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English Translation
After three years, the time came for them to return. Abubakar announced that he had secured excellent qualifications that would allow him to work anywhere—even in America, where several ministries had expressed a keen interest in hiring him. However, he declined, stating that he preferred to return and serve his own country. As soon as they arrived, Alhaji Amiru wasted no time throwing him into the world of business. Abubakar dove in headfirst, and within a short time, his name was on everyone’s lips across the town. A year later, Asiya nudged him, reminding him that it was time to visit home.
So it was arranged. They made thorough preparations, packed bountiful gifts, and set off for their ruga. But as they drew near the settlement, his heart began to flutter with anxiety. He felt profoundly unsure of how Majoh would receive them after all this time away. Nevertheless, he mustered the courage to press forward, bolstered by Asiya’s steady confidence.
Immediately, the townspeople began tracking their car with looks of astonished wonder, as everyone knew no such vehicle existed in the entire ruga. He drove his car straight into the courtyard of their family home, his chest pounding wildly! As the old saying goes: the stolen wrapper of a madwoman is about to be dyed! The moment he stepped out, he came face-to-face with Majoh. Despite all the elegance, wealth, and modernity reflected in Abubakar's appearance, Majoh recognized him instantly. He flew into a raging fury, shouting insults that drew out the other members of the household—Karime, Aminatu, and even Suleman, who had been resting indoors due to illness. They all rushed out almost simultaneously upon hearing Majoh screaming Abubakar’s name.
They were utterly shocked to see that it was truly Abubakar. Suleman felt an overwhelming surge of joy at seeing his only surviving brother in the world. But right in the middle of the reunion, Majoh grabbed a thick stick and lunged straight at Abubakar.
It took a tremendous struggle before Majoh could be placated, declaring that he would forgive Abubakar even if it was the end of the world. It required the combined intercession of relatives, well-wishers, and elders who acted as parental figures before Majoh finally calmed down and forgave him.
Abubakar discovered that Suleman’s wife was heavily pregnant, expecting a child any day now, whereas Asiya had not even missed a single monthly cycle. He also found Innaya (Aminatu) suffering from a severe, debilitating illness; despite trying every medical treatment available, she found no relief. Deeply distressed by her condition, Abubakar resolved to take her abroad for specialized medical treatment.
Once again, Majoh raised a furious fuss, insisting that Karime must accompany her. But when Majoh stubbornly demanded that she could not go alone unless accompanied, and then suddenly changed his mind and insisted she shouldn't go at all while Abubakar told him it didn’t matter because there were professional medical attendants abroad, the household was thrown into a brief turmoil.
Despite the friction, everything was arranged. Before they even arrived back, airline tickets had been secured. All they needed was for Innaya to get her passport. The family escorted them as far as the city of Yola, where they lived, bid them farewell, and turned back home.
Then, on the very next night, a horrific piece of news struck them like a thunderbolt, shattering their peace entirely: the airplane that had departed that night had crashed, and everyone on board had perished. Words cannot capture the sheer devastation that engulfed the family. Upon hearing the news, Karime collapsed into a dead faint, waking up only inside her grave.
This tragedy shattered everyone completely. Within two weeks, Majoh fell violently ill and gave up the ghost. Suleman felt as though his mind was slipping; drowning in grief and driven nearly insane, he eventually recovered after a long, grueling illness. He declared that he could no longer bear to live in that ruga. Since his father—the head of the ruga—had passed, and he was now the rightful successor, he announced that anyone wishing to migrate with him should prepare to move forward.
True to his word, every single resident of the ruga supported his decision, and they immediately packed up and migrated.
Return to the Present Narrative
Baffa nearly lost his mind when he received the call and saw his younger brother standing alongside their mother. Weeping openly like a little child, he cried, "Abubakar! You mean you didn’t die? You're alive? Then why were we told that all of you died in a crash? What actually happened to you?" Baffa reeled off questions one after another, sobbing so hard his nose ran.
Abubakar gave a painful, weary smile, adjusted his seating position, and patted Baffa reassuringly. "Hammana, we didn't die; we are alive and well, right here before you," he said, gesturing toward Innaya, who was quietly weeping alongside Asiya.
"Allahu Akbar! Innaya, is it truly possible that I get to see you again? That there is still a reunion left between us...?" Baffa didn't wait for her answer, seeing how choked up she was with silent tears. He turned his gaze back to Abubakar. "So what actually happened? How did you survive? Weren't you the only ones on that doomed flight?"
