Haajar Book Completed

Description

Translation in Original English

GGC KABOMO

Young girls, both big and small, were all dressed in school uniforms, each engaged in her own activity. Some were playing games, while others were eating, indicating it was break time. Their appearance made it clear that their parents were not wealthy; it was a public school where students came and went daily, though it also had a boarding section.

A young maiden of about 17 years old sat in the classroom alone, a book in front of her as she revised her studies. "Bongel, the champion of education, don't you ever get tired of reading?" Asiya asked as she walked in. She was around the same age of 17. Bongel raised her head, looked at her, and replied, "Hmm, Asiya. This is the final stage of secondary school, and I must strive to graduate with good results. Besides, education is my greatest asset; through it, I will help my parents. They have no greater desire than to see me attain deep knowledge, and it was for this very purpose that I left my family." Asiya nodded and said, "May Allah grant you success." "Amin," Bongel responded, turning back to her books. Asiya sat down nearby and took out her own textbook.

"Greetings, Baffa. May Allah lift your burdens," an elderly woman of around forty said as she approached with tears in her eyes. The man addressed as Baffa shook his head and said, "Even after I am gone, do not let anyone pull Bongel out of school. She alone is the one Allah has given me the ability to send to school. Please, fulfill this dream of mine to see her attain advanced education." "Baffa, In Shaa Allah, you are with us; you will rise and continue your life," she replied. He shook his head without saying another word.

Bongel carried out everything sluggishly that day, doing only her assigned chores. She came out of the hostel and went straight to the classroom without speaking to anyone. She was never much of a talker anyway, but today's silence felt entirely different. She could not figure out why she felt so uneasy, and her heart kept fluttering with anxiety.

"Hafsat Aliyu," she heard their Vice Principal calling her. She answered by standing up. "Come," he said, walking ahead, and she followed him all the way to the administrative office. She found Hamma Bala sitting in the VP's office. "Hamma, good afternoon," she greeted him in a soft voice. "Fine," he replied in a weak tone that clearly indicated his visit was not for anything good. The VP wrote something on a slip of paper and handed it to Hamma Bala, then turned to Bongel and said, "If there is anything you need from home, go and collect it; you are going home."

"Home?" she repeated in her mind, and her heart skipped a beat. Without a doubt, something was wrong. Throughout all her years in school since Junior Secondary 1, no one had ever come to pick her up. During weddings or naming ceremonies, Baffa never allowed it because of how seriously he valued her education. "I don't need anything," she said, because her sole desire right now was to get home and find out what was happening.

She mounted Hamma Bala's motorcycle, and he rode them toward Malumfashi since it wasn't far. The crowd of people she saw outside their house made her heart sink. Without a doubt, it was a death; someone in their family had passed away. As she approached the entrance, she began to hear wailing. Her body started trembling, and with great difficulty, she pushed through the crowd and went inside. Her eyes landed on her mother, who was weeping uncontrollably, and she ran straight into her arms.

"We have lost Baffa, Bongel. May Allah..." She couldn't finish because Bongel had fainted. People rushed to her, splashing water on her face. Slowly, she opened her eyes and said, "Nene, please tell me I am dreaming and we haven't lost Baffa." The tears streaming down Nene's face confirmed the reality to her.

"Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un," she kept repeating with her eyes tightly shut, tears flooding her face. The people gathered there felt immense pity for her, knowing the deep bond she shared with Baffa.

She sat there for a long time shedding tears until the call to Asr prayer prompted everyone to rise and turn to the Creator. Bongel lifted her red, swollen eyes from crying and looked at Dije and Fatsuma, who were eating tuwo calmly without a single tear on their faces. She turned her head away in utter disgust, never imagining that their lack of empathy could run this deep. She performed ablution at the courtyard tap and entered Nene's room, spending a long time in prayer.

"Adda! Adda!" She looked up to see her 14-year-old younger sister, Ramla, holding their four-year-old little brother by the hand. "Adda, Baffa has left us," Ramla said, bursting into tears as she threw herself into Bongel's arms. Their little brother Abu also leaped into Bongel's arms, and she held them tightly as they all wept heart-wrenching tears.

Goggo Hajjo, Nene's younger sister, had been standing in the room watching them with profound sympathy. Clearing her throat, she said, "Haba, Bongel, you are the eldest among them. You, who should be consoling them, are sitting here crying along with them. Baffa needs your prayers, not your tears. I know it hurts, but you must endure; death comes to everyone."

