DAUDA KAHUTU RARARA'S “CONTINUITY TINUBU”: A POLITICAL SONG THAT SPARKS CONVERSATION ON NORTHERN REGION LOYALTY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the emergence and sociocultural impact of Dauda Kahutu Rarara's song "Continuity Tinubu", a pro-Bola Tinubu campaign song released in March 2025 on the political landscape of Nigeria, particularly in the context of regional loyalty in the North amid anticipations for the 2027 elections. The primary objectives are to analyze the song's lyrical content and rhetorical strategies in fostering political continuity, assess its reception on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and evaluate its role in shaping discourses on Northern loyalty to the Southwestern Yoruba-led administration of President Tinubu. A mixed methods approach was employed: thematic content analysis of the song’s lyrics and associated commentaries, quantitative tracking of engagement metrics (views, shares, sentiment scores) on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. The song "Continuity Tinubu, We love you Tinubu, We thank you Tinubu", employs Hausa-inflected praise-singing (waka) traditions to invoke gratitude for economic reforms and security initiatives, while subtly addressing regional grievances like fuel subsidy removal. It has garnered millions of views, polarizing Northern audiences: supporters hail it as a symbol of cross-ethnic unity and loyalty to Tinubu's "Renewed Hope" agenda, evidenced by endorsements from groups like the Northern Nigeria Women Support for Continuity Tinubu/Kashim 2027. Critics, however, decry it as performative allegiance, sparking debates on elite co-optation and youth disillusionment. In conclusion, "Continuity Tinubu" exemplifies music's potency as a tool for political mobilization in Nigeria's multi-ethnic democracy, bridging North-South divides while exposing fissures in regional solidarity. It underscores Tinubu's strategic cultivation of Northern patronage, potentially solidifying his re-election prospects. Recommendations include leveraging indigenous genres for inclusive campaigning, investing in digital literacy to counter misinformation in political songs, and conducting longitudinal studies on music's influence on voter turnout in Northern states.