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Chapter Excerpt Translation
"I extended my hand to take the nylon bag Khalid was handing me while smiling to provoke him. Before I knew it, someone snatched the bag and shoved me to the side; I fell and bruised my hand.
It turned out Babangida had bolted out of a car like a ravenous lion.
'You daughter of a dog, who is this? Which bastard adulterer, enemy of God and His Messenger is this? Ah, so Sabuwa, you still haven't stopped chasing men! Truly, all your outings are just to sleep with men!'
I quickly stood up as a crowd began to gather.
'Malam, no matter what you are thinking, it is not proper for you to raise your voice like this on the street. She is your wife, how could you shove her like that?'
'Don't add to it, don't hold back!' That was the extent of what Khalid said before Babangida pounced on him, unleashing a torrent of foul insults as if he was born right at a motor park, shaking Khalid vigorously with his eyes blazing red like gauta fruit.
'Let him go, Babangida, I am stepping back—'
He reached out and delivered a harsh slap to my face, then slapped me again until my mouth split open and bled.
Just as he raised his hand once more, Khalid firmly grabbed his wrist, his body trembling as he said:
'Don't you ever dare hit her again! If you don't know her worth, I know her worth here. Baby, you married a disaster and didn't even know it? A blockhead who doesn't know your value?'
Habawa! Before Khalid could even close his mouth, Babangida threw him to the ground. A fierce, tangled brawl erupted as people gathered around like it was a war, while women rushed out to watch from their doorways.
With great difficulty, the fighters were separated, and Babangida began recounting the story to the gathered crowd:
'She is my wife, and an adulterer brought her right to our doorstep, even buying her things! I swear by Allah I will kill Sabuwa, and he will die too. I will die as well so everyone can find peace.'
As he said this, he grabbed my neck as I gasped for air, beating me. With great difficulty, Babangida was peeled off my body. My neck was completely bruised.
I rushed into Khalid's car. Even when told to get out, I refused because Babangida looked completely insane. Khalid sped off.
'Malam, drive your car away from here! He is going to fetch a giant boulder and he will smash your car to pieces!'
Khalid quickly opened the car door, jumped in, and as he turned the ignition, we caught sight of Babangida with a massive rock in his hands. Habawa! We sped onto the highway, almost running over a pregnant woman. The boulder Babangida hurled shattered the rear windshield of Khalid's car into tiny fragments. Taratsatsatsa!
We were speeding away with Babangida chasing us in a car.
'Take me home, Khalid. I am completely done with my marriage to Babangida; I am done living with him forever.'
'But there is no problem, Baby—blood is flowing from your mouth and your hand, let's go to the hospital.'
I closed my eyes and looked back to see Babangida still trailing us.
'No, take me home, can't you see he is following us? If you guys cross paths again, he could do anything to you.'
He scoffed and said:
'Forget him, he has no power to do anything to you, and as for me, I am his match. If he thinks he is a seasoned street gangster, I am his father when it comes to deviousness.'
I closed my eyes tightly, crying a bitter tear, thinking only of my children—how would this scandalous story reach them, especially Mardiyya and Aminu?
I let out a heavy sigh, realizing that this was the absolute end of my life with Babangida; the term had expired. This incident alone was enough for him to divorce me, and besides, I hadn't gone where I went just to have my rights forcefully reclaimed.
I didn't open my eyes until we reached the front of our house. The moment Khalid stopped, Babangida stepped out of his car himself, yanked me out violently, and tried to beat me, his body shaking.
I lunged at his neck and began beating him from every direction. I had gone crazy, throwing punches wherever I could land them with my eyes shut tight.
It turned out the neighborhood lane was packed with people gossiping. Rakiya and Adama were the ones who finally tore me off Babangida, who was just standing there with a trembling body and tears in his eyes.
'Please calm down, Babangida. It's mental instability tormenting her, that's why.'
He smiled bitterly, his eyes turning wild, and said:
'I caught her being brought right to the house by some thug! Because you people didn't give her proper upbringing, that's why she brings men home. She had the audacity to beat me and make me bleed? And you people are coming out to plead for her? I swear by Allah I will kill her! Sabuwa, I swear you will bear a child you won't even recognize the birth of. Everything has reached its absolute end—even the person backing her today will finally put an end to my marriage with her. It has come to an end!'
So what? IF THE LOAD EXHAUSTS THE CARRIER, THE HEAD-PAD EXHAUSTS TOO.
I had already set out on the path to find my own way out.
What is the use of your marriage? A marriage of destiny with a fool, an ignorant, brainless wretch!
Saying this, I stormed into the house crying a life-or-exhausting cry. Throughout all this commotion, Hamida had just been standing there watching, completely overwhelmed beyond her imagination.
As for Rakiya and Adama's reaction, who knows? All the women had come out to watch, holding their hands over their mouths in shock.
'Hey Lolo, were you actually part of this? Eh, why do I see blood flowing from your body, what petty filth is this?' said Gaza, who I didn't even realize had stepped out from the fridge/room.
'Babangida beat me and gathered a crowd against me in our neighborhood. I barely made it home. Gaza, go and avenge me, I swear I won't accept this!'
He stood up, looking for the exit while saying:
'The ultimate doom of the afterlife has met its guest!'
Maigogul rushed out after him, while I collapsed onto the mat crying, my head feeling like it was about to split open.
