by Geoffrey Stamp, freelance photojournalist
BUYA,
Kebbi State, Nigeria — Yusuf Argungu has dedicated
his life to bringing God’s Word to Nigeria’s Fulani people. Travelling
by donkey cart and living in a tent, Mr Argungu and his family dwell among this
nomadic people group, which roams across a belt of West Africa from southwest
Niger through northern Togo,
Benin, Cameroon and
Burkina Faso.
The Fulani are cattle herders and traders, and like other people groups in northern Nigeria, have had little, if any, contact with the Gospel. They speak Fulfulde – a language which, while differing somewhat between regions, is widely understood across this area of Africa. The women are instantly recognisable as they dress in colourful robes and carry large rounded gourd pots upon their heads.
Operating from his base camp in Buya – a remote village in northwest Nigeria – Mr Argungu takes his caravan ministry to surrounding settlements where he preaches from the Bible, shows the Jesus film using a generator to power the equipment, and plays audio Scriptures using a hand-wound cassette player. He and his wife also teach hygiene and literacy and offer basic medical assistance.
“We have a donkey and cart to travel with from village to village, and I use a megaphone to talk to the people,” said Mr Argungu. “A few people can read, so we use printed Scriptures for them, and we are so grateful for the support that the Bible Society can give us. We are supported by the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), but at present our support base is very small and not always regular.”
In fact, there is a desperate need for more Scripture material and equipment. Although the BSN, as well as other Bible Societies in the region, has been working to produce Scriptures in Fulfulde, the most pressing goal is to record these onto audio cassette because many Fulani are illiterate. Scripture broadcasts in Fulfulde are also in the pipeline but these have yet to get off the ground in Nigeria.
Through funding from the UBS global expansion program, Opportunity 21 (O-21), the BSN plans to provide audio and video Scripture resources to help the evangelists in their outreach. Discussions are under way about the recording of stories on biblical characters and the entire New Testament onto audio cassette in the languages of Arabic, Fulfulde, Hausa, Kanuri and Yoruba.
These will be made available free of charge. O-21 will also fund other essential mission facilities such as donkeys, carts, tents, portable tables and chairs, and portable generators.
With
poor roads and no access to modern facilities, life is difficult for evangelists
like Mr Argungu. They also sometimes face hostility and isolation from certain
elements in the communities they are trying to serve. Mr Argungu was forced
to move his camp away from the main village after the local Emir complained.
“When I first came here I set up the tent in the middle of the village,” said Mr Argungu. “The chief gave me permission to live in the centre of things until he was forced by the local Emir to make me leave. So we came here, tucked out of the way, which has actually been good because people can come to us. They come in the evening and we discuss the Bible together.
“It is very difficult to be a Christian here, and preaching the Bible is frowned on. I did not hide my purpose – I told them all that I am a Christian preacher, and the villagers are pleased to have me here. We try to help them develop certain skills, and my wife helps the women – we have a grinding machine for their corn, and we can help the children who often don’t go to school.
“But after the first convert – a young man who was beaten and thrown out of his father’s house – I was seen as a threat, and they have been trying to stop me in whatever way possible. Even the chief is not against me personally but he has to comply with the instructions of the Emir.
“Several people have expressed a real interest in the Bible, and it will not be long before we have the nucleus of a small church here. Then I will travel to other villages and do the same. When we have enough Christians I will invite the churches to provide a pastor. But you can see how far out we are. It really needs commitment to further the work here,” he added. [PHOTOS] (WR 358/29 - 03.01)