BA MU KADAI BA NE 

HAUSA NOVELS COMPLETE 

She was sitting and washing dishes in the courtyard of their house, while her nine-month-old daughter, Nusaiba, sat playing on the veranda because her two older children had gone to Islamic school. Mama came out of her room, her eyes falling on her granddaughter who was sitting and playing all by herself.
"Ah, Nusaiba, you are just sitting out here like this when evening is fast approaching? Maryam, I tell you every day that as soon as twilight sets in, you should strap this child to your back. It is not good to leave a child sitting all alone like this. You young people of nowadays are far too lazy. In our time, our elders always told us to look after our children's wellbeing to prevent them from falling into the hands of evil spirits."
"Umma, I just want to finish washing these dishes, then I will come and pick her up," Maryam replied. Mama said, "May God protect us," as she picked up the baby girl, who was sitting on the concrete floor, playing the way one-year-olds do and babbling happily. She carried her into the room, which allowed Maryam to comfortably finish the chores before night fully caught up with her.
After a few minutes, the other two children returned: Ahmed, who was four and a half years old, and his younger sister, Amira, who was three. As soon as they arrived, the house became noisy, filled with their little squabbles and endless complaints to their mother like, "Mama, look at what he/she did to me."
"Oya, sit down so you can eat your food, and then I will bathe you," she told them. She brought out corn tuwo with fresh okra soup, spiced with scotch bonnet peppers, and aromatic with the scent of daddawa (locust bean cake) rising from it. She set it down for them in the middle of the courtyard so they wouldn't stain the veranda she had swept earlier that afternoon. Maryam was an exceptionally neat and orderly woman; she absolutely detested filth in her life. The children sat eating and bickering among themselves, while their mother corrected them from where she was working.
Umma came out of her room grumbling, with Nusaiba strapped to her back, crying intensely. Umma said, "Hey, hurry up and leave this spot. Go inside, twilight has fully set in. Maryam, come and take this child. She has been bothering me with cries for a while now; out of sheer stubbornness, she just started crying for no good reason. Oh, Nusaiba, please let me finish washing this pot!"
"Just come and take her. I cannot handle this stubbornness of your child; she is too troublesome. Up until now, she hasn't gotten used to other people. She only knows her mother and her father." Maryam stood up, wiped her hands on her wrapper, and approached them, laughing at Umma’s words. As she reached out to take Nusaiba, who was extending her arms from Umma’s back, Umma gave the baby a playful, gentle tap on her backside.
A greeting was heard from the entrance of the house—it was Laure, the herb-seller. Umma muttered, "Innalillahi (To God we belong)! Honestly, I don't know what brings this woman to people's houses during the early moments of twilight. Laure, is everything alright that you come to our home at a time when everyone is trying to settle down because evening has come?"
"Ah, Umma Aliyu, I only came to ask if you have a little salt to spare. Mine has finished, and I know the shopkeepers have already closed up to prepare for prayers."
"Maryam, for God's sake, scoop some salt and give it to her," Umma instructed. Maryam turned with her daughter in her arms, walked to their kitchen, and fetched some salt in a plastic bag. As she handed it to Laure, she suddenly felt a severe, throbbing headache hit her all at once. She quickly raised her head and looked at Laure, who was standing by the door of Umma's room. Laure’s eyes were fixed intently on Maryam's children sitting in the courtyard. Seeing this, Umma immediately understood the unspoken tension.
Umma quickly rushed to where the children were sitting, saying, "Alright, let's go inside so I can wash your hands and you can return to the room." She left Laure standing there watching them. Laure took a breath and said, "Well, Mama Ali, I will be heading back. Thank you. The call to prayer has already started, right?"
As soon as Laure left the house, Maryam began to feel completely unwell; her head was throbbing painfully. Suddenly, her body became intensely hot with a fever. Summoning her remaining strength, she performed her Maghrib prayer and found a place to lie down.
Noticing Maryam's unusual silence, Umma peeked in. Usually, as soon as Maryam finished praying, she would come to Umma's room to watch television and keep her company with the children, even though Maryam had a TV in her own room. Umma found Maryam wrapped tightly in a large bedsheet, shivering violently from the fever that had completely taken over her body.
