In this episode, Gaddafi is speaking to Ibrahim Sani Kankara, an associate professor and pioneer head of the department of anthropology, faculty of history and development studies at Bayero University Kano, northern Nigeria.

In this conversation, Dr Kankara talks about historians always being afraid of numbers, teaching students to mould their character, the importance of collaboration when researching conflict, and more.

David Ehrhardt

Welcome back to Africa Knows!

In this episode, Gaddafi is speaking to Dr. Kankara, an associate professor and pioneer head of the Department of Anthropology in the Faculty of History and Development Studies at Bairo University in Kano in Northern Nigeria.

In this conversation, Dr. Kankara talks about historians always being afraid of numbers, teaching students to mold their character, the importance of collaboration when researching conflict and more. Here is Dr. Kankara.

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

What informed my PhD research is connected to the research I have carried out at the master's level.

My research is on youth group activities that have some certain historical relevance especially in Hausaland and in Katsina in particular where I came from. This particular group of youth that are known in Katsina as the Kaurai.

I tried to look at the history at my master's level and then the origin and then at my PhD level I decided to expand the topics to look at the general changing nature of the group activities in in the post colonial period.

My MA dissertation is talking about the the group in the pre colonial and the colonial period while my PhD focus on the post-independence period. But the interesting aspect of it is that the master's research that I did is in history while the PhD research is in anthropology.

So the methodologies differs. Differs a lot in terms of the way the two researches were carried out.

Gaddafi Abubakar

Can you quote the research topic it diverted towards?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

which? the Ph.D? the masters?

The masters is history of transformation of Kauranci in Katsina.

Gaddafi Abubakar

How can we explain Kanranci to a non-Hausa?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Is just like it's a phenomenon. Okay.

While being a Kaura is the actual name but the phenomenon it affects the activities is what referred to as Kauranci. Kauranci is about kind of being a warrior. That is just as simple as not talks.

Gaddafi Abubakar

Not thugs Really? I thought it had something related to...

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

The Kauranci, historically, Kauranci is about being a warrior hero in a warrior in Katsina when we said Kaura in Katsina we are talking about the military commander in the traditional Kasuna.

And Kaura occupies an important position as one of the kingmakers in Katsuna in the pre colonial. Up to now the title of Kaura is part of the kingmakers effect and emir died in Kazana Today part of the people that select new Emir Kaura is part of those particular officers. In fact, Kaura is the most senior ranking traditional title in Katsina emirates apart from the Emir is the Kaura. Kaura is second in the absentia. He's acting as the emir.

Gaddafi Abubakar

That's interesting. But what do you find most striking about the method you use historical method in your masters and anthropological in your PhD, what are the striking differences?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

The major difference is that the master's research is purely qualitative research, while the PhD research is mixed methods research, both qualitative and qualitative quantitative research. Dealing with research questionnaires and then coding and evaluating and also analysis and making analysis and then carried out.

Observatory purely ethnographic research that entails had to do with the issue of observatory methods of adopted and then also field work, what we call key informant interviews, KII, were adopted. And then also some library research in addition to these methods.

That's what makes it mixed method, but for the masters is purely qualitative methods. Archival researches were carried out, oral interviews were carried out and then some library research were carried out.

Gaddafi Abubakar

Which one do you find more interesting?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

The interesting thing is that, you know, historians, as historians, somebody with historical background, we are always afraid of numbers.

But in finding myself in an anthropological research, I find it very difficult.

In the first aspect of it particularly one has to undergo some certain workshops on the methodologies and even the theoretical grounding, anthropological theoretical grounding. That is one of the most important, one of the most difficult aspect of it.

But if you have idea of, have a grasp of ideas of anthropological theories and then you are good to go. Because one of the challenges that I face is especially where I graduated from, from in a department that is using grounded theory approach.

And then I found myself in a different university, different environment where they uphold the use of theories, some of the instruments of guiding other sides. I think this is very difficult to go by, but at the end of the day it was successful.

