Life, love, dreams in Sokoto’s lepers’ colo
In Sokoto, a decade-old ‘colony’ established by missionaries has become permanent residence for hundreds of people who came to seek treatment for leprosy. Over the years, life has changed for both the first men who came to Amanawa Kamfani, in Dange Shuni Local Government, and for the children they have given birth to in this place. Our correspondent delves into this community, which has its own traditional ruler, and captures their lives, their reflections of the past and the future they look forward to.
The one thousand or so residents of Amanawa Kamfani are special. They are mostly characterised by clawed fingers, deformed facial features, damaged skins and nerves. All of them came to Kamfani to seek treatment for leprosy. Over the years, escaping the stigma that comes with the disease, they made Kamfani a permanent home and have never looked back.
Amongst the inhabitants, Samaila Mainasara, 75, has emerged the leader of the community with the title of Maigari. Speaking to Daily Trust, he revels in the independence of their community from Amanawa, which has hosted Kamfani since its establishment during colonial times.
“We don’t have to report anything to the village head of Amanawa,” he said. “If matters arise, we report directly to Sarkin Bauran Dange or Araba Shuni, the District Head of Dange or the District Head of Shuni,” Mainasara said.
Early days
The story of Amanawa Leprosarium, now Infections Diseases Hospital, and Amanawa Kamfani are intertwined.
It is a place set up by missionaries in Amanawa who were mindful of the need to create a place where patients could receive care over long period until they are healed enough to return to their communities.
Some of the patients went there as early as when they were seven years old while others were teenagers and adults. After they were cured, some of them went back to their homes while others decided to remain at Kamfani. Some have never left since.
Some no longer remember their roots, and do not have any other home but Kamfani while others simply preferred to stay back there where they would not suffer discrimination.
“You know we face stigmatization in the midst of others in the society. Even our relations do not want us close to them, they don’t feel safe with us around them, so we rather stay here to escape stigma. We feel safe and content here,” Mainasara said.
He hails from Arawa, Ambarura District in Ilela Local Government area of Sokoto but had been in Kamfani since the days of the missionaries.
“Missionaries handed over the leadership of Kamfani to me in 1975 when they were leaving for their country, England. But some of the missionaries remained behind and continued working with us. That was during the reign of Sultan Abubakar, the father of the present Sultan. This land was bought from indigenes by the then Sultan Hassan Dan Muazu and it is 105 years old today,” he said.
Mainasara recalls with nostalgia how things were during the time of the missionaries, when they were guaranteed three square meals and proper medical care before being sent to Kamfani for residence until totally cured.
“A patient reported to the hospital either daily or weekly. The missionaries even chose among the patients and gave us work to do for them. They paid us on weekly basis. The kind of work we did was to maintain security, cleanliness or split firewood, which was used to cook for patients, and to maintain sanity and order. They appointed Maigari, village head, a judge who address cases of adultery, assault and theft and other wrongdoings.”
He remembered the uniform that patients used to wear and how on completion of treatment, the missionaries organised send forth ceremonies for about 100 cured leprosy patients
“After being cured, a patient’s belongings are returned to him,” he said. “They also gave him a gift and transport fare back to his or her destination. During a patient’s stay, they made life so easy for him.”
It was treatment like this, Mainsara recalled, that saw the numbers of residents and patients rise as those who were cured and returned to their communities encouraged others with the disease to come for treatment as well.
Patients came from all across Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso. This, he said, explained the diversity in the people living today in Amanawa. The community ties have been improved with intermarriages over the years.
However, the diversity is limited. Almost all those in the colony are Muslims. The Christians among them had since left, almost immediately after the missionaries departed.
While this has its drawbacks, Mainasara said it has helped made things easier in some ways.
“We organise our marriages here. Anyone can get married to a female resident of his choice regardless of tribe or ethnic leanings. We are all Muslims. We follow strictly all rules and regulations guiding marriage in Islam and we settle marriage cases amicably, which gives room for peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationships existing here,” he said.
How they came
A resident Kasha Rana, of Kamfani, Malam Umar 78, from Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, had spent over 40 years in Kamfani.
“I was invited to Amananwa by one Kwazo from our village. He also had the disease and he told me about the place and my relations agreed to allow me try my luck. I got married here because I met my wife among the admitted patients at the female section. Though she is now deceased, we have 12 children,” he said.
Malama Asshibi Garba, 60, had been living at Kamfani for 20 years. She too found love there and married. That union produced a child.
Though she has separated from her husband, she expressed hope of reconciliation with him.
Others such as Malam Amadu Maigarin