Mallam Rabi’u Shema is a complete Bakatsine man, originally from the Rumawa lineage, whom Allah blessed with a natural charm and a dignified appearance.
He hails from Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, from a village called Shema, where both his paternal and maternal families originate.
Due to the destiny of seeking livelihood through trade, he found himself in the city of Kano. He initially came alone before later bringing his wife, Iya Ladi.
They have four children—three sons and one daughter.
As the years passed, Mallam Rabi’u’s house became a large family compound with four separate sections. The house was built traditionally and is spacious enough that his three sons also secured living spaces for their families within it.
Allah has also blessed him with many grandchildren—almost twenty-four in number—including two from his married daughter, Marwa, who lives in Dutsinma.
None of Mallam Rabi’u’s children pursued Western education to maturity, but they possess a reasonable amount of Islamic knowledge.
His eldest son, Hamza, married his first wife, Ruqayya, the daughter of a close relative (his father’s sister’s daughter). Ruqayya moved to Kano and lived with Hamza in the family compound. He built two rooms and a bathroom for her, fenced around for privacy.
Ruqayya enjoyed sincere love from Hamza, his parents, and his siblings.
She lived with him for three years before becoming pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl named Maryam.
Only two months after Maryam’s naming ceremony, Hamza sought permission to marry a second wife.
This deeply troubled Ruqayya and upset his parents as well.
Hamza was worried because he loved Suwaiba and had already promised to marry her. He initially tried to suppress the desire but failed. He travelled to Shema to explain the situation to Ruqayya’s father.
Ruqayya’s father came to Kano, scolded her harshly, then gave her words of advice. He also spoke with Hamza’s parents, convincing them to accept the marriage since Hamza desired it.
Reluctantly, Iya Ladi and the family agreed, and Hamza married Suwaiba.
Suwaiba’s family originally came from Dawana, but they now lived in Kano. She had no issues adjusting—she only cared for Hamza. His parents and siblings initially disliked her, openly showing preference for Ruqayya.
But Suwaiba humbled herself, respected everyone, and served them sincerely. This gradually softened all hearts, including Ruqayya’s.
Maryam grew very attached to Suwaiba, who loved children. Though Ruqayya initially withdrew her daughter due to jealousy stirred by Gaje (Yusha’u’s wife), she later relaxed when she realized Suwaiba never harmed Maryam.
When Maryam was about to be weaned, Suwaiba requested to take over the process—and she did. From then on, Maryam stayed mostly with her.
Both Ruqayya and Suwaiba became pregnant around the same time. Ruqayya delivered first—a girl named Rahama. Two weeks later, Suwaiba gave birth to a boy named Ahmad.
Although Suwaiba loved Ahmad, her excessive gentleness made her hardly touch him—sometimes she would sit and cry, ignoring him. Ruqayya often picked him up, scolded her gently, and even breastfed him at times.
Due to this, Ahmad and Rahama grew up like twins.
Maryam remained like Suwaiba’s real daughter, while Ruqayya reciprocated by being gentle with Ahmad.
When all the children grew older, Ahmad eventually returned to Ruqayya’s care fully, while Maryam stayed with Suwaiba.
Ruqayya later became pregnant again and gave birth to another girl, Sakina.
Eight months after Sakina’s birth, Suwaiba had a daughter named Raheenat.
Children filled Mallam Rabi’u’s household, and their mothers’ names gradually changed—
Ruqayya became Ayyah, and Suwaiba became Gwaggo.
After Sakina, Ayyah never conceived again.
Gwaggo continued giving birth to Mudansir, Abubakar, Fa’iza, Sadiya, and the youngest, Zainab.
Their children grew up united, raised together with love and discipline.
Then came Hamza’s younger brother, Yusha’u. He married Dausiyya (Gaje) and lived in the compound too.
Gaje was extremely jealous of Suwaiba because everything about Suwaiba’s marriage seemed better than hers. She tried to turn Ayyah against Suwaiba, but Allah prevented discord.
She later hated Suwaiba even more when Ahmad (Suwaiba’s son) was placed in Ruqayya’s care, and when she gave birth around the same time but only had a girl—Binta.
Her plans to cause resentment failed.
Next, Ilyasu—the third son—married Sailuba. Immediately, Gaje poisoned Sailuba’s mind against Ayyah and Suwaiba.
Gradually, Sailuba began disliking them, and soon the brothers were also influenced.
This threatened the unity of Mallam Rabi’u’s household.
Mallam Rabi’u quickly intervened. He gathered all his children—including their married sister Marwa—rebuked them harshly, and demanded peace.
They sincerely accepted fault and apologized.
Iya Ladi insisted that Yusha’u and Ilyasu must marry second wives, believing their wives caused the trouble.
Ilyasu agreed immediately, but Yusha’u pleaded, saying he had no desire for another marriage.
Iya Ladi insisted it was compulsory, giving him three years to find a wife.
A few days later, Ilyasu took a second wife named Zubaida.
But even then, Gaje continued inciting Sailuba, making peace impossible among Ilyasu’s wives.
Life continued like this in the compound. Their children grew older, while Mallam Rabi’u and Iya Ladi grew weaker with age—though Iya Ladi remained relatively strong.
Hamza was a hardworking man who refused to rely on begging. Despite being poor, he strove to provide food, education, and care for his family.
He wanted his children to attend modern schools, unlike his siblings who rejected Western education, believing it corrupts children.
Hamza tried explaining the difference between the present and their own era, but they refused to understand.
So he simply ignored their criticism and sent his children to government school by day, Islamiyyah in the evening, and Qur’an memorization at night.
