Deeper Thematic and Literary Analysis

Building further upon the narrative layers of "Dabi'a ko Halitta?", the text functions on several deeper literary and cultural levels that enrich its scope as a work of contemporary Hausa fiction (Littattafan Soyayya):

1. The Psychological Weight of the Title: Dabi'a (Nurture/Habit) vs. Halitta (Nature/Innate Disposition)

The central philosophical debate introduced in the text—and carried in its title—is the age-old nature versus nurture dichotomy, localized within a domestic African context:

• Mommah's Determinism: Mommah firmly believes that Ajmal's core personality is an unchangeable flaw of halitta (creation/nature). By essentializing his behavior as something inherently "wrong" or abnormal, she absolves herself of maternal responsibility and uses it as justification to emotionally withdraw from him.

• Ajmal and Sameer's Perspective: They push back against this deterministic view, treating his traits as something contextual or open to grace and personal agency. The tragedy of Ajmal's life is that he has been permanently othered in his own home simply because he does not fit the mold his mother pre-ordained for him.

  2. The Micro-Politics of Northern Nigerian Extended Families

  The excerpt brilliantly exposes the dark underbelly of traditional family politics—specifically how marriages are weaponized as instruments of control, social maneuvering, and punishment:

• Forced Compliance through Emotional Extortion: Both Ajmal and Jumana are victims of generational coercion. Their elders treat their lives as chess pieces. Mommah uses spiritual and emotional blackmail (withholding her final blessing/forgiveness), while Jumana's guardian uses social positioning and authoritarian commands to force compliance.

• The Performance of Joy: The societal pressure to "keep up appearances" is heavily criticized through the text. The wedding is portrayed as an elaborate theatrical production where onlookers—praise singers, wealthy aunties, and distant relatives—project fake joy onto a deeply tragic situation. The contrast between the roaring applause outside and the silent, tear-drenched heartbreak inside the rooms emphasizes how traditional societies often prioritize public optics over individual well-being.

  3. Trauma Bonds and Coping Mechanisms

  The characters display distinct, realistic psychological responses to chronic trauma:

• Ajmal's Dissociation and Somatization: Ajmal frequently zones out, presses his forehead, or holds back tears to the point of physical pain. His physical reactions—such as his eyes welling up and his inability to speak—signify deep-seated, repressed trauma stemming from childhood abuse (such as the memory of his mother's hand leaving a mark on his face).

• Jumana's Outward Rebellion: Unlike Ajmal's silent endurance, Jumana's grief is disruptive. She openly questions reality ("Am I dreaming?"), rejects the gaslighting of her friends, and breaks protocol by openly clinging to her brother Suhail in defiance of her handlers. Her refusal to submit quietly underscores a raw, unyielding human spirit fighting against systemic oppression.

  4. The Motif of Physical Touch (Touch as Trauma vs. Touch as Healing)

  The author uses physical touch as a powerful recurring motif to signify emotional states:

• Mommah's Abusive Hand: Ajmal recalls the stinging slap of his mother's hand—a touch meant to punish, alienate, and break his spirit.
• Ummah's Soothing Touch: Conversely, Ummah's gentle hands wiping away his tears, pressing his head into her lap, and offering comfort represent redemptive, healing maternal care.
• The Brutal Separation of Sibling Touch: Jumana and her brother Suhail desperately clinging to each other before being violently pulled apart illustrates how oppressive systems actively sever healthy support networks to maintain total dominance over the victim.