Kasaita Book 1 Hausa Novel Complete
When winter comes, you may sometimes see a little snow in Jos, but this doesn’t stop the people of the city from going about their travels and daily activities. This resilience, combined with its cooler climate, has made Jos a favorite for Europeans and other internationals. Historically, the city has attracted people from diverse cities and countries.
The people of Jos often prioritize wearing Western-style clothing, which is why European clothes have always been popular in the city. This trend dates back to when Jos became a hub for imported goods, making it a prime market for new European outfits and boutiques. To this day, Jos remains a central marketplace for these items.
Jos is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. Some families have lived there for generations, while others have roots elsewhere. This diversity has led to the existence of around 200 spoken languages in the city. Despite this linguistic variety, Hausa has become the central language for communication. However, English, including the Nigerian variant known as Pidgin English, is also widely spoken.
The city's affluent residents often engage in businesses like importing cars, European footwear, and second-hand clothes (Gwanjo). A unique sight in Jos is seeing the wealthy strolling around with curved-handle walking sticks. The town is also known for its recreational areas, many of which have Hausa names. Despite their modernity, the people of Jos have maintained traditional learning systems, such as Islamic schools, alongside formal education.
My father is originally from Nigeria’s Adamawa State, near Taraba State, in a village called Gembo. His parents were natives of the area but passed away when he was a child, leaving him to be raised by his uncles. Due to poverty, formal education wasn’t an option for him growing up, though he did receive basic religious education on a wooden slate.
At just 18, he got married in Gembo but decided to leave the village to seek better opportunities. He first moved to Kano, where he started selling sugarcane on the streets. Later, he partnered with a friend, a young girl, to start a second-hand clothing business in Kano’s Wambai Gate market. Realizing the potential in this business, he abandoned sugarcane sales and fully embraced Gwanjo.
As his fortunes improved, he decided to relocate to Jos with his father’s brothers. Unfortunately, during this time, his wife in Gembo gave birth to a daughter but passed away shortly after. When he returned home for the first time in years, he found his wife’s grave and his newborn daughter, whom they named Safiya (meaning “Tomorrow”).
After the mourning period, he made it a tradition to visit Gembo annually to see his uncle, Alhaji Tsalha, who is still alive but elderly. Despite his humble beginnings, my father prioritized education for his children. By God’s grace, he enrolled us in school, ensuring we fought against ignorance and excelled academically.
My father’s commitment to education saw him rise through local schools, eventually earning a place in a secondary school and later a university. At the university, he met my mother, who was studying Education in her first year. He was in his final year at the time, completing his degree at the age of 35.
From the time he arrived in Jos at age 11, my father spent 21 years there, dedicating himself to education and growth. His journey included two years of primary schooling, six years in secondary school, two years preparing for university, three years for his degree, and two years of national service. By the grace of God, his hard work paid off, shaping the life we live today.