"Ah, Maryam! What is the meaning of this? Lord have mercy, just a moment ago you were cheerful in the courtyard doing your chores. What is wrong with you, Maryam?" Umma asked, picking up the crying Nusaiba. Maryam opened her mouth with great difficulty and said, "Umma, my head and my whole body... I swear I feel completely sick." Touching Maryam’s burning body, Umma became frightened and said, "No, Maryam, this is serious." Immediately, her mind suspected Laure, and she muttered to herself, "I swear, we don't have any other stranger in this house today."
She quickly turned back to her room and fetched a traditional herbal powder, mixed it with water, and said, "Sit up and drink this, Maryam." With great effort, Maryam sat up, drank the medicine, and lay back down. Umma then went out to buy conventional medicine from the neighborhood chemist. It wasn't until late into the night that Maryam found some relief. Seeing her condition, Umma spent the entire night sleeping in Maryam's room to watch over her.
Early the next morning, after Umma made Maryam inhale the smoke of a medicinal herbal powder, she marched straight to Laure's house. Without even knocking or greeting, she burst into the house and found Laure sitting in her small kitchen area, stirring some dark pap in a plastic bowl.
Seeing her, Laure said, "Ah, Mama Ali, what brings you here so early in the morning?"
Umma replied, "Yes, Laure, it's me. You know they say one should return a gesture. I came because of how you entered our house at twilight yesterday, and I came to warn you against doing it again. I swear, Laure, if you are a witch who eats earth, you better beware of stepping on stepping stones. The occupants of the house of Malam-mai-Allo (the teacher) are not your match. If you refuse to listen, you will see the consequences. I swear to you, stay away from everything in my house, unless you want your secrets exposed to the entire town."
"Mama Aliyu, I don't understand what you mean," Laure stammered.
"Oh, you will understand! I swear, you better quickly release my daughter-in-law before your secrets are exposed in this town."
"Who, me, Mama Ali? Please do not falsely accuse me. If this is a setup, you will see. Do not pick a fight with me, or you will be shocked, I swear." Umma turned around and left the house, still venting her anger, while Laure hissed after her departure, muttering to herself, "I only tried to test her anyway. Who am I to mess with that girl who is heavily protected? Besides, she is not even my blood relative."
Upon leaving, Umma met a neighbor who asked, "Ah, Mama Aliyu, where are you coming from so early in the morning?"
She replied, "I am coming from Laure’s house. Yesterday, she came under the guise of looking for salt, but it was nothing but mischief. Immediately after, Maryam fell severely ill, and we spent the whole night on our feet. That is why I went to warn her to stay away from my house." The neighbor responded, "You did exactly the right thing, I swear! So the whispers and rumors about Laure practicing witchcraft are actually true."
Before long, Maryam began to feel completely light and healthy again. She stood up as if nothing had happened and began her daily chores. From that day on, every evening, Umma made sure to fumigate their house with protective herbal incense to ward off evil. Maryam completely forgot about the incident with Laure, feeling perfectly healthy.
Maryam’s husband, Aliyu—Umma Rabi’s only son—was an officer with the National Customs Service. He was the only child God had spared for Umma; all her previous pregnancies resulted in children who died shortly after being weaned. When she was pregnant with Aliyu, she had to seek numerous spiritual treatments because people claimed she suffered from a spiritual affliction (wabi) where her children would pass away as soon as they grew a little. By God’s grace, Aliyu survived, grew up, completed secondary school, and went on to study Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, graduating with a first-class degree.
Given the lack of immediate employment in his specific field, he joined the National Customs Service. He was first stationed in Enugu, where he worked for three years. It was during his time there that he married Maryam, the daughter of Malam Babba from Auna, a town located in the Kontagora region of Niger State. Since their marriage, Aliyu had not moved Maryam to his station; she lived peacefully with his mother back home in Auna town.
