Becoming somebody: Bissau-Guineantalibésin Senegal

Abstract

Parents of trafficked children are mostly ignored or represented in mass media and reports published by international institution and NGOs as desperately poor, ignorant or indifferent. This article gives voice to Bissau-Guinean Fula parents who are descendants of former slaves aiming to raise their social status by sending sons to Quran schools in Senegal. No parent argued they did so because of poverty. Concerned with discrimination, they sent their favourite son abroad hoping he would 'become somebody'. At the same time, parents mentioned the importance of religious commitment, piety and serving Allah. To their outrage, global institutions and NGOs classify the practice of sending boys to Quran schools in Senegal as child trafficking. Anti-trafficking activities are ongoing, including repatriation of boys from Senegal, something seen as degrading and criminalising. Repatriation of their chosen son is seen as the worst outcome and proof of discrimination. Nonetheless, the parents are resistant and continue to send their sons to Senegal to seek knowledge and 'fight ignorance' through religious education.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life of Bissau-Guinean religious (Quranic) schoolboys during a state of emergency: a qualitative study

“…Our earlier research has revealed that the parents do not abandon, as claimed, their least attractive children in the hands of unknown religious teachers without worrying about their whereabouts and well-being. 16 24 With the advent of the pandemic, parental contacts became more frequent, and the parents encouraged their sons to endure the hardship brought on by Corona . Further, the almudos respected their chernos and understood their important role in keeping the religious studies ongoing through alms, even in a state of emergency.…”

“…38 39 When child begging is on the agenda, the chernos underline piety and the learning of humility, the parents talk about meaningful suffering resulting in something positive, the almudos are concerned with their chernos’ blessing for the realisation of their dreams, and the child rights organisations see exploitation and child trafficking. 16 34 42 43 …”

“…Since 2009, the authors have been researching the context of the Quranic education in Guinea-Bissau. 16 23 24 29 Based on gained knowledge on the living conditions and well-being of almudos, the authors aimed to give voice to this group of children in a state of emergency caused by the pandemic; due consideration was given to the local context and the age and vulnerability of the study participants. 30 The boys, aged 12–16 years, were invited to participate or reject, but all accepted.…”

“…In Guinea-Bissau, the begging of Quranic schoolboys has been subject to the engagement of child rights organisations without satisfactory results, partly due to failure to listen to the involved communities. 16 23 24 A child rights-based response in the time of a pandemic includes keeping children and young people visible and hearing their voices. 3 Here, we aimed to explore the pandemic’s impact on the life of Bissau-Guinean Quranic schoolboys during a state of emergency, their knowledge and practice regarding prevention and thoughts about their future.…”

Work‐free childhood to child labour and street life

“…The involved communities have reacted with feelings of discrimination and resentment; for the boys and their families, attending Quran school, which entails begging, is a way to become somebody. 5 During the COVID pandemic, the realisation of such dreams was hampered by lockdown and consequently reduced alms, hunger and tiredness. 6 In Iceland, the custom of sending urban children into the country during the summertime has since the late 19th century been held in high regard by the public and supported and encouraged by the state.…”