I use my voice to champion social justice, such as girl-child rights, maternal health, and peace
Maryam Bukar Hassan (from Nigeria) collaborated with fellow youth Pacifique Akilimali (from DRC) on a powerful poem titled "Peace begins with me" whose message resonates globally - peace is both a collective and individual responsibility. The poem was voiced by the likes of actor Michael Douglas and Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. Maryam narrates to Africa Renewal her journey and why to her, peace encompasses justice, equality, and human dignity:
My name is Maryam Bukar Hassan, also known as Alhanislam. I was born 27 years ago in Nigeria. I am a poet and a force for change.
As a spoken-word artist with over a decade of experience in storytelling and the founder of Creative Cultural Revival, a platform dedicated to repurposing cultural elements to solve societal challenges, I use my voice to champion social justice issues such as girl-child rights, maternal health, and peace.
How I started
I consider myself an accidental poet. My journey began at the age of 13 when I wrote an open letter, an outcry of anguish and protest against the cruelty that plagued my family.
My beloved aunt, Safiya, was enduring unimaginable physical abuse from her husband. That memory of her suffering haunted me, my anger burning like wildfire within. But it did not stop there.
Peace Begins with MePeace like a smile is a language everyone understands
When anger tries to bury me
And the world spins into chaos
I will remember that peace begins with me
When the night engulfs the earth
Like the beautiful break of dawn
The stellar rise of the sun
I will remember that peace begins with me
I close my eyes to better perceive
What would the world be if all hope was lost?
For peace is what you fight for
Across identities and differences
Over countries and continents
Across colours and cultures, words and scriptures
It is not hard to choose peace. peace is a pen writing in conviction, yet a pencil
Giving you a chance to start all over again
If you choose peace
And just like that
I know that peace begins with me
Then tell the world - I am ready!
My other aunt, Halima, had also suffered at the hands of her husband, who callously hurled her into a glass showcase, leaving her life hanging by a thread. It was a cycle.
Fueled by a determination for justice, my mother Hauwa Maina, an actress and filmmaker, took on the fight, challenging the abusers and demanding accountability.
Inspired by my mother's unwavering courage, I decided to lend my voice to the cause. As a young science student, poetry was uncharted territory for me.
One fateful day, my mother implored me to shoot a video, a fusion of poetry and raw emotion, denouncing the cycle of violence. Reluctant at first, I finally summoned the courage to step into the spotlight at the age of 16.
The video, titled "Violence Has No Religion," pierced the hearts of those who watched it, resonating with the masses who yearned for change.
Soon, a message hit my inbox. It would change the course of my life forever. The message was from a stranger from the heart of Borno State, in Northern Nigeria. He confessed that, because of my poem, he had chosen a different path, he would no longer abuse his wife. In that profound moment, my purpose crystalised - I have the power to make a difference, to ignite change, through my words.
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Why poetry for peace?
Witnessing the devastating effects of conflict firsthand in Northern Nigeria fueled my passion for peacebuilding. From Boko Haram's violence in my state to banditry attacks in the northwest region of the country, I have seen the power of how art inspires change.
Contributing my poetry to the UN's "Peace Begins with Me" campaign alongside global icons such as Nancy Ajram [Lebanese singer and TV personality] and actor Michael Douglas was a powerful experience that solidified my commitment to using the spoken word as a tool for social justice and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
I am dedicated to amplifying messages of peace and empowering others to be changemakers.
My advice to the youth
My advice to young people out there is - be a source of peace; it is the only true path to sustainable development.