With her voice barely audible due to weeping, Bongel said, "I never knew death could be this bitter and painful. We have lost Baffa, Goggo; we have to cry." Goggo knelt beside them, took Bongel and Ramla's hands, and began to comfort and counsel them. Gradually, a sense of calm washed over them, and they stopped crying.

Bongel went to bed with a fever. Though they say sleep is a thief, it certainly did not steal her away that night. Ramla and Abu managed to fall asleep, while Nene spent the night in quiet devotion, beseeching the Almighty for Baffa's mercy.

For three days, condolence visits continued. Every single day, Dije and Fatsuma displayed behaviors that made people realize they did not care about the death at all, and everyone openly whispered about it.

"I have heard tales of co-wives, but I have never seen such swift malice as yours," Hajjo remarked. Nene sighed and said, "As for them, I am myself amazed and bewildered. This death has made me realize the true depth of their nature." "Even I can now bear witness that Dije and Fatsuma do not love you, and I doubt they ever will," Hajjo added. Nene managed a bitter smile and shook her head. Bongel sat in silence, deeply reflecting on the lifestyle of their extended family—how fierce jealousy reigned among the women of the household. Though they were not formal co-wives, they behaved with far more malice than typical co-wives.

Bongel and Ramla sat on a mat spread out on the floor of the room, while Nene sat on the mattress leaning against the wall, with Abu resting his head on her lap. Each of them sat in silence, lost in thought, as a deep wave of longing for Baffa enveloped their hearts. It was during moments like these that they used to sit together, sharing joyful conversations.

Nene looked at Bongel and said, "Tomorrow, you should return to school." "Tomorrow, Nene? Even the seventh-day prayers haven't been held yet." "What are you waiting for, Bongel? You are in your final transitional stage; do not play with your education. Baffa left no inheritance other than your education; it was his deepest wish to see you attain advanced learning. Please, fulfill his wish for him." With a subdued nod, Bongel replied, "In Shaa Allah, I will try my best to fulfill Baffa's wish, so you can all be proud of me." "May Allah grant it," Nene said, and they all chorused, "Amin."

The next day, Hamma Bala took her back to school. She returned with a renewed determination to strive for Baffa's dream and to help her mother and siblings. Asiya was overjoyed to see Bongel return; she was her best friend, and her absence for a couple of days had left her feeling lonely. She offered her condolences regarding Baffa and mentioned that during the upcoming break, she and her family would come to visit Nene.

"A girl's father dies, and before even seven days have passed, she is sent right back to chasing modern education," Fatsuma muttered spitefully in the courtyard. Dije chimed in, saying, "Look at her! Besides, whoever is dead is dead; before a week is even over, his family has already started forgetting him." Nene ignored them. If she was used to anything, it was their toxic behavior. She never stooped to their level or argued with them; they only bickered among themselves. On the surface, one would think Dije and Fatsuma shared a loving and peaceful relationship, but beneath the surface, they harbored intense envy, malice, and jealousy toward one another.

THEIR ORIGINS

Aliyu Ardo was Bongel's father. Originally from Katsina State, Malumfashi Local Government Area, he was a Fulani man through and through. His mother, Hafsa, was her parents' only child, and she passed away when he was young. Afterward, his father married again, taking Hanne as a wife, who bore him two sons, Bala and Siddiku. Hanne held no love for Aliyu, especially seeing how much his father loved and pitied him because of his motherless state. Consequently, Bala and Siddiku grew up hating him as well, though Bala sometimes concealed his animosity.

Their father was not wealthy; he was a farmer. When the sons reached marriageable age, he built them a small mud house and told each to find a wife. Aliyu was the first to find a spouse—Nene, who used to hawk milk from her nomadic settlement, and they fell in love. A year later, Bala and Siddiku also married; Bala married Fatsuma, and Siddiku married Dije. Their wives similarly instilled deep jealousy of Nene in their hearts. Despite the vile behavior Nene faced from them, she paid them no mind.

Bongel was their first child, named after her grandmother Hafsa. Baffa nicknamed her "Bongel" because of her exceptional beauty. Among all the children in the household, none matched her fairness and striking looks. Bala had four children: Hamza, Lawal, Sa'ade, and Habiba. Hamma Siddiku had three: Hassan, Husaini, and Saudat. Out of all the children in the compound, not a single one received a Western education except Bongel. Baffa had a burning desire for his children to be educated, but poverty meant Bongel was the only one he could afford to send. Siddiku and Bala cared nothing for educating their children, claiming that Western education only corrupted youth. They hurled countless petty insults at Baffa for sending Bongel to school, but he simply turned a deaf ear to them.