They now had three children together. Umma deeply enjoyed living with her daughter-in-law Maryam because Maryam treated her exactly like her own biological mother. Even if Umma had given birth to Maryam herself, the care wouldn't have been any different; Maryam fully gave her the respect and rights due to a mother. Sometimes, you would even see them wearing nearly identical outfits, with only the colors differing slightly. Umma loved Maryam dearly due to her excellent manners and good character. Maryam never complained about not living at her husband's station because he provided abundantly for all their needs.
Aliyu was a man who deeply understood the rights of his family; he provided them with more than enough clothing, food, and provisions. Every month-end, Aliyu would travel home to visit his family, unless a heavy workload required him to stay a few extra days.
Today happened to be the end of the month, so Maryam was busy grooming herself, as was her custom whenever he was coming home. From the house to her own body and the children, she left everything clean. Sometimes, she even compelled Umma to get her hair braided and apply henna so her husband wouldn't find anyone looking untidy.
"Today, I quickly finished everything so he wouldn’t find us untidy—from cooking to cleaning the house, even though our house is not a modern building," Maryam thought. "But I made it spotless, took a bath, and dressed in a nice material stitched into a skirt and blouse, with the bottom of the skirt flared out beautifully like a fish tail."
The children had been with Umma since afternoon. Maryam knew her husband usually arrived late into the night because of the distance between Kaduna and their town. She joined them in Umma’s room, but her eyes kept darting toward the front door, waiting to hear the greetings of anyone entering. Her small Nokia flashlight phone had been dead since afternoon, and NEPA (the electricity company) hadn't brought light yet.
Just as NEPA restored the electricity, the sound of a vehicle parking outside their door was heard. Maryam didn't think it was him because she knew he didn't own a car, but within five minutes, they heard his greeting in the courtyard. Maryam and the children raced to welcome him, and even Umma came out carrying Nusaiba, whom the children's excited shouts had woken up. He was standing there in casual clothes, holding shopping bags, and they approached him with pure joy. The children clung to him happily, and Maryam walked up with a smile, welcoming him home.
"Come on, won't I get a hug today?" he teased. With her eyes, Maryam signaled toward Umma standing nearby. That didn't stop him from drawing her briefly into a hug. She welcomed him warmly and took the shopping bags from his hands. She headed to Umma’s room with the bags while leaving him to exchange greetings with his mother in the courtyard.
He then turned back outside, and the neighborhood children, who were playing night games, helped bring in the rest of the gifts he had brought. Everything was piled up by the door of Umma’s room, and Maryam only took his small travel bag to her room. After dropping the bag, she came back out to move the items inside. She was deeply astonished by the sheer quantity of gifts he brought this time; it was far more than what he usually brought.
After storing the items inside, leaving out the yams and Irish potatoes, she went to the kitchen to pour hot bathwater for him. She found him standing in the middle of the room, taking off his shirt. She had accustomed him to taking a bath upon arrival before sitting down to eat while they caught up. He turned to look at her admiringly and said, "I missed you, Maryam."
She smiled and said, "I missed you more, Baban Abba. Now, your bathwater is ready, go bathe so you can eat." While he went to bathe, she straightened up the room and laid out the clothes he would wear on one side of the bed. By the time he came out, she was sitting on a chair, breastfeeding Nusaiba. She watched him get dressed calmly as he smiled at her and asked about her health and the children, even though they spoke on the phone nearly twice a day.
Once he was ready, they moved to Umma’s room, finding her chatting with the children. They walked in and sat down. He exchanged more greetings with Umma while the TV played in the corner. In the middle of his conversation with Umma, she remarked, "Today we see so many gifts, but you must have spent a fortune on transport to bring all of this."
He smiled and said, "Umma, I haven't told you all yet, but Maryam has a co-wife (kishiya) now."
Maryam quickly looked up from the television to stare at him, and Umma looked at him in shock as well. He added, "She is parked outside right now. I came with her. Tomorrow morning, you can go out and see her, okay?"
Umma said, "So you've achieved something good and we didn't even know?" Maryam felt a sudden wave of distress, not fully understanding their conversation, especially since Umma seemed happy about it.
It wasn't until he said, "I bought it not long ago; it hasn't even been two weeks in my hands. It is brand new, Umma. I found an opportunity, and I've wanted to buy a car for a long time because I'm tired of commercial transport," that Maryam finally let out a smile. Realizing it was a car he was talking about, they all erupted into joy, eager for him to finish eating so they could go see it.