"Ah, yes, I know you must have assumed that. But that very night, word reached us that our flight had been transferred from Yola to Kano because a certain group of government-sponsored officials had taken precedence, and ordinary passengers were bumped. That forced our itinerary to change, and we took the road to Kano instead, landing safely around 8:00 PM. Back then, mobile phones weren't as common and accessible as they are today, which is why we couldn't immediately notify you that we survived.
We traveled to Iran, and by God's grace, it didn't take long before Innaya regained her health. We returned filled with joy. Even while we were abroad, Innaya had been desperate to hear from Inna Karime, so we spent only a single day resting before heading straight to our ruga, brimming with excitement.
Instead, we found the settlement looking as though it had been swept by a raging fire—abandoned and empty. It was only from the neighbors that we learned you had migrated. When we tried to find out where you had relocated, no one had any answers. Innaya was heartbroken and wept bitterly. We tried our best to comfort her and counsel patience, but she insisted she couldn't let it go. Eventually, we left Yola and relocated to Kaduna. It was there that Innaya finally found some peace of mind, though her heart constantly longed for home..." He paused to catch his breath before continuing.
🌾 FROM THE RUGA I CAME 🌾
BY A'ISHAT SALISU UMAR NA DANGO (Mrs Awwal)
010
"While navigating those difficult times, an unexpected joy blessed us: Asiya became pregnant. We were overjoyed. Both Innaya and I took great care of her until God safely delivered her of a baby boy whom we named Suleman, though he is called Ashrap.
Three months after Ashrap's birth, we discovered Asiya was pregnant once again. We initially considered terminating it, but Innaya and Abba—Asiya's father—strictly forbade it, declaring that doing so would be ungrateful ingratitude toward the Almighty. Reluctantly, we carried the pregnancy to term, and Asiya suffered through immense hardship—precisely what we had feared.
A year later, Asiya fell pregnant once more and gave birth to a boy. She begged to name him after her father, but I insisted on naming him after my own father, whose whereabouts in the world I still didn't know. Commonly known as Muhammad, he is called Asad.
Five years passed before she conceived again, this time having a baby girl whom we named Inna Karime, whom we call Maamah. After quite a few years, she gave birth to twin girls: Aimanah, and Sa'adatu—whom we call Inty, named after Asiya’s Hajiyar..." Abubakar paused again, releasing a heavy, weighed-down sigh.
"We built our children's lives on mutual love and affection, providing them with a solid foundation of both Islamic and Western education. Yet, through all those years, we never gave up hope that we would cross paths again. Every single year, I never stopped searching for your whereabouts, because my heart never accepted that you were truly gone," he concluded, wiping away the tears streaming down his face.
"My brother's keeper, where is your mother? And where is Malam?" Baffa asked, catching Innaya's voice as she addressed him—since she never called him by his actual name, always referring to him as Ɗan Innarsa (Inna's son), a moniker she used exclusively for Inna Karime.
Abubakar felt a thick lump form in his throat, but he steadied himself and spoke in a soft, subdued voice. "Innaya, we must bear it with patience. Ever since Inna received the news of the crash, she collapsed from the shock, and within two weeks, she and Malam both returned to their Maker. Malam never recovered his health after hearing the news either. I only survived by the grace of God. After my recovery, realizing I couldn't bear to remain in that ruga, we migrated from Yola to Kano, setting up our camp right here in the Fargori forest.
Just a week after our arrival, God blessed Nafisa with a baby boy whom I named after my brother Abubakar, whom we call Habu. After Habu, Nafisa had several children in quick succession—every time a naming ceremony came around, they arrived. I named two of them after Inna Karime, but they didn't survive, until she finally conceived Mai-babban-suna. While everyone calls her Dagori, I personally call her Mai-babban-suna, and Hamma calls her Auta, because after her, she stopped having children—right up until Habu got married," he explained, gesturing toward Salame and the girls.
Hearing the story unfold, Innaya broke down in tears, whispering prayers of refuge. "You mean I have lost both my sister and Malam? Innalillahi wa inna ilaihir rajiun! May God have mercy on them, illuminate their graves, and forgive their sins. Oh, Inna, your wonderful character will follow you! May God make our end better than theirs," she concluded, sobbing bitterly.