Bongel's WAEC examinations commenced. She never played with her studies; whenever she entered an exam hall, she finished quickly because the questions seemed straightforward to her. Today was the mathematics paper, and almost everyone around her could be seen chewing on their biros due to the difficulty of the exam, with some casting glances around hoping to steal answers. In stark contrast, Bongel sat bent over her paper, deeply immersed in calculations. Within a short time, she finished and walked out.

She sat by the entrance of the hall waiting for Asiya to emerge, quietly reciting istighfar so as not to waste time. About an hour later, Asiya came out. "Bongel, what kind of gift has Allah bestowed upon you? Given how difficult this exam was, how did you finish so early?" Bongel smiled and replied, "May Allah grant us success." Asiya echoed, "Amin," and they walked back to the hostel together.

Every single morning and night, Bongel woke up and went to sleep with thoughts of Baffa in her mind, her lips never tiring of praying for Allah's mercy upon him.

Six weeks later, they completed their exams. During those six weeks, they also sat for the JAMB examinations, where Bongel scored the highest among all the students in her school—a brilliant score of 315. She was immensely joyful, and everyone who loved her celebrated her success.

On the final day of school, everyone was released to go home to their parents, awaiting their results before returning to collect their certificates. Joy radiated from every face as students scribbled farewells on one another's shirts and exchanged phone numbers. In contrast, Bongel sat off to the side on her box. This was the very first time she felt no excitement about going home. In previous terms, starting a full week before break, she would begin packing her things out of pure eagerness. There was no one she looked forward to seeing more than Baffa, who always gave her a special welcome. Deep into the night, they would sit and chat together as she told him all about school and the events that had transpired.

She sat waiting for Hamma Bala for a long time, but he didn't show up as everyone else gradually dispersed. Never before in her school years had she been left waiting this long without someone coming to pick her up. She began to pray that all was well.

When everyone else had left and she was completely alone, her heart grew heavy with a deep sense of foreboding. She decided to hire a commercial motorcycle (machine) to take her home. Without wasting time, she flagged one down and negotiated the fare. She told the rider, "Once we get home, I will go inside and bring out your money." He glared at her and snapped, "Look, if you don't have the money right now, I'm leaving." "I swear, as soon as we arrive, I'll run inside and get it for you." "I've picked up people like you before who end up running away, so find someone else," he said, speeding off without waiting for a reply. She watched him go in utter frustration.

Three different riders refused her before she finally persuaded an elderly man to take her. When he dropped her off right outside their house, he refused to take any money, telling her to go for free. She thanked him profusely.

Right at the doorway, she ran into Ramla, who was stepping out. "Adda, you're back! Just now, Nene told me to go to Goggo Hajjo's house and ask her to come pick you up," Ramla said. "Where is Hamma Bala?" Bongel asked in astonishment. Ramla replied, "He said he wouldn't come." Bongel shook her head in disbelief. Without saying another word, they walked inside.

One look at her mother told Bongel that something was terribly wrong. With a heavy heart, she sat beside Nene and greeted her. Nene did not respond to the greeting; instead, she asked, "Bongel, how did you return home? Did someone bring you?" "I came back on my own." "You should know your way by now, I suppose." "Haba, Nene, I've been walking this path for six years." Nene nodded and said, "Your food is there in the bowl, though you must forgive the kind of welcome you're receiving this time." Bongel smiled and said, "Whatever kind of welcome it is, as long as it comes from you, Nene, it feels like it came from Baffa." Nene smiled warmly, glad to see Bongel taking everything in stride.

After taking a bath and changing into a long Ankara dress, Bongel sat down to eat her food. She asked, "Nene, why didn't Hamma Bala come to pick me up from school today?" Nene let out a heavy sigh and replied, "Human beings are hard to understand, and knowing who a true loved one is only comes from Allah. Bala gave me the shock of my life." "What did he do, Nene?" Bongel asked eagerly.

"Early this morning, he came to tell me he couldn't come pick you up, and that I should go instead. I reminded him that I am in mourning, and if he could just bear with it this once, it would be the last time since you've finished school. With a straight face, he replied that I am not observing any proper mourning, and that I obviously didn't care about the death anyway since I sent you right back to school before the seven days were even up. He said if I wanted to go myself, I should, and if I wouldn't, that was my business, because he wasn't going anywhere. I thought, if no one else understood me, Bala surely would." Nene finished with tears in her eyes.

