Maryam Bukar Hassan, fondly called Alhanislam, was born on 25 December 1996. She is a Nigerian poet, spoken word artist, storytelling consultant, social entrepreneur, and digital content creator.
In 2025, she made history as the first United Nations Global Advocate for Peace and Security.
Her work blends art with activism. She uses poetry not only to inspire but also to challenge injustice. Her voice rings with urgency, carrying messages on peace, social justice, and maternal mortality.
For her, art is not only performance. It is a tool of survival, a mirror of truth, and a call to action.
“My poetry is my protest. My voice is my weapon. I use it for peace and for change,” she once declared.
Her message has crossed borders. From local gatherings in Kaduna to international stages in Kampala, New York, and Accra, she has become a global face of youthful advocacy.
Early Life and Education
Maryam hails from Biu in Borno State, Nigeria. She is the only daughter of the late Hauwa Maina, one of Nigeria’s most beloved actresses, known for her roles in Hausa films. Growing up in the shadow of such a cultural icon instilled in her the value of storytelling and the courage to perform.
She completed her secondary education at Uncle Bado Memorial College in Kaduna. Later, she pursued Information Technology at Radford University College in Ghana, an affiliate of the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Her path combined the rigor of technology with the freedom of art. This fusion would later shape her advocacy. It gave her both digital literacy and creative confidence—two rare skills she now teaches to others.
“Education taught me the language of the world. Poetry taught me the language of the soul,” she explained during a youth summit.
Career and Achievements
Maryam’s rise has been meteoric. She has graced some of the biggest platforms of literature and advocacy. These include the Aké Arts and Book Festival, Kaduna Book and Arts Festival, and the Harmony for Humanity concert organized by the United States embassy in honor of Daniel Pearl.
She has also performed at Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) conferences, the African Governance Architecture conference, and the 75th anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. In 2019, she addressed the African Union’s 8th High-Level Dialogue Conference in Kampala, Uganda.
Her performances combine rhythm and resistance. They touch on conflict, the pain of war, the silence of women, and the hope of children. Her words are both prayer and protest.
In 2021, she took part in Global Citizen Live—a platform that connects activism with entertainment. There, her poetry echoed against the backdrop of a world searching for justice and equity.
“We must speak. Silence has never saved a generation. Only voices can,” she told her audience.
Building Communities and Training Voices
Maryam is more than a performer. She is a builder of platforms. She founded True My Voice, a community of young poets. Through it, she mentors new writers, trains them in digital advocacy, and encourages them to see art as activism.
Her goal is not only to shine alone but to multiply voices. She wants a chorus of African poets who can tell their own stories and resist the dominance of foreign narratives.
Her initiative also empowers young women to see their creativity as valuable. In a country where women’s voices are often sidelined, Maryam insists that every voice matters.
“The world cannot hear you if you keep quiet. Speak, even if your voice trembles,” she told participants at a workshop in Abuja.
United Nations Recognition
Her journey reached new heights in 2025. The United Nations appointed her as its first Global Advocate for Peace and Security. This recognition placed her alongside world leaders, policymakers, and activists who shape international dialogue.
She uses the platform to speak about Nigeria’s challenges: insecurity, displacement, and maternal health. But she also speaks about Africa’s promise—the power of its young people, the strength of its women, and the resilience of its cultures.
Her appointment was historic. It showed that soft power—words, art, and ideas—could stand beside hard power in diplomacy.
Legacy in Motion
Maryam Bukar Hassan is still young. Yet, she already holds a place in history as a cultural voice and a peace advocate. She represents a new generation of Nigerians who see art not as entertainment, but as an engine of transformation.
Her mother gave her the legacy of performance. Her education gave her the tools of technology. The world gave her the stage. But it is her own courage that made her a phenomenon.
Her story invites a question: can poetry do what politics has failed to do? Can words, spoken with truth, stop bullets and heal wounds?
Her life is her answer. And JolibaLive News! is proud to nominate her, for her inspiring life story and impact, our Person-Of-The-Week.
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