Gaddafi Abubakar

In terms of the learning environment. How can you compare what we have here in West Africa, especially Nigeria, and that of East Africa where you get your PhD?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Actually there are differences because the West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where we are based, basically the educational system here American. While East Africa they are using British system. That is where you have a major difference.

The university where I did my PhD, University of Dar es Salaam, is one of the top ranking universities in not only in East Africa, but in the whole of Africa.

So the research there, researchers there had to be original and the researchers had to be what you call it? It had to be researchers that really contribute to the general knowledge about the area. And even before approving the research topic on the research proposal, the process that I followed in the University of Jerussalem is entirely different from what is obtained in West Africa.

You can imagine as a candidate, PhD candidate presenting his research topic at the department and then presenting at the college level and then after successfully doing that, then you have to go and present at the senate level before finally the postgraduate board will give you a go ahead to carry out the research. These are some of the differences.

And that will take at least one year, six months for one to to go through this particular processes. And within that particular period you will be introduced to different workshops, research methodology workshops, and then also the theoretical workshops dealing with theories and then attending seminars and graduate seminars and so on and so forth.

Gaddafi Abubakar

Don't you find that rigorous? Compared to the…

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Actually it is. It is rigorous.

Where it is, why it is rigorous is the difference here is that in Nigeria, for example, here PhD research proposals only ends in the department. And in Dar es Salaam, if you are successful at the department, then you come to the college.

And if I could remember in the college, the college then cast comprises of different departments. Economics is there. Statistics is there. Archaeology is there. Sociology is there. History is there. Linguistics and Geography.

All these scholars and the other PhD candidates coming from different backgrounds and then constituting the funnel of this particular specialist. Each of these particular especially if they find the topic very relevant to their area. Each and every scholar wants to have his own input in that particular proposal.

So one sometimes has to be very careful in trying to see to adopt some of these particular ideas that have been raised by these particular scholars and which all in all strengthens the the research proposal.

Gaddafi Abubakar

Describe your typical class.

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Especially it depends on the course that I'm teaching.

For example, courses that I'm teaching that are related to archaeology and the past, archaeology of Nigerian areas, that is talking about the prehistory period, that is the antiquity period.

And then if you come along talking about courses being taught on African prehistory that also has its own different methods and then courses that are related to… That I'm teaching related to history of West Africa in the 19th century, that one also have its own method.

And then courses on the history of the Ottoman Empire or history of the Muslim world that taught in the past. All these have their own different. Different methods.

For example, if you are talking about the course which is basically on archaeology of Nigerian areas, which is a first year 100 level course in the university, you are dealing with students that are come just newly coming into the university. So one has to start from the scratch.

You have wish to even start introducing them to what history is, what archaeology is, what are the sources of archaeology, what are the relationship between Archaeology and other disciplines. The methods in archaeology, excavation and dating different dating methods.

And then you have to before you introduce them to the various different archaeological findings that were made in the Nigerian areas in the early that are talking about the early cultures produced in the different Nigerian areas.

And then to some extent we also had to adopt a field work going to some of the nearby archaeological sites for them so that they have idea how the field is. And they are also going to the museum trying to see some of these particular discoveries that are deposited in the museum.

All this what makes it that methodology for that particular course could be different. And also if you talk of prehistory. Prehistory also more or less is similar to archaeology of Nigerian areas.

But it's a course that is entirely different on its own. Especially is more is dealing with evolution of man. These different scientific theories of evolution.

Talking about the Darwin's theory of natural selection, the Mendel's theory. And then we talk about the different early cultures produced in Africa. So that this particular course is a course with its own methodology.

Because the course is also had to adopt some certain geographical methods. We have students need to familiarize themselves with the geography with the environment of Africa generally.

Especially as how geography affects this issue of human evolution. The discoveries in the in the East African Route Valley, all the various discoveries.