The household rushed in to console her, as the grief felt raw and fresh for everyone, though they had been trying to suppress their sorrow to protect her emotional well-being. Eager to steer the conversation away from the painful topic, Nene intervened. "Abubakar, how on earth did you manage to track us down after all this time, especially since you said you live in Kaduna and not Kano?"
Abubakar took a deep breath. His body still felt heavy and subdued ever since hearing the news of the deaths. He cleared his throat before speaking. "It's true. After all those years of relentless searching without finding you, I used to travel to Yola periodically just in case you ever returned to check on the old home, but it was always dead silence. Then, completely by surprise one day while watching TV, it felt like a dream when I saw Hammana being interviewed by journalists who were doing a report on cultural heritage programs. No matter how much time passes and how much people change, I could never mistake my own brother.
Immediately, I called Innaya and asked if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Through her tears, she confirmed it was him! Without wasting a moment, I had research done to find out the exact state and forest you were in, and shortly after, we made the journey here to confirm it for ourselves," he finished with a meaningful smile.
"Goodness, while we were busy praying for your forgiveness, all along you were searching for us like looking for a needle in a haystack?" Baffa said, overwhelmed by an elevated wave of joy for his reunited brother and mother.
Introductions commenced. "Abubakar, you mentioned you have two sons, but I only see my namesake. Where is the other one, Babana?"
Abubakar smiled softly. "Ah, Ashrap is right here, but Asad is currently away studying in Istanbul, which is why he couldn't make the trip with us. But when he returns, he'll definitely visit."
"Ma sha Allah, may God aid him. Now everyone, stand up and let's head to the mosque—the afternoon call to prayer has just begun," Baffa announced as they stood up, turning to Nene. "Before we return, please set out some food for them, because you can see they've traveled a long way and are famished."
With that, they stepped outside toward the men's quarters, while Nene led Innaya and the women inside to perform their prayers.
Nene ushered them inside. She directed Asiya to her own hut, while Innaya requested to be taken to Baffa's hut. Even though there was an available guest room, it wasn't properly set up since nobody lived there permanently. However, Innaya firmly refused to enter Baffa's room, so she was taken to Dagori's hut instead, as she flatly refused to sit in Nene's quarters due to traditional Fulani modesty rules.
Everyone hurried to perform their prayers. As soon as Nene finished hers, she stepped outside and found Salame hard at work preparing food. Nene sat down under the shade and began churning fura.
Meanwhile, our irrepressible friend Dagori finished her prayers and, buzzing with excitement like a hyperactive child eyeing a wedding feast, immediately turned to Innaya the moment she stepped off her prayer mat.
"Grandma, tell me—is it really true that you gave birth to Baffa? You're his mother? Baffa actually has a mother?!"
Her blunt question threw everyone into laughter—not just Aimanah and the others, but even the adults—partly because of the question itself, and partly because of her charmingly imperfect Hausa accent, which sounded utterly delightful. Innaya beamed with pure, unadulterated joy, knowing the emotional weight of being reunited with the son she spent years mourning. Despite the deep pain she felt over the loss of her husband and co-wife (whom she considered a sister), nothing could overshadow the joy of being reunited with her son's family. The only love she wished to show them now was through prayers and seeking God's grace.
She smiled and replied, "My dear, nobody in this world exists without a mother, unless they have passed away—just like Baffa's mother who preceded us into the truth..."
"So Innaya, you mean you didn't give birth to Baffa?"
"No, just as I told you, my older sister was his mother, and as you well know, God has called her home."
"May God have mercy on her," they all chorused with amens.
Before Dagori could open her mouth to speak further, Nene poked her head into the space.
"Dagori! I said, will you ever mature? Look at Salame working herself to the bone preparing food while you sit around gossiping and running your mouth about things no one asked you! Are you going to get up and come over here when I'm talking?" Nene scolded, setting down a calabash of fura for Innaya and distributing bowls to Maamah and the others. "Have a little taste of this while the food finishes cooking."
They expressed their gratitude while Innaya smiled warmly. As Nene turned to leave, she shot Dagori a sharp, warning glare. Dagori instantly understood the message, jumped to her feet, and scurried outside.
