KULSUM

About this Novel

Sunday morning arrived with a fierce storm, the wind howling and carrying the sweet scent of rain-laden earth from the light drizzle. These signs indicated an impending heavy downpour. Set in the midst of September in the town of Gaya, Kano state, was the neighborhood of Maza-Goma, with a rich history dating back to a woman who supposedly birthed ten sons simultaneously, giving rise to the neighborhood's name. Malam Jibo's house, popularly known as Baffa Jibo, stood prominently in this neighborhood. Malam Jibo, a respected farmer, dedicated himself to agriculture, primarily cultivating peanuts, Hausa potatoes, and makani during the summer. Annually, he would sell his bountiful harvest in Gaya and neighboring towns on market days. His wife, Aishatu, known as Goggo Shatu, shared his passion for farming. Baffa Jibo (Jibril) and Aisha (Goggo Shatu) faced infertility until their prime years, finally giving birth to Sugrah in their twenties. Sugrah got married at the age of fourteen to a high school teacher in Yalleman town, Jigawa state. Two years into the marriage, she gave birth to her first daughter, despite not living long enough to see her face.