The Centre for Research and Documentation has worked quite a bit with a local Fulani School Supervisor called Adamu. He oversees a small group of nomadic schools in an area called Warro Basso, out into the countryside beyond a town called Wamba, which is a 40 minute drive from Akwanga. Previous volunteers had done fundraising with him to get a school building erected, but he is still experiencing problems with pupil numbers and lack of appropriate teachers. He is very keen for more support, so we’ve been trying to see what he can do to help himself and how wecan encourage the wider community to support him. We’ve written to the Nomadic Education Commission and they are keen to offer support. Then, I went with 2 colleagues, Alhaji and Clement, to Wamba to meet with Adamu, a selection of local Fulani Chiefs and the local education secretary. It was a very interesting meeting. I was the chairperson, despite the whole meeting being conducted in Hausa (although my understanding of Hausa has been improving, Alhaji did the translating for me). The main issues that we need to start tackling are the lack of appropriate teachers who are sensitive to the nature of nomadic children in terms of their language and religion (Islam), lack of understanding amongst the Fulani community at large on the importance of education and lack of resources in the form of buildings, desks, chairs and books. Several suggestions were put forward. The Fulani people will need to be encouraged to support schools more and even enrol in teacher training and the links between them and the local government need to be strengthened so that they feel as though they have a say in what happens. We’ve made a tentative arrangement to meet again and Adamu will arrange this.
Last weekend, Adamu had a naming ceremony for his new baby, so I went with Alhaji and a Kenyan volunteer who was staying with me for the weekend for her ‘recently arrived volunteer placement experience’. The naming of a new baby amongst the Fulanis takes place with just the men and then food is served. The photos will demonstrate better than words and show how it is the men who cook the meat and serve it. It was very special to be invited.
Here are some pictures of the Fulani village. I took along some presents from the UK for the children, including a teddy bear that a little girl then 'backed' it (put cloth round it and strapped it to her back), just like they do with babies.
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