And then now talking about the the environment where the early cultures are produced in in Africa. And also dealing with West African courses, Also geography methods needs to needs to be adopted for students to have idea of the geography of West Africa. And then also talking about history of the Ottoman Empire. Also the geography matters needs to be there. Because they need to have an idea of where the Ottoman Empire exists, its own location and how it originates. And then from there we can look at the political structure of the empire, the social class. And then talking about the battles.

And then also some of the treaties that are signed between the empire and other European nations. Particularly at the height of its zenith of its existence. And then we try to look at some of the reforms on the Tanzimat reforms.

And then some of the causes for the collapse of the empire. This is in short about some of the courses.

Gaddafi Abubakar

What is the teaching purpose to you? Do you teach the students to prepare them for the labor market or do you teach the students?

Gaddafi Abubakar

You see two. Two things are there. Two things are there.

You know, in Nigeria we said always the university degrees are based on character and learning. So two things are there. We teach the students to mold their character so that we prepare them for future life outside the university.

We taught our students to have proper understanding of issues so that to put issues in proper context and in proper perspectives. So it's about teaching the student, preparing their mind.

There is something outside the university that they will meet and then there are so many challenges there that they need to use their own knowledge, acquired knowledge to overcome and then to try to contribute their own quarter in nation building. Generally.

Gaddafi Abubakar

What are the main challenges of being an academy in Nigeria?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

The challenges are enormous, especially Nigeria is a big country.

But one of the major challenges has to do with the issue of funding. And generally when I say funding, I'm talking about funding in terms of carrying out independent researches.

Because you find out that the resources allocated to researches, particularly in humanities, are very limited. Apart from grants for PhD and grants for embarking on master's research in humanities, you find that there is very little in terms of that.

And the other challenge we are facing is that in terms of previous challenges, it has to do with the number of students that are coming in to study history or to study anthropology. It's very minimal because to some extent many people don't see this particular courses as marketable.

So that is why in terms of enrollment you find that the number of students are generally very low compared to other science, physical science or applied science courses.

Gaddafi Abubakar

How important is collaboration in your research approach?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Actually collaboration in my research approach is important because somebody embarking on a research on topical issues, particularly aspects that has to do with the issue of peace conflicts.

This is another area that my PhD research has taken me into, particularly in the post independent period, is very important because actually collaboration is important because when we talk about peace and conflict, violence in Africa and global violence, there are a lot of things that need collaboration because the issues we are dealing with needs to have. What do you call it?

We need to have what you call a collaboration so that the need of having comparison in terms of the way issues are emerging and the way issues are being handled in different parts of the world. And if I could remember, that's what takes…, especially discussing the researches on the issues of Boko Haram.

This leads us to collaboration with Islamic protest and terrorism under Harris Stockman (?) University that we had with Professor Paul Lovejoy and his team and under the research team we made a proposal and the research grant was approved by the, by the Canadian Social Science Research Council and the project was successfully executed.

And given the number of people that are on that particular collaboration, collaborative project project, people from, from Cameroon, people from Somalia, people from Brazil, and people from... What is the name of this particular Caribbean? Costa Rica.

It shows really collaboration is important because it opens up one's horizon and then perspectives over how issues are.

Gaddafi Abubakar

That's interesting. What research areas do you think the next generation of PhDs should focus on?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

As far as my own area, especially now that we are focusing on this issue of emerging complex in sub Saharan Africa. The issues researchers on environment, peace and conflict, political sociology. And there are so many areas that I think researches are important.

When we talk about researches in terms of gender, gender research, gender and conflict and impact of conflicts on gender, particularly on women and children. Researches on changing pattern of labor generally how labor is affected by conflicts in Africa.

This is another area that I think is important that needs to be researched on. And research is also on general demographic ethnographic research on the demography of this particular conflict areas is also important.

I think these are areas that I feel as recommending to some PhD students to carry our research on.

Gaddafi Abubakar

What general advice would you give PhDs and the young academics in general to succeed in the academia?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Generally a PhD, you know, sometimes as PhD students you feel like you can write everything. But the most important aspect is that one needs to understand that he is embarking on a PhD. You are trying to justify your place within the academia.

