*Disbanding the Age-old Almajiri Tradition:*
By Yatu M Jeremiah

Practiced in northern Nigeria and it is also the name for a young boy/girl who is taught within this system, the system is called Almajiranci, the male gender seeking Islam knowledge is called
Almajiri , female gender is Almajira , and the plural is ( almajirai). The system encourages parents to leave parental responsibilities to the attached Islamic school. The Hausa word Almajiri is derived from the Arabic word "al-Muhajirun," which refers to a person who migrated his home in search of Islamic knowledge.
Muslim traders first came to the Nigerian regions of Kanem and Borno in the 9th century, and the religion spread through trade and migration.
Almajiri began in Kanem-Borno in the 11th century, when many rulers practiced Islam.
More than 700 years later, in the 19th century, Islamic scholar Usman dan Fodio founded the Sokoto caliphate, and furthered the cause of Islamic learning.Prior to the British arrival in Nigeria ,almajiri children stayed at home with their parents and attended tsangayu to learn about the Quran.All the schools available then were in close proximity with the immediate environment of the students.
Inspectors were introduced to go to the schools and report the affairs of the school to the emir of the province.The schools were funded by the state treasury, the community, parents, zakah controlled by local emirs,
sadaqqah and sometimes the farm output of the students.Originally, almajirai did not beg because there was sufficient funding to feed and clothe them.
The Almajiri system was an impeccable and effective system intended for Islamic expansion and preservation.

*What went wrong?*
During the colonial era,the colonial masters introduced secular education. Consequently,creating secular education a criterion for any form of relevance in the Nation.
Islamic leaders and agencies were deposed and and so was the Almajiri funding.
The system collapsed,left to the mercy of helpless scholars who find their teachings increasingly less relevant in a Secular regime.

*Why did it Fail?*
1.If the Colonial masters had funded it and incorporated secular learning into the System, we wouldn't view the Almajiri system as a failed Educational system Today.
2.It failed because the child was stripped of his nobility and right to learning in a contemporary world and was reduced to a street beggar.
3.It failed because the child was exposed to being a tool in the hands of whosoever for whatsoever purpose.
4.It failed because the Northern elites discovered and exploited it sorry state for political gains.

The Northern elites want it disbanded,I do not think that is the solution.
The fact that people have chosen to have children they wouldn't take responsibility for, leaves their care and welfare to the Society.
Instead of disbanding the Almajiri system, why don't we improve it.
We can give them both Islamic and secular education, making them relevant to the World and their religion.


Yatu M Jeremiah
jeremiahyatu1993@gmail.com
09075499807