Muttering under her breath, she grumbled, "Honestly, Baffa, your patience doesn't do you any favors! Your excessive meekness is what made you abandon your ruga and come back here—only to find out we were raised in a backward village. I bet if he had seen you from the beginning, by God, he wouldn't have let you live in a ruga! Honestly Baffa, I'm not blaming you, but even now it's not too late to..."
"Hey! You girl, what are you standing around gossiping about instead of coming over here to help with the chores?" Nene shouted, raising her voice.
Dagori slinked over silently and slipped past her. "Girl has zero filter—even with guests in the house, you just have to show your stubborn colors, don't you?"
Knowing she still had pending trouble from her misadventures the previous day, Dagori wisely went straight over to help Salame with the work...
011
They performed the sunset (maghrib) prayers before sitting down in the open courtyard to enjoy dinner. Salame had prepared rice tuwo with kuka soup generously laced with fresh cow butter, which they relished in the cool evening air. Right as they were finishing up and the call for isha prayer echoed, Baffa and his brother walked in, chatting happily and radiating a heartwarming warmth.
As they sat down on the mat, Baffa chuckled with an elder's deep laugh and remarked, "Well, I knew you'd remember some things, but I must commend your memory for recalling so many faces after all this time!"
Abubakar smiled warmly. "Come on, Hammana, how could anyone forget? Even with the passing of years and changing circumstances, you don't easily forget people you grew up and played with."
Baffa washed his hands with water from a kettle and handed it to his brother, saying, "Here is water to wash your hands—though I don't know if you've forgotten how to eat with your hands! You know I personally can't stand eating with a spoon; I prefer using my fingers to properly follow the Sunnah of the Prophet."
"Oh Hamma, I see your habits haven't changed a bit! Well, since I've arrived here, I'll do things exactly the way you do." With that, Abubakar plunged his hand right into Baffa's communal bowl of tuwo. Baffa didn't object, knowing full well that once eating started, his brother wouldn't speak another word until the meal was completely finished.
Once they were done, Nene looked up with a smile. "Well, Abubakar! Now that you've found your brother, are you going to ignore us completely?" she teased with a light laugh.
"Ah, Adda, wallahi it's just pure overwhelming joy! I still can't quite believe Hamma is sitting right in front of me. I keep feeling like if I look away, I might lose him again. I can't bear anything that separates me from my brother ever again, because apart from Innaya, he is all I have left after God took Inna Karime and Baba. May God have mercy on them."
Everyone chimed in with amens. Sensing that the conversation was dipping back into painful territory—since he could easily read Innaya's emotional state despite the dark—Baffa skillfully steered the conversation in a different direction.
"Mother of children, did you hear the good news? Our boy Ashura—or rather, my namesake—and Maamah are getting married in two weeks! He mentioned today that he wants us to return with them tomorrow to help prepare for the wedding. But I told him we shouldn't rush, because I still have some unfinished chores here. You, Salame, and Mai-babban-suna can go ahead with them, while Habu and I will follow later once someone is sent to bring us on the eve of the wedding."
"Ma sha Allah! You mean we have a wedding celebration coming up? But Malam, don't you think it's unwise to leave the house completely unattended just like that? You and Habu can't manage everything alone here. Let's all just wait until the scheduled date and travel together..."
"Oh, come on, Nene! That is completely unfair! How can you say we should wait while you tell me no? I swear, if you try to stop me from going to the city to open my eyes and experience civilization..." Dagori eagerly jumped in, cutting Nene off mid-sentence. Her face had lit up the moment she heard about the trip, because in all her life she had never visited a city, and now that an opportunity had finally presented itself, Nene was trying to block her!
"Will you hush, Dagori? Did I not forbid you from inserting yourself into adult conversations? Is there anyone your age here, tell me?!"
"Adda, just let her be. She's right—is there any valid reason to stop her from attending pre-wedding preparations?" Asiya chimed in. Ever since her arrival, Dagori had captured a special place in her heart, not just because of her love for Abubakar, but because Dagori looked so strikingly like him—it was uncanny. Though she hadn't wondered if any of her own children shared that likeness... her thoughts trailed off as the conversation resumed.
"That's true, Maminsu. And Adda, you do make a valid point about leaving the homestead. So how about this: Adda can stay behind here, but Mai-babban-suna and Habu's wife will travel ahead with them tomorrow, and the rest of us will follow a day before the wedding."