Bongel was filled with astonishment. She never expected such callousness from Hamma Bala, considering he used to be the gentler one in the household who occasionally showed them care.

"Nene, stop shedding tears over people who do not know the value and importance of family ties. In Shaa Allah, I am the one who will wipe away your tears," Bongel said. Nene wiped her eyes and whispered, "May Allah grant it." "Amin," Bongel and Ramla echoed.

Bongel turned to look at Abu and said, "As a male, he should be the one getting a solid Western education, but he hasn't had the chance. In Shaa Allah, I will do everything in my power to ensure you get advanced education, Abu." She turned to Ramla: "I often feel sad that you missed out on Western education, but when I remember you managed to acquire Islamic education, it brings me peace. May Allah have mercy on Baffa." They both answered, "Amin."

Bongel sat quietly, plotting how she would rescue her mother and siblings. She firmly resolved that through higher education and securing a good job, she would uplift them.

Asiya and her parents came over to offer their condolences. Asiya's family was relatively well-off; her father worked as a driver for the Vice Chancellor of Umaru Musa University. Before leaving, her father handed Nene five thousand naira. The gift brought immense relief, as the last of the food supplies Baffa had left behind had run out, and Nene had only fifty naira left to her name, wondering how they would eat next.

Bongel took the money and bought basic ration supplies to manage. In these hard economic times, five thousand naira wasn't much, so Bongel began visiting wealthy homes in the town to wash clothes for pay, using the earnings to feed the family. Meanwhile, they watched Hamma Bala and Hamma Siddiku bringing home abundant groceries for their own wives, never once offering a morsel to Nene's household. It cut Bongel deeply. Despite being paternal half-brothers, family bonds should never have deteriorated to such cruelty. Meanwhile, Ramla started frying and selling awara (tofu) along their neighborhood street, and through these small efforts, they managed to keep up appearances and survive while Bongel awaited her exam results.

A month after finishing school, the WAEC results were released. That day, Bongel spun around in sheer joy, offering endless praises to Allah. Every single grade she earned was an A or a B.

"Now that your results are excellent, we must prepare for university," Nene said with a glowing smile. "Yes, Nene, I will start my studies. I am fulfilling Baffa's dream, and through this, I will take care of you all," Bongel replied. "May Allah bless you and your endeavors," Nene prayed. "Amin," she answered.

She hurried over to a neighbor's house to borrow a phone and call Asiya. Asiya picked up on the first ring, and after exchanging greetings, Bongel shared her stellar results. Asiya joyfully revealed that she had passed as well, and they congratulated each other. Asiya noted, "Passing the exams is one thing, but securing admission is the real hurdle. Nowadays, unless you have connections or divine grace..." Bongel's heart sank as she realized the harsh reality. She sighed and said, "That's true, Asiya. May Allah lead the way and grant us admission with ease." "Amin. I heard NECO results are coming out next week too, and admissions will begin rolling out in two months," Asiya added. "May we be among the lucky ones to enter university," Bongel said softly. "Amin, Amin," they exchanged farewells, and she returned the phone to the neighbor with heartfelt thanks.

Suddenly, Ramla burst into the room as if thrown through the door, looking anxiously back over her shoulder. "What's wrong? What happened?" Nene and Bongel asked in unison. Ramla threw herself into Nene's lap and burst into tears. "Please tell us what's wrong; your crying is alarming us!" Bongel urged, tears nearly spilling from her own eyes.

Between sobs, Ramla stammered, "Some man followed me and tried to force me..." "Subhanallah! What did you do to him?" Nene asked in sheer panic. "He approached me, saying I should agree to be his girlfriend so I could stop selling awara on the street. He knew poverty drove us to this and offered me lots of money. When I backed away and told him to leave me alone, he kept pressing closer, so... so I slapped him. Now he's chasing me, swearing he'll kill me!"

Bongel closed her eyes tightly, feeling a sharp pang of agony in her chest. Nothing but sheer destitution could ever push Ramla into frying awara on the street, exposing her to predatory men trying to buy her affection with money. It was now more imperative than ever: she must attain education to rescue her younger siblings.