Once he finished, everyone, including the children who were still awake, went outside to see the car. It was a modern, shiny metallic blue Peugeot 406, gleaming under the bright moonlight. They inspected every part of it, admiring its beauty, before returning inside happily. This time, he didn't go back to Umma’s room; he went to their bedroom, and Maryam quickly followed him.
She laid Nusaiba down to sleep before turning to where he sat, making a phone call to a colleague. Maryam stepped out briefly to take a quick refreshing bath, came back, and applied a sweet-smelling body cream he had bought her on his previous visit, knowing how much she adored good fragrances. When she finished, she wasted no time in going to bid Umma goodnight, then returned and locked their bedroom door. As usual, he was eager for intimacy upon his return, and so it was between them.
Afterward, he said, "Maryam, I'm thinking that if Umma agrees, I want to relocate you and the children to Kaduna so that the children can get a quality education in life." Maryam was deeply pleased by his words and couldn't hide her happiness. She said, "May God make Umma agree to let us go with you. I would be the happiest person because we would finally live together in one place." They kept chatting until exhaustion and sleep overtook them.
The next morning, right after her prayers, Maryam didn't go back to sleep. She immediately began preparing breakfast. Within a short time, she finished, went to the room, and found him still sleeping from exhaustion. She took a bath, did her makeup, and dressed in a beautiful red Ankara long gown.
A neighborhood boy called from the door, saying someone was asking for Baban Abba outside—it was Malam Hassan, their neighbor. Maryam walked back to the bed and gently shook her husband's foot. He slowly opened his eyes, still looking drowsy.
"Baba Hassan is asking for you outside. He sent a boy just now," she said. Opening his eyes with difficulty, he gave a short sigh and said, "Wow, people won't even let a person rest, and I'm so exhausted." He threw on a long jalabiya gown that was nearby and went outside. Their neighbor was an honorable elder who cared for them deeply and treated Maryam's children like his own grandchildren. He had come to congratulate Aliyu after seeing the car parked outside, wishing him blessings and safe travels. Soon, other neighbors joined them, congratulating him on his new car.
By afternoon, when the crowd thinned out, Aliyu came back inside, took a bath, dressed, and sat down to eat breakfast. It was then that he spoke to Umma about his desire to relocate his family to his station. Maryam expected Umma to be happy, but instead, Umma said, "Do you think it is right to take your family from their peaceful home and move them to a city where you have absolutely no relatives?"
He smiled and said, "Umma, Kaduna is known as a welcoming city for everyone in the North; it's a melting pot. You will see that the majority of its residents are from different parts of Northern Nigeria and other African countries. It is a highly cosmopolitan city. Right now, only Abuja can rival Kaduna in terms of modern exposure."
Umma replied, "Can't you see? A cosmopolitan city is full of all sorts of characters. Where is the moral upbringing for children there?" Aliyu laughed and said, "Umma, if it's religious upbringing you are worried about, go to Kaduna, because religion is deeply rooted there."
"Well, just leave it for now let me think about it, because honestly, my mind is not at peace with you taking the children to a distant place far from home," Umma insisted.
Aliyu countered, "Alright, Umma, but honestly, I am tired of living alone. I need my family close to me. I have secured a house now. If they cannot come with me, then I guess I will just have to find a city girl to marry over there."
Maryam felt as if cold water had been poured over her. She felt completely devastated that Umma and her son would discuss such a thing just when she thought she was about to reap the rewards of her long patience in life. It was clear that her husband’s career was flourishing and his income had improved. He stood up and went into town to greet relatives and friends. Maryam also stood up without a word, packed the dishes he had eaten from, and left Umma’s room.
Umma watched her leave with a look of pity, knowing how patient Maryam had always been in the house, yet now her husband had brought up a difficult dilemma. Umma reasoned that if Maryam left the children behind, it might ease her loneliness slightly, but since Aliyu wanted to take everyone, including the children, the loneliness would be too much for her to bear. She had grown accustomed to the lively noise of the children keeping her company, and now he wanted to take them to a distant place.
