Dan Maraya Jos: The People's Musician

THERE was a time in Nigeria in the 90's and 80's when to add a Northern touch to any show, the one and obvious choice was Dan Maraya Jos. Till date, that tenet still, holds to some extent.

Such is the popularity of the man that he easily became a reference point, of sorts, for any mention of Nigerian musicians from the north, or even of Nigerian musicians that command national appeal

He became the yardstick for measuring public appeal in terms of what a national musician (traditional or contemporary) should be and how such should conduct his or her performances, on or off the stage.

In fact, between the 80's and 90's, in Nigeria, no national event or gathering was ever complete without the conspicuous stage presence" of Dan Maraya Jos. which is on the strength of the fact the man's enthusiasm to affect his audience is unparalleled and became his greatest weapon.

As much as he acknowledges the hard fact that his language is to some extent a hindrance in expanding the scope of popularity of his brand of music, Dan Maraya Jos nevertheless is not dampened as all through his major performances he is upbeat and so far has remained the most electrifying and enthusiastic performer in his class of music.

Born in 1946 in Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria , and named Adamu Wayya, Dan Maraya lost his father, Mallam Wayya, a court musician and his mother in quick successions as his father died almost immediately after his birth and his mother while he was still an infant.

However, with the death of the young Dan Maraya's father, the Emir of Bukur, in whose court Dan Maraya's father played, took over responsibility of looking after young Adamu after both his parents died, and first sent him to a Quranic school. But as fate would have it, the emir also died a few years later, leaving Dan Maraya to fend for himself at that tender age.

After enquires about his father, Dan Maraya resolved to play music just like his father. For a start, he played Kotso (talking drum) like his father and later, tried his hands on Kalangu drums, Garaya (two-stringed guitar) Molo (three-stringed guitar) and Violin.

Eventually, he settled for Kuntigi, a locally made small gourd with stringed harp which he discovered during a musical trip to Bauchi.

Dan Maraya Jos, whose name means "The Little Orphan of )os",