Turn the tables
During the day,
the Almajiri boys dot the landscape,
roaming for just one reason: survival. They clutch their only item of trade- a
bowl; walk up to you by the street corner, beg alms, food or whatever you can
offer. They taste a daily dose of hunger, abuse and deprivation. At night,
while we snore in the comfort of our homes, many sleep in the cold or heat of
the open, which they share with ubiquitous flies and stray animals! They are
not deviant as their parents would have made the Almajiri malami tutor to believe. These masters even sometimes
share in their daily booty- as I was informed by Sadiq, my tour guide.
Almajiri boys combing the streets for survival.
He noted quite
frankly that some of them however, strive through thick and thin to start some
petty business in their teens and by dint of hardwork, discipline and
commitment, become wealthy businessmen trading in FMCG, Fast Moving Consumer
Goods.
Life lesson:
never end your life where it started. You may start by being a security man, a
cleaner or a jobless/under-employed graduate but ensure that you add a new
skill or knowledge to re-invent your destiny. Pay the price to move from ground
zero to the top. Rome was not built in a day but day by day and week by week.
It was not even built sitting down and crying over spilled milk. Tables turn
only for people who make the effort to put more pressure on life. Do not die a
celebrated potential; push your limits and evolve into the star you really are!
Be responsible for your destiny.
From Maiduguri
to Kano, Sokoto to Dutse, Gusau to Yola…the parents of the Almajiris fling them so far from home, never to set their eyes on
them again. How far do you go to abdicate your responsibility? This Almajirinchi phenomenon that broke my
heart in Kano may just be like a stray bullet that wrecks havoc anonymously or
another time bomb waiting to explode over many generations unborn if we fail to
show love and get the stray kids out of the streets. The problem we watch and do nothing about will later
haunt us and what we do not address will undress us. Love is the only way we
will be free!
Photo credit: Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin II/Fish Eye Photography
3 Comments:
I don't know why people have lots of kids when they can't care for them. It's not the kids' fault, it's their parents
Adiya
Muse Origins
Muse Origins FB
By Muse Origins, At 14 December, 2011 19:27
REMOVE ALL EMIRS, ABROGATE TRADITIONAL RULER INSTITUTION ALL OVER THE LAND, AND YOU GET RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTS THAT CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WHO WOULD NOT HAVE POLITICAL GODFATHERS TO HIDE BEHIND.
By WILLIAM, At 09 May, 2020 13:00
REMOVE ALL EMIRS, ABROGATE TRADITIONAL RULER INSTITUTION ALL OVER THE LAND, AND YOU GET RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTS THAT CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, WHO WOULD NOT HAVE POLITICAL GODFATHERS TO HIDE BEHIND.
By WILLIAM, At 09 May, 2020 13:06
Post a Comment
Pls don't leave this page without dropping your comment. Kindly type in your comment, click Name/URL, type your name and ...you're goood to go!Then click "Publish Your Comment". Thanks.
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home