For the rest of the day, Maryam was lost in deep thought, upset by how Umma was inadvertently holding her back. If Aliyu ended up marrying a city woman, Maryam would be left stuck in the village practicing endless patience, while his attention and affection would shift completely to his new modern wife. She deeply desired to accompany her husband to his station, but she felt helpless against Umma's stance. She recalled how her aunt, Suwaiba, looked whenever she visited from Minna—the family adored her and her children, their speech and modern dressing stood out completely, making them look different from the rest of the villagers.
Later, some neighbors came to congratulate them on the car, including Maryam's close friend Lariya, who was heavily pregnant and expecting to give birth any day. Despite her condition, Lariya made the effort to come share in their joy. They first went into Umma’s room to congratulate her, wishing them even greater success. Afterward, they came to Maryam's room, where they jokingly congratulated Maryam on her "new co-wife" (referring to the car). Suwaiba remarked that a car is a demanding co-wife because it consumes a lot of the husband's money.
Lariya sat quietly smiling as Maryam shared the news about Aliyu's desire to relocate them and the obstacle Umma was presenting. Hearing this, Lariya spoke up, "Wow, really? If Umma does this to you, she is honestly not being fair. After all your patience, now that prosperity has arrived, she wants to block it? That is not fair. My own husband is not even a government worker, but if he told me we were moving to Lagos where he does seasonal labor, I swear I would have followed him long ago!" Everyone chimed in, advising Maryam not to simply accept Umma's decision and to make it clear that she wanted to go with her husband.
Lariya added, "No, let her be. Umma is a woman like us; she knows what is right. If Maryam shows her disrespect, not only Umma but even her husband might change his attitude toward her, and their marriage could sour. Nothing is impossible for God. Therefore, take your complaints to God to intervene. Since he already started mentioning marriage, perhaps he is already planning it." Lariya's words deeply resonated with Maryam, and she decided she would pray to God for guidance.
They chatted a bit longer before the guests stood up to leave, bidding Umma goodbye. As Maryam walked them out, she teased Lariya about her pregnancy, asking if the baby was ready to arrive, and they laughed. After they left, Maryam performed ablution, stood up for prayers, and began pouring out her heart to God over the matter. Meanwhile, Aliyu was busy with his own affairs in town, looking handsome, radiant, and completely relaxed. Maryam, however, remained deeply distressed because she had set her heart entirely on this relocation.
Two days later, before his departure, Aliyu mentioned he was waiting for Umma’s final decision, so that on his next return, they would only focus on the relocation logistics. Umma simply said she heard him. They said their goodbyes, and he left in high spirits. He looked very attractive and well-groomed; any woman who saw him would admire his looks, modern style, and sharp intelligence.
The morning after Aliyu's departure, tragedy struck their neighborhood. Lariya went into labor, but she encountered severe complications and was rushed to the hospital. The elders of the neighborhood rushed there to check on her situation. A crowd gathered outside the delivery room. Laure was sitting on a low wooden bench (gawo) when the doctor arrived to enter the delivery room, with people greeting him respectfully.
The doctor stopped near where they were sitting, smiled slightly, looked directly at Laure, and said, "Mama, you should stand up from that bench so she can successfully give birth to what is inside her before you finish her off." Everyone present was profoundly shocked by how the doctor, a Nupe man, openly confronted Laure and her friend, who was also a suspected witch. The doctor didn't leave, and they didn't get up immediately. Fearing her secrets would be fully exposed, Laure shifted slightly and kicked the bench backward behind the table where they sat. Seeing this, the doctor smiled and entered the theater, and immediately, the cry of a newborn baby filled the room.
Amid the joy, people looked at Laure with deep suspicion and bewilderment, while celebrating Lariya's successful delivery. The doctor looked at Lariya, who was in critical condition, and felt immense pity because he knew it was too late—they had already destroyed her spiritually, and it was only a matter of time. Unaware of this, her relatives were outside celebrating her safe delivery. The doctor came out wiping a tear from his eye while people thanked him. Before he could even reach his office, a loud cry of lamentation erupted from the room—Lariya had passed away.