So that little knowledge or little gap that you find not important, it might be important. So you cannot cover everything at the same time. So it is gradually, gradually,... but with determination and the focus, everything is achievable.

That is it. Somebody have a topic today, the challenges are there enormous challenges from the supervisor, from the panels and what you also all this can be overcome. As far as once a student master his own topic. Once a student master his own subject matter.

Gaddafi Abubakar

Do you currently shift from the Kauranci area to a new research area now that you are professor?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

The issue is that it's a trend. You see this Kauranci we are talking about in the post independent period is what led to…

Because in the pre colonial period the Kaurae are the ones policing the society. In the beginning of the colonial period. They are the ones that are policing serving as colonial part of the colonial police before some reforms over.

Gaddafi Abubakar

So most of them were part of the…

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

Some of elements are part of the native authority police. But the colonial reforms face out people of that particular caliber.

And then new model policing was introduced. And then the phenomenon and the people continues to cherish those…

So colonial post independent period we have particularly during the 80s in the 90s there was this issue of economic downturn in the country. There was a rise of crime, wave of crimes. And then there is a need and then the need for community policing.

These elements now emerge as part of vigilante. The forming vigilante group self help police in the, in their different communities. And then it is this particular group that also form the.

What you call it, the bedrock for protection of various communities, especially in the present wave of insecurity that we are suffering from, particularly in the Northwest. When it comes to the issue of what you call it, this farmer had a conflict and the issue of kidnapping. And then before the emergence of banditry.

Up to now, this particular caliber of people are still actors in the, in the present wave of banditry in the Northwest. That is it. So by extension that is why I told you there as the area is still there.

I'm still focusing, trying following of the role these elements are playing and then trying to understand some of the factors that led to these issues of banditry and then how the banditry is leading to emergence of trends in general.

Gaddafi Abubakar

How do you approach interdisciplinary collaborations in terms of methodology or teaching?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

In terms generally in, in terms of multidisciplinary collaboration. You see some of these researches really especially when you are talking about this issue of banditry, for example, research on banditry.

One, they will tell you that this particular bandits were deep in the forest. When you talk of forest, you are talking about geography.

When you are talking about geography, when you talk about these bandits are people that are, involved in smuggling of drugs or are involved in illegal mining. Illegal mining, you are talking about geography.

When you talk of mining, you're talking about geography, you're talking about geology. When you talk about drugs, you are talking about sociology, you're talking about behaviors.

And then again you are talking about pharmacy.

So this collaboration is really important because some of the drugs that are there really one needs to understand the composition of the drugs these drugs is meant for, what this drug is, why these drugs is abused, why is it when it's abused, what will be the implications? So always collaborative research, multidisciplinary research is always important because it is gives way and it highlights more and it gives… What do you call it? More proper understanding of what he is, the area he's dealing with. Yes. That is.

Gaddafi Abubakar

You publish a lot of journal articles. Which one is your favorite? Do you have a favorite?

Ibrahim Sani Kankara

I have. It depends. Depending on the area.

But the when you talk about this particular area, I'm talking about the e one published in the University of Dar es Salaam that is talking about the the Kaurai, how the the issue of this Kaurai violence, particularly in the urbans, is in the idea how they were involved in urban violence in the post-independent period. But how the government use how the issue of infrastructural development help in managing the activities.

This is one of my interesting topic. The other one is also on the issue of Boko Haram, when this issue of vigilante group, what they call civilian gta how the local vigilantes were used against in fighting the Boko Haram and how it helped the Nigerian army in fighting the Boko Haram elements, particularly within the Meduguri, which is the epicenter. That is another interesting precise topic. The other one is the recent one on the issue of this kidnapping of school children by the bandits.

So it's just a recent writing I think in march this year that it was published.

David Ehrardt

Thanks for listening to this episode. We hope you've enjoyed it. If you have any notes, comments or questions on this or future episodes, we'd love to hear from you.

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