I was rewarded for contributing to Buhari’s victory — Yahaya Makaho
Kaduna state popular Hausa Musician Yahaya Usman popularly known as ‘Yahaya Makaho’ explained how he was recently rewarded by Hajiya Aisha Muhammadu Buhari for the role he played in the year 2015 which led to the victory President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Party.
Malam Yahaya Makaho explained that his song ‘A katsa a tsare’ stood him out among other musicians which led to his recognition by the president’s wife.
Malam Yahaya lost his sight to measles in 1985 when he was just three years old at his village in Giwa Local Government area of Kaduna state
According to him, while growing up as a child he developed passion for music even though he is blind and with no western education.
“I did various menial jobs while growing up even though I was blind. I loved listening to songs. I remembered paying money to enter viewing centres alongside with my friends only to listen to voices while my friends will explain the actions to me.
“In the village I sold firewood, eggs and sometimes I also sell sugarcane before I later went into Hausa music because I didn’t beg. I tried it but abandoned it because I believed it would not take me anywhere,” he said.
Malam Yahaya started singing in 2006 but became popular in 2015 with his song about President Buhari ‘a kasa a tsare”, he explained that the song was all about calling on Nigerian electorate to protect their votes after casting on the day of election.
“That song brought me to limelight because it is one of my popular songs. I was very happy to be recognized by president Buhari’s wife for the role I played in the president victory in 2015.
She personally handed the award to me and that made me proud,” he said.
The blind Yahaya felt with the little he got from the society he needed to encourage other children with disability because he would not want them to grow up depending on others or going into begging.
“I Set up my personal foundation because I wanted to assist disable children to protect their dignity without necessary depending on individuals for a living. I want them to be self dependent with the skills they will acquire.
“Since I established the foundation I never requested any fund from any individual because I don’t want to be misinterpreted. Presently I use the little money I earned from my songs to fund the foundation.
So far we have assisted 86 less privileged persons with money to rent shops while the younger ones we pay their school fees because we want them to be educated as well as acquire certain skills to depend on after education,” he said.