I stumbled upon this piece on Xarah Fatima Wakeels wall. I find it very touching indeed and sincerely would like to identify with the plight therein contained. Please read it and see... KANEM IS FALLING The moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out. - James Baldwin Once upon a time, in a continent full of darkness, the Arab merchants discovered light in a great kingdom: Kanem Empire. Marveled, they called her the Baharnur; the light of the sea. The good news spread fast and afar and she became a mecca. Her light shone proudly as people swarmed into her heart in search of knowledge, peace, truth and wisdom. Kanem became not only a House of Scholarship, but also of peace and hospitality. Kanem Empire boasts of great warriors, scholars and leaders. Once, she defeated a great army, not with with sword but the might of her pen. She is indeed a great mother. Her men are her strength. Many of them are either scholars, warriors, farmers, nomads, hunters, artists, etc. Tall and dark, they are strong and hardworking. Strangers marvel at the depth of their knowledge. The only black tribe with a 100% Muslims. Stainless and illuminating, she is a pride to Islam. Kanem Empire have the most descent and modest women. Their women are well dressed and mannered, shy and soft spoken. They honour their men and treat the elderly with respect. Brabusco, one of their favourite food always bring their men back home. Each year, she receive thousands of guests who come in search of light or to trade with her people. Her palms were always open for all to walk on. Hosting a confederation of tribal groups, she was indeed a great and a caring mother. Kanem Empire grew in strength; politically and economically. Her influence threatened some and a great conspiracy was launched against her. It started when the white men came and used their guns to draw borders among her people. Like a torn rag, they were divided and spread across north eastern Nigeria, southeast Niger, western Chad and northern Cameroun. Thus, they became strangers by the gun and were made minorities in these foreign territories. Notwithstanding the artificial borders drawn between them, the Kanem states, especially Borno in north eastern Nigeria continued to grow. Borno became Dar al Hikmah, House of Knowledge. Bent on plunging Kanem into darkness, these conspirators studied the Kanuris in Borno and discovered that which they love most: knowledge and religion. Using religion, they stirred enmity and suspicion between the Kanuris and other tribes and launched a war against them using their own people. Thousands of them were killed and many are still dying everyday. They blocked them from all forms of education, destroyed their homes and massacred them. The world is watching. The leaders are watching. The media turned blind towards them. The death of the people of Kanem is no longer news. Suddenly, their death became NORMAL. The nine tribal marks which the Kanuri once hold with pride now becomes a mark of suspicion, even among themselves. Surely, the conspirators are winning their battle. This plague which has befallen the Kanuri people could be stopped only by the Kanuri themselves. They must reactivate the spirit of Kanuri in them and emulate the likes of Mohammed Al-Amin El-Kanemi and Idris Mai Alooma. These are not only great warriors but powerful leaders. They are wise and intelligent. Although, the source of this problem might be foreign, the solution lies among the Kanuri elites for the people used to depopulate them are Kanuri - if not, the leaders are from Kanem Empire. Kanuri leaders need to unite but cowardice, a very rare trait in Kanuri has not only silenced the elites, but also dragged them out of Kanem. The poor masses, who do not understand where the problem lies, are being killed on a daily basis. They have been left to their fate, to reap from a bitter tree they do not sow. By Musa Lawan Kaga fcngamkura@gmail
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:37:33 +0000
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