In traffic everyday around towns in Northern Nigeria, we see boys with plastic bowls begging. They are dressed in no more than rags and many most times do not even have shoes on their feet. You may mistake these children for orphans, but they are not.
For those of us who live in northern Nigeria, the sight of Almajiri boys popularly known as "yaro boys" on the streets, begging, is not unusual. I'm sure many of us are familiar with the term, but for those who have no idea of what I am talking about yet, Almajiri boys are islamic scholars who have left their homes in different parts of northern Nigeria and even Niger and Chad in some cases, and have come to an islamic boarding school for studies in islamic knowledge. In ancient times, when this system was initialised, the community were they travelled to was responsible for their well-being, as well as a reputable mallam (an Arabic word for teacher).
Sadly however, the current northern society cannot and do not cater for these children. They are exploited by their mallams and forced to beg on the streets. They are sent to these mallams
sometimes as little as 3years old, and begin a life of begging. By the time they become teenagers, they metamorphose into street boys, touts, and petty criminals. This is the fate of those that make it out alive. Many are not even this lucky as they die sometimes from different ailments which befall them as a result of their terrible living conditions. Only very few make it out and start up petty businesses.
I went for a walk this evening and ran into a group of them on a truck carrying sand. They had probably been hired as labourers or something, and as their truck passed by me, they threw sand at me and were excited to see me scream in fear. Looking back at the event now from the comfort of my home, somehow I am glad that I was some sort of comic relieve to their otherwise sad existence.
For those of us who live in northern Nigeria, the sight of Almajiri boys popularly known as "yaro boys" on the streets, begging, is not unusual. I'm sure many of us are familiar with the term, but for those who have no idea of what I am talking about yet, Almajiri boys are islamic scholars who have left their homes in different parts of northern Nigeria and even Niger and Chad in some cases, and have come to an islamic boarding school for studies in islamic knowledge. In ancient times, when this system was initialised, the community were they travelled to was responsible for their well-being, as well as a reputable mallam (an Arabic word for teacher).
Sadly however, the current northern society cannot and do not cater for these children. They are exploited by their mallams and forced to beg on the streets. They are sent to these mallams
sometimes as little as 3years old, and begin a life of begging. By the time they become teenagers, they metamorphose into street boys, touts, and petty criminals. This is the fate of those that make it out alive. Many are not even this lucky as they die sometimes from different ailments which befall them as a result of their terrible living conditions. Only very few make it out and start up petty businesses.
I went for a walk this evening and ran into a group of them on a truck carrying sand. They had probably been hired as labourers or something, and as their truck passed by me, they threw sand at me and were excited to see me scream in fear. Looking back at the event now from the comfort of my home, somehow I am glad that I was some sort of comic relieve to their otherwise sad existence.
Sometimes I wonder how those boys survive especially during period of extreme weather.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a pity how most people find it difficult 2 live.... appreciating God 4 me
ReplyDeleteIt's really a pity how most people find it difficult 2 live.... appreciating God 4 me
ReplyDeleteIt's really a pity how most people find it difficult 2 live.... appreciating God 4 me
ReplyDelete