It was in the year 2022 when 70-year-old grandmother, Mama Hamsatu Izang, an artisanal stone crusher based in Jos, Plateau State, became an instant sensation, made international headlines and went viral on social media for singing traditional folk songs while hammering and breaking rocks into gravel to earn a living.
Mama Hamsatu Izang’s story gained massive traction after she was discovered by a Jos-based music producer Caleb Balasa, otherwise known as Mr. Kleb, who featured her in a documentary put together by Doha, Qatar-based international media network, Al Jazeera.
Instantly, her song, “Takama” became a hit and went on to tell the story of resilience, endurance, perseverance and a proof that it is never too late to achieve your dreams, and that no matter the circumstances and situation one finds himself, with determination, tenacity and belief in God, anyone can rise above the ashes on the way to greatness and above the hardest life circumstances.
With just that stroke of fortune, Mama Hamsatu Izang’s life took a surprising turn and a whole new world opened up for her and the sky became her starting point.
Before her big break, the grandmother had, for decades, toiled under harsh conditions as a manual stone crusher, breaking large rocks into small gravel pieces for the construction industry, just to put food on the table for her family.
To cope with the pain and physical exhaustion from the manual labor, Mama would sing out loud while hammering the stones and it was her sonorous voice and the ease with which she handled her tasking job that attracted the music producer who saw a shining crystal behind the mask of pain on her face.
While crushing the heavy rocks, Mama Hamsatu Izang did not dwell on the pains and anguish she went through daily but carried on with an incredibly inspiring spirit, cheerful mien, and candour despite her advancing age.
She was the one who inspired other stone crushers, especially women, and let them realize that there is light at the end of the tunnel. She carried on with the same high spirit every day until her life took a dramatic turn when Mr. Kleb discovered her incredible voice and inspiring spirit, and shot her to the world.
Her unique music style and story drew attention from massive figures in the Nigerian music industry, leading to musical collaborations with prominent Nigerian artistes like Magnito, ClassiQ, and Vector.
The recognition also brought Mama Hamsatu global attention, financial support, and international visibility, forever changing her trajectory from solely relying on crushing stones to becoming a recognized singing star.
The story of Mama Hamsatu Izang was not just that of a woman who found favour but that of determination, purpose, willpower, and a reminder that the human spirit thrives not by avoiding hardship, but by pushing through it.
It also proved that the typical Plateau man and woman do not easily succumb to adversity but use it as the moulding blocks to achieve greater heights.
It also proved that setbacks are temporary, and with grit, adaptability, and unwavering hope, it is always possible to rebuild, learn, and grow stronger.
Mama Hamsatu Izang became the symbol and profound example of that unbreakable Plateau spirit of resilience, willpower, and grit.
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