Back home, the tragic news of her close friend Lariya's death reached Maryam. She was completely devastated. Lariya's body was brought home amid intense grief. Soon, rumors of what Laure had done to Lariya spread throughout the town. The newborn baby girl was crying uncontrollably as she was being bathed, throwing everyone into deep distress. They watched helplessly as Lariya was taken to her final resting place, leaving behind her baby. Anyone who came to offer condolences broke into tears upon seeing the child. The entire neighborhood spent the night in profound grief and fear.
The real shock came at night. Every house neighboring Lariya’s, including Maryam’s, woke up to a bizarre sight. Umma had made sure Maryam didn't leave a single cloth or pot outside; everything had been gathered and hidden in the kitchen before dark. Yet, the next morning, household items were found scattered outside people's doors, and residents had to gather them and throw them into the dump. Lariya’s death deeply shook the community due to these strange occurrences. Some said those inside Lariya’s house experienced a terrifying night, with the baby screaming and a violent wind shaking the roof as if to blow it away. By morning, household items from Lariya's house were found piled up in a massive heap at the local dumpsite. Maryam was deeply unnerved by these unprecedented events.
Laure’s reputation in the town turned into a matter of absolute terror for adults and children alike. Only her immediate relatives interacted with her, and even they did so with extreme caution. At Maryam's house, Umma stood firm, ensuring Laure never stepped foot inside. But despite Umma’s spiritual defenses, Maryam remained terrified of Laure, who had snatched her best friend away forever.
Aliyu called frequently to check on them. Maryam told him about Lariya's death and the witchcraft rumors surrounding it. He laughed it off and said, "Oh, you women and your endless superstitions! No one dies except by God’s will, yet you always blame someone and ruin their reputation." Maryam countered, "I'm only telling you what everyone is saying, and honestly, there is a strong scent of truth to it." He replied, "She only needs your prayers now; her time is up and she died a honorable death during childbirth."
By the end of the call, he hadn't brought up the relocation, and Maryam felt too shy to voice it—a common trait among Hausa women regarding demanding their rights. Umma also remained completely silent on the matter. This prompted Maryam to visit her biological family's home to seek advice. She prepared the children and bid Umma goodbye. Umma grumbled, "So you are all leaving? No one is staying with me?" Maryam thought to herself that convincing Umma to let them relocate would be a huge task, as Umma was simply suffering from the emotional dread of being left alone due to their deep bond.
As they stepped out of the house, they ran directly into Laure. Maryam quickly pulled her children aside and bypassed her, repeating a protective prayer in her mind. Laure stared at them as they passed.
They found Maryam’s father in the entrance hall (zaure), reciting the Quran as he usually did, surrounded by people who came to seek his guidance on life matters. Seeing them, he smiled and welcomed them warmly, calling them "the people of Alangasa." They knelt and greeted him. He asked about Umma, and Maryam said she was doing well.
He then asked, "How is your husband? Do you hear from him?"
Maryam replied shyly, "He is fine, Baba."
The father noted, "He came to see me recently and mentioned he wants to relocate you all to his station. But he said Umma didn't agree, and he left without a final resolution." He sighed, "Subhanallah! What has gotten into Umma? Isn't it a joy for a husband to take his family to live with him? That is the proper thing. Now that he willingly wants to take his family, she is creating an obstacle. Women can be so short-sighted; doesn't she fear him falling into temptation or modern diseases out there? By doing this, she is deeply infringing upon both your rights and your husband's rights."
He then turned to his friend and joked about some local porridge (hura), and Maryam stood up to go inside the main house to greet her stepmothers. Her biological mother had passed away long ago, but her stepmothers had raised her with deep love and care, treating her like their own blood. Her eyes filled with tears as her father reminded her of her late mother. She was the eldest of six children left by her mother; she had one sister and four brothers. They had been told that her mother passed away after battling a prolonged illness caused by evil spirits.
Inside, she found the youngest stepmother (Amaryan Baba) pounding grain in the courtyard. Seeing them, she welcomed them cheerfully. Maryam greeted her and her younger sisters who were sitting eating tuwo. They moved to the room of another stepmother, Inna, where Maryam met her older sister. They sat down, and Maryam presented the small gifts she brought. Inna showered her with blessings.
