CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR IN SELECTED HAUSA MARRIAGE SONGS

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the conceptual metaphor in Hausa marriage songs, applying Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) as developed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) to uncover how metaphors serve both linguistic and cultural functions. Hausa marriage songs are deeply embedded in ritual contexts and serve as platforms for transmitting cultural values, social expectations, and gender roles. Drawing on a qualitative methodology, the study analyzes ten metaphor-rich extracts from traditional Hausa wedding songs, sourced from field recordings, interviews, and published song collections. Each metaphor was examined for its conceptual mapping between source and target domains, metaphor type (ontological, structural, or orientational), and discoursal function. The analysis reveals that metaphors such as "Marriage is a Journey," "Marriage is a Marketplace," and "Marriage is a Clay Pot" are prevalent. They communicate complex ideas through culturally familiar imagery. These metaphors consistently emphasize virtues such as hakuri (patience), hankali (wisdom), and emotional endurance, primarily directed at women. While they function as tools of moral instruction and cultural preservation, the metaphors also reinforce patriarchal ideologies by assigning the emotional and ethical burden of marriage predominantly to women. The study concludes that metaphors in Hausa marriage songs are not mere artistic embellishments but cognitive instruments that shape marital understanding and perpetuate societal norms. By highlighting the mental, cultural, and ideological roles of metaphor, this research contributes to the fields of cognitive linguistics, gender discourse, and African oral literature, offering insight into how metaphor functions as a mechanism of cultural transmission and social control within Hausa marital traditions.