The term da dama means a good number of or quite a few.

This information is found in the last part of the biography of Jummai Ali.

Suggested Answer: She was working as a journalist in Kaduna.

You have already read the segment in which it is explained that she came to VOA in 1984. The next sentence reads as follows:

Kafin nan kuwa, Jummai ta yi shekaru da dama tana aikin jarida a Kaduna. Before that, Jummai spent many years as a journalist in Kaduna.

The word nan (here) is used here to mean that. Nan can mean this, that, here, or then depending upon context.

The word kuwa is difficult to translate. It is sometimes translated as indeed or however, but in many cases it is used to improve the flow of the sentence, to affirm something, or to emphasize the contrast between two clauses.

The term yi shekaru literally means to do years, but is used to mean to spend years.

The verb phrase tana aikin jarida means the same thing as tana yin aikin jarida. The verb yi is left out, but it is implied. This is very common in the present (or continuous) tense.

The verb taho means to come.

Suggested Answer: Working at NTA Sokoto.

This information is found in the following segment of the text:

Aliyu ya yi aiki a NTA Sokoto kafin ya taho nan Muryar Amurka a shekarar 1989. Aliyu worked at NTA Sokoto before he came to Voice of America in 1989.

This segment says that he worked at NTA Sokoto, but does not tell us what NTA Sokoto is.

The phrase kafin ya taho means before he came. Remember that kafin is also spelled kahin or kamin by some people.

Note that ya taho nan Muryar Amurka means essentially the same thing as ya taho Muryar Amurka. The use of nan (here) simply emphasizes that the writer of this is writing from the perspective of someone at VOA.

Go to the next page of the activity.

The adjective sananne means well known.

• zuwa -- coming

Suggested Answer: He was a well known journalist.

This information is found in the following segment of the text:

Kafin zuwansa nan Muryar Amurka a shekarar 2001, sanannen dan jarida ne a ciki da wajen Nijeriya. Before coming to Voice of America in 2001, he was a well known journalist, both within and outside of Nigeria.

The term zuwansa means his coming. Thus, the first part of this sentence literally means before his coming to VOA.

The adjective sananne means well known or famous. This is formed from the verb sani (to know). Look carefully at how the adjective is derived from the verb, because it is a pattern that is used regularly in Hausa to form adjectives from verbs.

Note how ne is used here to mean to be in the past time frame (technically the past continuous). It is important to note the ne and ce can be used to mean was or were just as they can be used to mean is or are.

The phrase a ciki da wajen means within and outside of. This is a very succinct way of saying this.

Suggested Answer: He worked at the NTA Kano TV station.

This information is found in the following segment of the text:

Alhaji Kabiru Fagge ya taho Sashen Hausa na Muryar Amurka daga gidan telebijin na NTA Kano. Alhaji Kabiru Fagge came to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America from the television station NTA Kano.

This is a very straightforward sentence. Remember that gidan telibijin means TV station.

Go to the next page of the activity.

Kafin nan kuwa means and before this.

Suggested Answer: Worked at the newspaper company "New Nigerian."

This information is found in the following segment of the text:

Kafin nan kuwa ya yi aiki a kamfanin buga jaridun New Nigerian. Before this, he worked at the newspaper company "New Nigerian."

The word kuwa, again, does not translate perfectly. In this case you could say that if kafin nan means before this, then kafin nan kuwa means and before this.

Note that kamfanin buga jaridun New Nigieran could be literally translated as the company that prints the newspapers for New Nigerian. This is why it is important to recognize that the term kamfanin buga jaridu is a fixed term that means newspaper company. The -n linker at the end of jaridun links this whole term to New Nigerian.

The particle ta (of) introduces the description of what kind of organization Zumunta is.

• 'yan arewacin Nijeriya -- Northern Nigerians

Suggested Answer: An organization of Northern Nigerians living in America.

This information is found in the following segment of the text:

Aliyu ya jagoranci kungiyar nan ta "Zumunta" ta 'yan arewacin Nijeriya da ke Amurka ... Aliyu directed the organization for Northern Nigerians in America called “Zumunta” ...

The linker ta after Zumunta introduces a description of what the organization is for. Note that ta is feminine because it agrees in gender with ƙungiya.

The word 'yan means people of. Note that this is the plural of ɗan (masculine) and 'yar (feminine).

The noun arewa means north. The adjective arewancin means northern. Note the difference in the two terms below:

• Arewacin Nijeriya -- Northern Nigeria
• Nijerya ta Arewa -- North Nigiera

The term Nijeriya ta Arewa would imply that there are two countries: North Nigeria and South Nigeria.

Go on to the next activity.

Sunday Dare

Sunday Dare shi ne shugaban Sashen Hausa. Kafin zuwansa nan Muryar Amurka a shekarar 2001, sanannen dan jarida ne a ciki da wajen Nijeriya. A shekarar 1998 Mr. Dare ya samu gurbin karo ilmin aikin jarida a Jami'ar New York. Ya kuma sake samun irin wannan gurbi zuwa Jami'ar Harvard dake Cambridge a Jihar Massachussetts a shekarar 2000.

Jummai Ali Maiduguri

Jummai Ali Maiduguri edita ce. Kuma ita ce ke gabatar da shirin nan na "Lafiya Uwar Jiki.” Jummai ta fara aiki a Muryar Amurka tun shekarar 1984. Kafin nan kuwa, Jummai ta yi shekaru da dama tana aikin jarida a Kaduna.

Aliyu Mustapha Sokoto

Aliyu Mustapha Sokoto, shi ma edita ne. Kuma shi ne jagoran shirye-shiryen nan na "Amsoshin Tambayoyinku" da "Labarin Wasanni.” Aliyu ya yi aiki a NTA Sokoto kafin ya taho nan Muryar Amurka a shekarar 1989. Aliyu ya jagoranci kungiyar nan ta "Zumunta" ta 'yan arewacin Nijeriya da ke Amurka na tsawon shekaru da yawa daga kafa ta.

Alhaji Kabiru Fagge edita ne a Sashen Hausa, kuma shi ne ke jagorancin shirin "Ilmi Garkuwar Dan Adam" da "Sharhin Jaridun Amurka" a kowane mako. Alhaji Kabiru Fagge ya taho sashen Hausa na Muryar Amurka daga gidan telibijin na NTA Kano. Kafin nan kuwa ya yi aiki a kamfanin buga jaridun New Nigerian.

Grace Abdu

Grace Alheri Abdu ita ce ke gabatar da shirin “Domin Iyali.” Kafin ta kama aiki a Muryar Amurka mataimakiyar darekta ce a gidan rediyo da telibijin na jihar Plato (PRTVC).Tana da digiri a tauhidi da babban digiri a fannonin doka da diplomasiya, da kuma babban diploma a fannin aikin jarida.