Soon, the younger stepmother, whom they called Innan Sahura, joined them and expressed her condolences over Lariya's death. Maryam's older sister, Anty Lami, asked, "Isn't it said that your neighbor witch killed her?" Maryam confirmed it and shared her own terrifying encounter with Laure over the salt. Innan Sahura remarked, "Laure is playing with fire if she dares touch Malam’s children in this town. Doesn't she know you are beyond her reach?"
Inna then asked, "Your husband came recently and told Malam he wants to take you to his station, right?" Maryam nodded, and her sister expressed her excitement for her. "But Umma refused," Maryam added.
In unison, they exclaimed, "She refused?! Why? What will you achieve by staying here?"
Maryam explained, "I think she is just too attached to us and the children. Even today when we were leaving, she complained that we were leaving her all alone."
"That's absurd! Umma shouldn't do this. Your husband's desire to live with his family is entirely right," her sister argued. "Malam needs to speak to her. If you stay behind, he might end up marrying another woman over there since he wants a wife by his side."
Maryam said anxiously, "Honestly, I am so confused. I want to go, even if just for the children's education, which would be much better there. My husband said if Umma doesn't agree on his next return, he will just marry a woman over there."
"We won't let it get to that point. We aren't stopping him from marrying, but leaving you behind while he takes another wife is unjust," they agreed. Her sisters joked that if it were them, they would have simply packed up and left with him overnight. By late afternoon, Maryam bid them goodbye. Her sister walked her out, reiterating that Maryam must stand her ground and not let Umma block her relocation.
When Maryam returned home, she found that Umma had already started cooking dinner for her. Maryam took over the cooking. She told Umma that she had run into Laure on her way out, and Umma cursed Laure’s evil intentions. Maryam finished her chores before Maghrib, and they retreated indoors early for safety.
Meanwhile, at his workplace, Aliyu was discussing his relocation plans with a colleague. The colleague commended him, saying, "Living with your family is the hallmark of a responsible man, and your children will get a much better life than living in the village. Where did you secure a house?"
Aliyu replied, "It's in a relatively quiet, newly built estate along Yakubu Gowon Road."
"That's a good location! It's not far from our office, which will make your commute very easy. Once you settle in, the area will gradually populate. There was an option in Malali which is more crowded, but this new estate is much nicer. It was built a long time ago but was only recently opened for residents." Aliyu decided to finalize the paperwork with the officer in charge before leaving.
Later that evening, while Maryam was sitting in Umma's room, Aliyu called. Umma answered happily, but as the conversation progressed, Umma’s face changed. She said, "Are you still on about this relocation topic? I already told you I don't support taking them to a distant city. I want them here with me. If you take them away, who will I live with? Have pity on me, Baba. You are my only surviving child, and now that you have a family, they keep me company in your absence."
Aliyu evidently replied that he would have to marry a second wife then, as he couldn't stand living alone anymore. Umma snapped back, "Go ahead and marry then, if you think that is what is best for your life!"
Maryam felt her heart drop. She was deeply hurt, wondering if Umma acted out of love or hidden malice toward her. Without even saying goodnight, Maryam stood up, carried Nusaiba on her shoulder, went to her room, locked the door, and burst into tears.
The next morning, Maryam refused to leave her room. She lay in bed long after the sun rose. Umma called out from the courtyard, "Oh, Maryam, aren't you making breakfast today? The house isn't even swept." Maryam didn't reply. She remained in bed listening to a request show on Radio Kontagora. Umma came to her door, lifted the curtain, and asked, "Maryam, is everything alright with you today?"
Maryam sat up slightly and said coldly, "I am fine, Umma."
"Are you upset because of my phone conversation with Baba yesterday? Hmmm, Maryam, you don't understand my intentions. You and these children are my only comfort. How can I let him take you away to a far-off city? Look at how dangerous the world has become. Kaduna is a massive city; we've been hearing stories of ritual killings and kidnappings there since long ago."
Maryam muttered, "May God protect us, Umma, but we won't be living alone there, right?"
