Many have read and watched the interesting series Magana Jari Ce, but many, sadly, do not know who the author or creator is. That whole piece of brilliance is due to the creative ability of Abubakar Imam. Imam was born in Kagare, in 1911, and grew up under the stern watch of his father, Malam Shehu Usmanu, who was then the chief Imam, grand Khadi, and treasurer of Kagara, where the young Abubakar began to acquire Islamic education.

Just like his peers, he memorised the Holy Quran and went through some smaller books on Islamic education before he was enrolled at the European school which had just come into being.

When the young Imam turned 11, on April 20, 1922, he left Kagara for Katsina, where a life-long transformation was to take place. Having been enrolled in Katsina Provincial School, where his elder brother, Malam Bello Kagara, was teaching, he attended the Katsina Middle School between 1927 and 1932, and was the second best out of the 16 students that passed out that year. He went ahead to school at the University of London's Institute of Education.

At the tender age, Abubakar was at the Emir of Katsina's palace, helping in the translation of court cases from Hausa to English and Arabic. At this very significant stage of his life, he acquired the immense knowledge and experience through meeting many prominent people, both local and foreign.

The literary circle of his time first took notice of the budding writer when he submitted a play for a literary competition in 1933. The judge, Rupert East, who was also heading the translation committee, liked his writing, because it was usually accentuated by the vivid knowledge of native norms and vegetation, and mixed with his literary style of wit and imaginative prose. Imam came second in the competition for his short write-up, Ruwan Bagaja. In 1939, together with Robert East and a few others, they started the Gaskiya corporation, a publishing house, which became a successful venture and created a platform for many northern intellectuals to draw forth their voice.

He achieved soaring fame in the annals of Hausa land and beyond, with the publication of Ruwan Bagaja in 1935, Magana Jarice (The Story So Far, parts 1-3) in 1937 and Karamin Sani Kunkumi Ne (parts 1 and 2) in 1938. At that time, the British were searching for an editor for the first Hausa newspaper, Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo, in 1939. Imam was, therefore, the best choice. He remained the editor of the paper, from 1939 to 1951.

His experience as an editor culminated in writing his book, Tafiya Mabudin Ilimi in 1944. Thereafter, he wrote Sayyidina Abubakar (1955), Tarihin Annabi Kammalalle (1957), Haji Mabudin Ilimi (1959), Tarihin Annabi Da Halifofi (1960), Tarihin Musulunci, Karamin Sani Kunkumi (A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing), and Tambaya Goma, Amsa Goma.

He co-authored Ikon Allah (parts 1 to 5) with Dr. East in 1949, Auren Turawa (1949) and Auren Zobe (1974) with Sherwood Smith. He translated Abdullahi Dan Fodiyo's Diya'ul Hukkam as Haske Mahukunta and was instrumental to the publication of Hali Zanen Dutse.

Though his works had become a vehicle to realistic education and a means of philosophic ruminations, Imam's capacity for hard work was legendary. In 1936, he spent six months working day and night in a stretch to produce the trilogy of Magana Jari ce, which became one of the leading classics of Hausa Literature. From the speculative fiction of Ruwan Bagaja to the imaginative writing style of Magana Jari Ce and his vivid reportage and editorialising in Gaskiya Tafi Kwabo, we see this great stylist at his best adopting and adapting different genres, domesticating unfamiliar exotic settings, and expropriating themes to make everything Hausa. His translations caused tales to metamorphose into some form of originality, carrying an independence of their own: sound, style, appearance, register, theme and localisation. Truly, if he is to be celebrated, it should be for his masterful skill in superb translation and adaptation and not in the originality of his creativeness. That, in truth, was a more excellent approach and expression of his innate ability to understand the soul of a tale.

The exposure of many premier writers in Northern Nigeria to the political process influenced Imam to join politics. In 1952, with the formation of the Northern People's Congress, together with Umaru Agaie, and Nuhu Bamalli, they formed the major administrative nucleus of the party. Imam was elected into the House of Representatives, Kaduna, and later, the National Assembly, Lagos. But it was all short-lived. He retired from active politics in 1953 and went back to his well- loved past-time - writing; this time at the Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria as superintendent in charge of books. He was at various times Chairman of Civil Service Commission of Northern Nigeria (1955), Chairman, Public Complaints Commission of Northern Nigeria (1957), Chairman Interim Common Services of Northern Nigeria (1958) and Chairman Public Complaints Commission of North Central States (1974).

During his lifetime, between the 1940s and 1950s, his house, located at No. 19 and 20, at Imam Road, Tudun Wada, Zaria, described as the first 'open university' in the country, provided one of the most renown forums for the incubation and development of political, social and administrative ideas, facilitating the attainment of independence. What passed for his personal living room is now the Abubakar Imam Documentation Centre, where his literary works and other related documents are displayed.

Abubakar Imam was a recipient of merit awards like the Order of the British Empire (OBE) laurel, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON, presented to him by the Yakubu Gowon military administration) and Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) of the University of Ibadan in 1968.

The father of Hausa literature died on June 19, 1981, leaving behind 14 children - seven males and seven females. So far, his works, according to literary commentator, Ibrahim Malumfashi, "withstand the test of time and scrutiny."

True, Imam will be remembered as an astute politician, bit it was as a writer that he found fame, respect and the huge fan base which he enjoys today, albeit post-humously.

Imam's works have entertained Hausa readers for ages. Beyond that, they have influenced and instructed others in related disciplines.