Nene said, "You made a mistake by slapping him. You don't know who he is or what he's capable of doing." With fierce passion, Bongel retorted, "He won't dare do anything to her beyond what Allah has decreed! Why are the poor treated as if their lives count for nothing? Why is a poor person's life always a struggle?"

"That's just how the world is, and our leaders lack justice," Nene replied gently. "I beg of you both, never sell your dignity for worldly things. A woman's true pride and value lie in preserving her virginity until she enters her husband's home. Wealth amassed through illicit, dirty fornication carries no blessing from Allah. I know the training we gave you, but I implore you to guard yourselves, uphold your orphaned status, and never give your late father cause to be spoken of ill. If you do that, you would not be honoring his memory. Every day, his greatest thought and dream was to elevate your lives. Strive to be a source of pride and a good example." Nene concluded, looking deeply into their eyes.

"In Shaa Allah," they answered together. "Go wash up, perform ablution, pray, and read the Qur'an; you will find peace," Nene instructed. Ramla whispered, "Alright," and stood up.

Summary

Set in Northern Nigeria, the story follows Bongel, a brilliant 17-year-old secondary school student whose late father, Baffa, instilled in her a fierce passion for education as her ultimate path out of poverty. When Baffa tragically passes away, Bongel's world shatters, and the family is left vulnerable. Her paternal half-brothers, Hamma Bala and Hamma Siddiku (along with their hostile wives, Fatsuma and Dije), abandon them emotionally and financially, highlighting deep-seated family malice.

Despite the hardship, Bongel's mother, Nene, encourages her to stay focused. Bongel excels in her WAEC and JAMB examinations, scoring an impressive 315. To survive, Bongel washes clothes for wealthy neighbors while her younger sister, Ramla, sells awara (tofu) on the streets. The narrative underscores themes of familial betrayal, the resilience of women, the crushing weight of poverty, and the liberating power of education, ending with a tense close-call when Ramla faces harassment, reinforcing Bongel's ironclad resolve to succeed.

Description

The excerpt is a poignant, character-driven domestic drama deeply rooted in the cultural, social, and economic realities of Northern Nigeria. It paints a vivid picture of rural and semi-urban life, contrasting the noble aspirations of an impoverished, education-focused nuclear family against the bitter dynamics of an extended polygamous compound. The prose captures authentic emotional beats—from the devastating grief of losing a pillar of support to the quiet dignity of women striving against systemic destitution. Through sensory details (the bustling school break, the bitter weeping at a funeral, the sizzling awara frying pan), the narrative immerses the reader in the harsh yet hopeful world of Bongel and her family.

Analytics

• Thematic Depth: Explores the socio-economic disparity in access to education, gender vulnerability in impoverished environments, and the toxic undercurrents of extended family politics (specifically sibling rivalry and misogynistic neglect).
• Character Arcs:
  • Bongel: Transforms from a diligent student into a resolute young woman ready to shoulder the burden of her family's survival through academic excellence.
  • Nene: Represents quiet resilience, moral fortitude, and maternal wisdom amidst grief and abandonment.
  • Hamma Bala: Serves as a symbol of broken familial obligations and unexpected betrayal.
• Cultural Context: Highlights traditional Northern Nigerian household structures, Islamic death rites (such as the seven-day prayers and mourning periods), and grassroots survival mechanisms like hawking and manual labor.
• Pacing & Structure: Utilizes flashbacks (the origin story of the brothers and Nene) to contextualize current animosities, alternating seamlessly between institutional settings (school/exams) and domestic struggles at home.

Comments

• Narrative Strength: The author does an exceptional job of building emotional resonance. The bond between Bongel and Baffa feels palpable, making his death a visceral turning point.
• Character Nuance: The contrast between supportive figures (Asiya, Goggo Hajjo, Asiya's father) and toxic relatives (Dije, Fatsuma, Hamma Bala) enriches the conflict, making the protagonists' struggles feel authentic and high-stakes.
• Social Commentary: The story offers a sharp critique of societal apathy toward the poor and underscores why education is fiercely championed as the ultimate equalizer for marginalized girls in Northern Nigeria.

Conclusions

GGC Kabomo is a powerful, emotionally charged narrative that examines the intersection of grief, poverty, and ambition. It successfully portrays education not merely as a school requirement, but as a sacred trust and a lifeline for survival. Bongel's journey exemplifies the triumph of human resilience over systemic adversity, leaving the reader deeply invested in her academic future and the ultimate fate of her family against predatory societal forces.