Umma concluded, "Well, I have made my decision. Go cook for the children, it's late. Let him go ahead and marry a city girl over there, that is easier for me to handle." Maryam felt deeply helpless. She couldn't bring herself to be disrespectful to Umma, so she stood up and prepared breakfast. She spent the next two days ignoring Umma. Whenever Umma tried to intervene when Maryam scolded the children, Umma would say, "Calm down, don't take out your hidden anger on the children."
A few days later, Maryam's older sister visited to check on the situation. Maryam broke down in tears, explaining that Umma had firmly refused and even told Aliyu to go ahead and marry a second wife in the city.
"Wow, so that's how that woman is? Goodness, she has no empathy! I will report this behavior to Baba," her sister said angrily. "I wanted to ensure everything was set before your husband returns at the end of the month." Maryam cried, "There is no relocation happening. She insists we cannot leave her alone." Her sister remarked bitterly, "It seems she thinks she is the one married to you instead of Aliyu." When her sister left, her attitude toward Umma was noticeably cold. She went straight to their family home and informed their parents. The stepmothers criticized Umma, claiming she didn't truly love Maryam and that her past kindness was a facade. When the father returned, they informed him. He smiled and said, "Leave it be. I will see her and discuss it to hear her reasoning." He then dropped the matter, preventing further arguments.
Aliyu called Maryam, but she could only sob into the phone. Worried, he asked what was wrong. With difficulty, she said, "I am deeply unhappy with Umma’s decision. This is not love or care for us."
He comforted her, "Maryam, why are you exposing yourself to such distress? Don't I visit you every month-end? In fact, I will be home the day after tomorrow, by God’s grace. Do not let a rift form between you and Umma, making you a laughingstock. The love Umma has for me has simply been transferred to you and the children." Maryam thought to herself, Is this love or malice? If she truly loved me, she wouldn't do this. Aloud, she simply said, "We won't fight, but I really wished we could move, even if just to experience a new city." He told her to let the matter rest until he arrived, adding that if Umma completely refused, they would just accept it and she would remain in the village.
Umma noticed Maryam’s persistent coldness. Usually, Maryam would be busy dressing up, styling her hair, and preparing for her husband's arrival, but this time, Maryam did absolutely nothing. She sat gloomily, and Umma could only watch her in silence.

Part 2: Summary of the Text

1. Core Themes

• Witchcraft and Superstition: The narrative heavily features rural beliefs regarding witchcraft (maita) and spiritual afflictions (wabi), exemplified by the character Laure, who is blamed for a sudden fever inflicted on Maryam and the tragic death of Maryam’s pregnant friend, Lariya.
• The Conflict of Relocation: The central plot revolves around a generational clash between a traditional mother-in-law (Umma) who fears the dangers and moral corruption of the big city (Kaduna), and a young wife (Maryam) who deeply desires to live with her successful husband and secure a better education for her children.

• Marital Rights and In-Law Dynamics: It highlights the emotional blackmail common in traditional extended families, where a mother's attachment to her only surviving son leads her to suggest he take a second wife rather than let his first family leave her side.

  2. Main Plot Points

• The Spiritual Attack: Maryam falls mysteriously ill with a violent fever after interacting with Laure, a suspected local witch. Umma uses traditional medicine to cure Maryam and fiercely confronts Laure, warning her to stay away from her family.
• The Husband's Prosperity: Aliyu, Umma’s only surviving son, returns home from his Customs station in a flashy new car and announces his intention to relocate his wife and three children to a modern estate in Kaduna.
• The Mother-in-Law’s Ultramatum: Terrified of isolation and city life, Umma firmly opposes the relocation. When Aliyu argues that he cannot live alone, Umma tells him to simply marry a second wife in the city instead of taking Maryam away.
• The Community Tragedy: Lariya dies tragically during childbirth under supernatural circumstances linked to Laure. This exacerbates the neighborhood's fear of witchcraft and deepens Maryam's distress.
• Family Intervention: Devastated by the prospect of her husband marrying another woman, Maryam seeks advice from her biological family. Her stepmothers and sisters condemn Umma's selfishness, while her father promises to step in and mediate the conflict upon Aliyu's imminent arrival.