Description
Background of Mallam Rabi’u Shema
Mallam Rabi’u Shema is a complete Bakatsine man, originally from the Rumawa lineage, whom Allah blessed with a natural charm and a dignified appearance.
He hails from Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, from a village called Shema, where both his paternal and maternal families originate.
Due to the destiny of seeking livelihood through trade, he found himself in the city of Kano. He initially came alone before later bringing his wife, Iya Ladi.
They have four children—three sons and one daughter.
As the years passed, Mallam Rabi’u’s house became a large family compound with four separate sections. The house was built traditionally and is spacious enough that his three sons also secured living spaces for their families within it.
Allah has also blessed him with many grandchildren—almost twenty-four in number—including two from his married daughter, Marwa, who lives in Dutsinma.
None of Mallam Rabi’u’s children pursued Western education to maturity, but they possess a reasonable amount of Islamic knowledge.
His eldest son, Hamza, married his first wife, Ruqayya, the daughter of a close relative (his father’s sister’s daughter). Ruqayya moved to Kano and lived with Hamza in the family compound. He built two rooms and a bathroom for her, fenced around for privacy.
Ruqayya enjoyed sincere love from Hamza, his parents, and his siblings.
She lived with him for three years before becoming pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl named Maryam.
Only two months after Maryam’s naming ceremony, Hamza sought permission to marry a second wife.
This deeply troubled Ruqayya and upset his parents as well.
Hamza was worried because he loved Suwaiba and had already promised to marry her. He initially tried to suppress the desire but failed. He travelled to Shema to explain the situation to Ruqayya’s father.
Ruqayya’s father came to Kano, scolded her harshly, then gave her words of advice. He also spoke with Hamza’s parents, convincing them to accept the marriage since Hamza desired it.
Reluctantly, Iya Ladi and the family agreed, and Hamza married Suwaiba.
Suwaiba’s family originally came from Dawana, but they now lived in Kano. She had no issues adjusting—she only cared for Hamza. His parents and siblings initially disliked her, openly showing preference for Ruqayya.
But Suwaiba humbled herself, respected everyone, and served them sincerely. This gradually softened all hearts, including Ruqayya’s.
Maryam grew very attached to Suwaiba, who loved children. Though Ruqayya initially withdrew her daughter due to jealousy stirred by Gaje (Yusha’u’s wife), she later relaxed when she realized Suwaiba never harmed Maryam.
When Maryam was about to be weaned, Suwaiba requested to take over the process—and she did. From then on, Maryam stayed mostly with her.
Both Ruqayya and Suwaiba became pregnant around the same time. Ruqayya delivered first—a girl named Rahama. Two weeks later, Suwaiba gave birth to a boy named Ahmad.
Although Suwaiba loved Ahmad, her excessive gentleness made her hardly touch him—sometimes she would sit and cry, ignoring him. Ruqayya often picked him up, scolded her gently, and even breastfed him at times.
Due to this, Ahmad and Rahama grew up like twins.
Maryam remained like Suwaiba’s real daughter, while Ruqayya reciprocated by being gentle with Ahmad.
When all the children grew older, Ahmad eventually returned to Ruqayya’s care fully, while Maryam stayed with Suwaiba.
Ruqayya later became pregnant again and gave birth to another girl, Sakina.
Eight months after Sakina’s birth, Suwaiba had a daughter named Raheenat.
Children filled Mallam Rabi’u’s household, and their mothers’ names gradually changed—
Ruqayya became Ayyah, and Suwaiba became Gwaggo.
After Sakina, Ayyah never conceived again.
Gwaggo continued giving birth to Mudansir, Abubakar, Fa’iza, Sadiya, and the youngest, Zainab.
Their children grew up united, raised together with love and discipline.
Then came Hamza’s younger brother, Yusha’u. He married Dausiyya (Gaje) and lived in the compound too.
Gaje was extremely jealous of Suwaiba because everything about Suwaiba’s marriage seemed better than hers. She tried to turn Ayyah against Suwaiba, but Allah prevented discord.
She later hated Suwaiba even more when Ahmad (Suwaiba’s son) was placed in Ruqayya’s care, and when she gave birth around the same time but only had a girl—Binta.
Her plans to cause resentment failed.
Next, Ilyasu—the third son—married Sailuba. Immediately, Gaje poisoned Sailuba’s mind against Ayyah and Suwaiba.
Gradually, Sailuba began disliking them, and soon the brothers were also influenced.
This threatened the unity of Mallam Rabi’u’s household.
Mallam Rabi’u quickly intervened. He gathered all his children—including their married sister Marwa—rebuked them harshly, and demanded peace.
They sincerely accepted fault and apologized.
Iya Ladi insisted that Yusha’u and Ilyasu must marry second wives, believing their wives caused the trouble.
Ilyasu agreed immediately, but Yusha’u pleaded, saying he had no desire for another marriage.
Iya Ladi insisted it was compulsory, giving him three years to find a wife.
A few days later, Ilyasu took a second wife named Zubaida.
But even then, Gaje continued inciting Sailuba, making peace impossible among Ilyasu’s wives.
Life continued like this in the compound. Their children grew older, while Mallam Rabi’u and Iya Ladi grew weaker with age—though Iya Ladi remained relatively strong.
Hamza was a hardworking man who refused to rely on begging. Despite being poor, he strove to provide food, education, and care for his family.
He wanted his children to attend modern schools, unlike his siblings who rejected Western education, believing it corrupts children.
Hamza tried explaining the difference between the present and their own era, but they refused to understand.
So he simply ignored their criticism and sent his children to government school by day, Islamiyyah in the evening, and Qur’an memorization at night.