Reports say that the popular Hausa musician, Dan Maraya Jos died on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State. Born in 1946, the Jos based international musician has died at the age of 69.
Members of his family reported that the veteran traditional musician passed on at a private hospital in Jos. He was said to have been sick before the 2015 general elections.
Though the famous musician had no biological child of his own, he was said to have brought up some adopted children.
His Zololo residence on Bauchi road, Jos witnessed an upsurge of sympathizers who called to condole with the relations.
His original name is Adamu Wayya but he was known worldwide as ‘Dan Maraya Jos’
One of his closest friends in Jos, Alhaji Musa Satti said, Dan Maraya is a Nigerian Hausa Griot best known for playing the kontigi.
The late musician was named Dan Maraya Jos, meaning “The Little Orphan of Jos”, because he lost his father shortly after his birth and his mother died while he was still an infant.
“He inherited singing from his father who was a court musician for the Emir of Bukur, who took Dan Maraya under his care when his parents died. Dan Maraya showed an early interest in music and came under the influence of local professional musicians. During a trip to Maiduguri while he was still a pre-teen, he was impressed by musicians there and made a kuntigi, with which he has accompanied his music ever since.
“Dan Maraya has used his song to promote peace and unity in Plateau, Nigeria and the world over. He was a peace maker”, Satti said. May his soul rest in peace.
Source: TBW