Imagine living in a place where everyone looks at you like you are a stranger, even though you were born there. That is exactly how Aeesha feels every single day. She is a young girl living in a small neighborhood, but she doesn't look like the people around her. While everyone else has dark skin, Aeesha is very fair, looking like she is half-Arab. This makes people whisper whenever she passes by. They point fingers and tell stories about her behind her back. It makes her so sad that sometimes she doesn't even want to go outside. She just wants to be a normal girl, but her face tells a story she doesn't even fully understand yet. The author, Zainab Idris Makawa, really makes you feel the pain Aeesha carries in her heart from the very first page.
Aeesha lives with her grandparents, whom she calls Ammah and Abbu. They are very poor but they love her so much. They try their best to give her a good life and a good education. Aeesha is very smart and she is a good student in both her regular school and her Islamic school. She is not a girl who likes trouble. She is very quiet and keeps to herself because she doesn't want people to mock her or ask her questions she can't answer. You can see how hard life is for them when you read about Abbu coming home from work. He rides an old bicycle to the market every day. If he is lucky and sells something, he brings home a little food. If not, they just pray and sleep like that. It is a humble life, but they have peace in their small house with only two rooms.
One of the most touching parts at the beginning of the story says — "Sometimes a person feels like their destiny is the hardest in the whole world, but once you hear what someone else is going through, you realize your own problem is actually very small." (translated from Hausa). This really shows how Aeesha tries to stay strong even when things are hard. She knows she is not the only one with problems, but it is still difficult when you don't know who your real parents are. People call her "Yar Balarabiya" which means the Arab girl, and that name has almost replaced her real name in the neighborhood. If you enjoy stories about young girls finding their way, you should definitely download Hausa novels like this one to see how she survives.
The real drama starts when a woman named Mama Gwarzo visits their house. She is a relative or a friend of the family, and she starts talking to Ammah about things that Aeesha isn't supposed to hear. They talk about someone named Nana. Aeesha has heard this name before and she suspects that Nana might be her mother. In many parts of the north, some women go to Arab countries to find work, and sometimes they come back with children or leave the children with their own parents. This is what happened to Aeesha. Her mother, Nana, left her with the grandparents and nobody knows where she is now. This secret is like a heavy cloud hanging over the house. It reminds me of the deep family secrets you find in A DALILIN MATAR UBA, where family issues cause so much pain.
One day, Ammah tells Aeesha that she has to travel to the village with Mama Gwarzo. There is some land that their relatives want to sell without their permission, so they have to go and fix the problem. Aeesha wants to go with her. She is tired of being left behind. She tells her grandmother — "Ammah, why won't you take me with you so I can see your hometown? Everyone knows where they come from, but I don't know mine, and I don't even know any of my relatives." (translated from Hausa). It is so heartbreaking to hear a young girl talk like that. She feels like she has no roots, like she just dropped from the sky. But Ammah tells her she must stay behind to cook for Abbu and look after the house. Ammah promises her that one day she will know everything, but for now, she has to wait.
After Ammah leaves, Aeesha is alone in the house. She decides to do some deep cleaning to keep her mind busy. She sweeps the compound and scrubs the kitchen. Then she goes into her grandparents' room to clean there too. While she is reaching under Ammah's old bed, she finds a plastic bag that is tied very tightly. She can tell that whatever is inside is very important because of how it was hidden. Her heart starts beating fast. She knows she shouldn't be snooping, but her curiosity is too strong. She slowly unties the bag and finds some old photographs inside. These aren't just any photos. They show a woman who looks just like her, holding a small baby. The woman is very fair and beautiful. When Aeesha turns the photo over, she sees writing in Arabic and a date from 1982. This discovery changes everything for her. It’s the kind of suspense you get when reading GELLE ƁINGEL or other best Hausa novels online.
As Aeesha stares at the photos, she realizes that her life has been a lie. Or at least, a half-truth. She starts to wonder about the man who is her father. Was he an Arab man? Did he love her mother? Why is she living in poverty in a small room while her father might be somewhere rich and far away? The photos make her feel a mix of joy and anger. She is happy to finally see a face that looks like hers, but she is angry that no one told her the truth. This part of the book is so emotional because you can feel her confusion. It makes you want to jump into the story and give her a hug. If you like stories with this kind of mystery, you might also want to check out KANA NAKA Book 1 because it also deals with people facing their past.
The story gets even more intense as Aeesha tries to hide the fact that she found the photos. She doesn't want Abbu to know she was looking through their things, but she can't stop thinking about what she saw. Every time she looks at her own reflection in the mirror, she sees the woman from the photo. She starts to realize that her beauty is not a curse, but a link to a world she has never seen. She begins to ask herself if she should go looking for her mother or if she should just stay and continue her quiet life. It is a big decision for a young girl. For more stories about girls finding their identity in difficult situations, MUMINA KO AZZALUMA 1 is another great one to read on Taskar Novels.
Zainab Idris Makawa did a great job showing how the community treats people who are different. The way the neighbors talk about Aeesha is very realistic. They don't mean to be mean all the time, but their gossip hurts. Aeesha has to be twice as good as everyone else just to be accepted. She has to be the most respectful, the most religious, and the most hardworking. It is a lot of pressure. But Aeesha is strong. Even when she is crying inside, she keeps a straight face. This reminds me of the luxury and the drama in BANANA ISLAND, even though Aeesha's life is the opposite of luxury right now. You can find so many Hausa novels online that explore these themes of social status and family background.
As the story goes on, you will see how Aeesha handles the secrets she discovered. Will she wait for Ammah to come back and confront her? Or will she take the photos and start her own investigation? There is so much more to this book than just a girl in a small house. It is about courage and finding out where you truly belong. The title "JA YA FADO JA YA DAUKA" really fits because it hints at things falling into place and people taking what belongs to them. It is a rollercoaster of emotions. If you are looking for something that will keep you up at night, just like LU'U LU'U, then this is the book for you.
You really need to read this novel to get the full gist. The way the author describes the scenes makes you feel like you are standing right there in the dusty compound with Aeesha. You can smell the food cooking on the firewood and hear the sound of the evening prayer. It is a beautiful and sad story all at once. You can find this book and many more like it on Taskar Novels. They have all the latest and most interesting stories that will make you fall in love with reading all over again. Just head over to Taskar Novels to get your copy and start reading today!