"Baffa, please, please! Let me go—you really are taking me with you, right? I've heard there are all sorts of amazing city treats there like bread, bottled soda, doughnuts, meat, and..."
"And that right there is precisely why I suggested we all just wait and travel together!" Nene snapped, thoroughly exasperated by Dagori's antics.
Everyone burst into laughter—even Abubakar chuckled heartily before saying, "Mai-babban-suna—since I'm going to start calling you that too—yes, all those treats exist there, and even more things you haven't even mentioned yet, you'll see!"
Dagori flashed a wide grin from ear to ear. "Yay! City here I come! Let's just pack up and leave right now since I already have my washing clothes ready!"
Aimanah nudged her gently. "Sister, don't worry, once you get there, you won't even want to come back, you'll be staying with us! And by the way, don't call him 'Baffan Birni'—call him Abbi, like the rest of us do."
"What's this, Auta? Are you trying to run away and abandon Hamma?" Abubakar teased.
With a dramatic, playful pout, Aimanah whined, "Oh, Hamma Habu, don't worry! You hear them telling me to go, so how can I refuse? It would look bad if I stayed behind. Honestly, I'm going with them! But don't worry, you can come along too—no pressure at all, right Abbi?" She meant every word of it; no one was going to stop her from making this trip—especially since she had been promised bread and soda!
Comprehensive Summary
In this segment of Daga Ruga Neke, the narrative expands across generational and geographical divides as Abubakar and his family finally reunite with Baffa and Innaya after decades of separation and mistaken grief.
Following a joyful yet emotionally heavy reunion in the Fulani ruga—where old grief over the presumed plane crash victims (Inna Karime and Malam) is confronted and mourned—the narrative shifts to the warmth of family bonding. The younger generation interacts dynamically, highlighted by Dagori’s irrepressible excitement over a pending trip to the city for a double wedding (Ashura/Takwara and Maamah). Despite Nene's attempts to maintain discipline and curb Dagori's enthusiastic outbursts, the family prepares for a joyous transition toward urban celebrations, bridging the gap between pastoral traditions and modern city life.
Detailed Description
Setting & Atmosphere
- The Fulani Homestead: The narrative contrasts the quiet, dusty nostalgia of the rural ruga with the emotional thunder of family history. Conversations take place under the cool evening air of the open courtyard, illuminated by familial warmth and shared meals of rice tuwo and kuka soup laced with fresh cow butter.
- Cultural Nuances: The text deeply embeds authentic pastoral customs—such as eating communally from a single bowl by hand following prophetic traditions, strict traditional modesty rules regarding sleeping quarters (Innaya refusing Baffa's empty room in favor of Dagori's hut), and playful teasing among siblings.
Character Dynamics & Evolution
- Dagori (Mai-babban-suna): Continues to shine as the spirited, unfiltered focal point of youthful energy. Her obsession with experiencing city life ("bread, bottled soda, meat") and her charmingly bold interruptions showcase her youthful innocence mixed with sheer comedic rebellion against Nene's strict oversight.
- Abubakar & Baffa: Their brotherhood serves as the emotional anchor of the story. Despite decades of agonizing loss and separation, their reunion is characterized by deep mutual respect, gentle humor (sharing meals by hand), and a shared commitment to healing the family.
- Innaya: Embodies maternal resilience. Though deeply wounded by the past loss of her peers, her heart overflows with gratitude upon discovering her son and grandchildren are alive.
Advanced Analytics
Narrative Structure & Thematic Motifs
- The Resolution of Trauma: The heavy shadow of the plane crash—which previously shattered the family and drove the original migration—is methodically unpacked, reframing past tragedy into a testament of divine providence and survival.
- Rural-Urban Dichotomy: The impending wedding trip introduces a thematic bridge between the traditional isolation of the ruga and the allure of city life ("Birni"), acting as a rite of passage for younger characters like Dagori and Aimanah.
Literary Style & Tone
- Emotional Modulation: The author expertly balances high emotional stakes (grief, tears for the deceased parents) with lighthearted, comedic relief (Dagori's hilarious enthusiasm for city snacks and her cheeky verbal sparring with Nene).
- Character Voice: Dialogue is sharply differentiated, capturing the strict, protective cadence of Nene, the indulgent warmth of Baffa and Abubakar, and the unabashed, theatrical enthusiasm of Dagori.