I could just hear shouting from outside, and Hauwa ran out shouting salati.
I sank into that state of severe psychological distress that always overcomes me when my anguish becomes too much. For over three hours, I had no idea what was happening; my head kept spinning, voices swirled around me, and then finally, I came back to my senses.
'Sabuwa, take heart. Rakiya, look, she has come to herself, Alhamdulillah,' said Maigogul, standing by the edge of the bed where I lay.
'Take heart Lolo, force yourself to get up and pour water on yourself, then Rakiya or Adama can take you to your house. Look, even your husband's father has left the house now.'
With great difficulty, I forced my mouth open and said:
'I swear by Almighty Allah, I will never return to Babangida's house, not even if the heavens and the earth collide!'
'She is going nowhere! If we aren't careful, I might just finish off Babangida so everyone's father can find peace! Because of a lack of self-respect... Dattijo, you saw how he stripped away all humanity to beat a young girl, and you expect her to return? She is going nowhere as long as I, Gaza, am breathing! Her husband's father is not the one who married her, and he doesn't even love her. I swear it's only to cover up their shame that they are petting her. Lolo, I am her father from today onwards!' said Maigogul.
'Well, you did avenge her by slashing him, Gaza. Besides, you heard him say she was seen with another man. So her accursed character—she hasn't stopped after all. He was bound to beat her. Can't you see the husband's father came looking for her just like we agreed that once she wakes up she will be taken back?'
'No, Maigogul, I think the matter of her returning should be put on hold until everything calms down, considering the deep slashes Gaza inflicted on Babangida,' said Rakiya.
I could hear them—some saying I should return, others saying I should wait for the dust to settle. None of them knew the final decision I had made, but when it starts to smell, they would find out soon enough as I explained to them.
Summary of the Chapter
This chapter captures a chaotic escalation in the marital crisis between Sabuwa and her husband, Babangida.
- The Public Altercation: Sabuwa accepts a nylon bag from Khalid (whom Babangida views as her lover), prompting Babangida to fly into a jealous, violent rage. He beats Sabuwa publicly, splits her mouth open, and insults her profusely. Khalid attempts to intervene, leading to a brutal street brawl between Khalid and Babangida.
- The Chase and Aftermath: Sabuwa flees in Khalid's car while Babangida chases them down, eventually hurling a massive boulder that shatters the car's rear windshield. Sabuwa vows never to return to Babangida, though she worries about how the scandal will affect her children (Mardiyya and Aminu).
- Gaza's Intervention: When Sabuwa arrives home battered and bleeding, her brother Gaza flies into a rage, tracks down Babangida, and slashes him with a weapon (leaving him severely injured and bleeding).
Court and Family Meetings: Sabuwa officially files for divorce against Babangida through the court. Meanwhile, Baba Malam (the family patriarch) calls a family meeting to investigate the root cause of the chaos. Despite pressure from family members and domestic tensions, Sabuwa remains firm on her decision to end the marriage, while Babangida is hospitalized under the care of his relatives, friends (Mustapha, Wawo), and side-drama from his other romantic entanglements.
Description of Key Characters
- Sabuwa (Lolo): The central protagonist trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage with Babangida. Driven to her absolute limit by physical abuse and public humiliation, she finally decides to break free, file for divorce, and reject patriarchal pressures to stay in a broken home.
- Babangida: Sabuwa's abusive, highly jealous, and volatile husband. He is quick to anger, prone to public spectacles, substance abuse/rough living, and infidelity, yet acts violently possessive over Sabuwa.
- Khalid: Sabuwa’s acquaintance/friend whose presence acts as a catalyst for Babangida's violent jealousy. He tries to protect Sabuwa during the physical assaults.
- Gaza: Sabuña’s fiery and protective brother who fiercely defends her, ultimately slashing Babangida in a violent retaliation.
- Baba Malam: The respected, stern family patriarch who attempts to handle the domestic dispute and court summons with judicial and traditional gravity.
- Maigogul & Rakiya: Extended family members/relatives who voice contrasting opinions on whether Sabuwa should endure her marriage or walk away.
Mustapha & Wawo: Babangida’s associates who manage his emergency hospital admission and navigate his tangled personal and business life.
Analytics & Thematic Insights
- The Stigmatization of Women in Dysfunctional Marriages: The narrative highlights how society (symbolized by neighbors, extended family like Maigogul, and even the marital setup) instantly blames the woman for infidelity and public scandals, weaponizing her reputation while excusing or minimizing male domestic violence.
- The Breaking Point of Abuse: Sabuwa’s arc transitions from passive endurance ("marriage of destiny") to active resistance ("If the load exhausts the carrier, the head-pad exhausts too"). Her resolve to approach the court marks a shift toward modern legal recourse against domestic tyranny.
- Toxic Masculinity and Honor Culture: Babangida’s obsession with "honor" and street reputation drives him to self-destruction, violence, and reckless endangerment, reflecting how unchecked pride and substance/street culture ruin families.
- Narrative Style: Authored by Mrs. Bukhari (Badiat Ibrahim) under the title Idan Kaya Ya Gaji Gammo Ma Ya Gaji (Book 2, Chapter 2), the story utilizes rich Hausa cultural idioms, dramatic dialogue, high-stakes emotional pacing, and cliffhangers characteristic of contemporary popular Hausa literature (Littattafan Soyayya).
