Ahmed Abdulkadir as a secondary school student
Excerpt from My Memoir
I will never forget a particular incident that occurred before I started attending a boarding secondary school at Rimi College Kaduna. It all began with a peculiar request from my father's half-sister, who happened to be married to an Islamic teacher known for his mystical practices. During those times, Islamic teachers were renowned for providing protection against evil forces through the use of charms and various enchantments.
When my aunt heard about my upcoming journey to a different town for school, she decided to contribute in her own way by offering me a protective charm. However, the condition she set forth was quite unconventional and kept secret from everyone, including my parents. She instructed me to cut off my finger and toe nails and hand them over to her husband, who would then use them to create the charm.
As a child, I had always been fascinated by the sight of snake charmers adorned with charms all over their bodies. I had also witnessed individuals confidently interacting with monkeys, hyenas, and even self-inflicting wounds without harm, all while wearing impressive amulets. This had ignited a deep yearning within me to wear such charms, although I knew it was forbidden in my own household. Therefore, the opportunity to fulfill this desire secretly, without my parents' knowledge, was truly tempting. The Islamic teacher diligently crafted the charm and handed it to me, emphasizing that it must always be concealed beneath my shirt.
However, my excitement waned a little when I realized that I only received the charm itself, without the customary animal skin belt known as the "guru" to hold it in place around my waist. Determined to make the charm wearable, I ventured to the market and purchased a suitable belt, carefully attaching the charm to it. Equipped with my newfound talisman, I confidently embarked on my journey to school. I diligently hid it from prying eyes, ensuring it remained concealed whenever I needed to visit the restroom.
Then, one fateful day, a senior student named Jacob Malam, a fellow from Southern Zaria, somehow caught sight of me attempting to conceal the charm. He called out, demanding that I reveal the mysterious object I was trying to hide. Fearing the consequences of refusal, I handed it over to him. To my dismay, he exclaimed, "Oh my! So, you're a witch! You plan to use this charm to harm others!"
The fear that surged through me at that moment was overwhelming. I anticipated being reported to the school authorities and possibly facing expulsion. Panic consumed me, causing my entire body to tremble uncontrollably. Fortunately, Jacob himself was also frightened by the charm and refrained from even touching it. Perhaps he was afraid that something terrible would befall him if he dared to lay a hand on me... How ironic!
Once he left my presence, I promptly disposed of the amulet and its accompanying belt. It was only much later, long after I had completed my secondary education, that I mustered the courage to confide in my mother about the incident.
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