining: ten Atamfa prints, five laces, two Shaddas—what kind of poverty is this…?”

“What did Bilki’s mother say?” Halifa interrupted Hafsa.

She replied, “She said thank God she didn’t invite her friends to receive the gifts, or she would have been completely disgraced! She said these items should be shoved under the bed—it would be better to say no gifts were brought at all. And she said the return gifts (tukwici) won’t be given to us either; since we drank soft drinks, we should bring back the soda and meat pies, and she won’t give even a single Naira.”

Halifa let out a heavy, weary sigh and then asked, “Where is Bilkisu?”

She replied, “She’s over there crying.”

He said, “Hand the phone to her, don’t hang up.”

He could hear his mother’s younger sister, Baba, saying, “We thought these gifts were just a matter of tradition, and everyone does according to their means.”

He heard Bilkisu saying, “Hafsa, I won’t take his call!” But then she added, “Bring it here. Let him hear it from me.”

She launched into a tirade, saying he disappointed her. She said after all his claims of market shopping and going to Dubai, this meager offering was all he bought—just three suitcases and a Ghana-must-go bag! “I swear, Halifa, you have disgraced me!”

Halifa wiped the sweat from his face and looked at his friends, who were standing around in shock. In a quiet voice, he asked, “Bilki, do you despise these gifts?”

Full of arrogance, she said, “I despise them, Halifa!”

He asked, “So you only love me for material things?”

She said, “Halifa, I would have preferred if you hadn’t brought anything at all!”

He said, “Fine then. Give them back their gifts and bring them back to me.”

She replied, “Right now, even your wedding invitation cards that you sent!”

Without saying another word, he hung up. Immediately, he dialed Baba’s line.

She answered, and he said, “Baba, just bring the gifts back.”

Baba said, “Let’s see if we can reach an understanding. We are waiting for the head of the house.”

He said, “Baba, just leave them and come back.”

She hung up the phone, saying, “I’ll call you back, your aunt is calling me.”

He turned to his friends, who were filled with astonishment, and said, “Burn these cards. I swear, I’m calling it off.”

They said, “Take it easy.”

They went outside and sat on the porch step of Sulaiman’s family house, comforting him and advising him on what to do. Only Bashir supported his decision, saying if it were him, he would call off the wedding too.

Halifa looked at them, but he wasn’t really processing what they were saying. His heart and mind were replaying Bilki’s harsh words. She was the same person who used to tell him every day that she couldn’t live without him, yet here she was over a lefe. Truly, his aunt was right when she suggested they test her. On top of that, he was thinking about the money his friends had spent preparing for the reception party, which Bilki had insisted on having. Just for the venue hall, they had paid three hundred thousand Naira, not to mention other expenses, and his friends weren’t wealthy either.

Key Cultural Terms in Hasashe Book 1

• Lefe: Traditional Hausa bride gift box filled with clothing, cosmetics, and accessories presented by the groom’s family to the bride.
• Atamfa / Shadda / Lace: Popular high-quality traditional fabrics used in Hausa attire.
• Tukwici: Appreciation gifts or money traditionally returned by the bride’s family to those who delivered the lefe.

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