The Rebel Son of Fulani Heritage, Dawud Abdulkareem, was born on the 14th of January, 1977, in the enchanting village of Kurra Falls, Plateau State. His roots ran deep into the rich traditions of the Fulani people, where cattle herding was not merely an occupation but a symbol of identity, pride, and survival. Dawud, however, was destined to be different. A silent fire within him would one day burn against the winds of centuries-old traditions.
Coming from a vast polygamous family, Dawud was the eleventh of his mother’s fourteen children and the thirtieth among the thirty-five offspring of Alhaji Ruwa Abdulkareem Usman, a respected patriarch who had four wives. In such a household, individual dreams were often swallowed by collective expectations. Life revolved around cattle and the pastoralist lifestyle, and young boys were groomed to carry on the legacy of their fathers, to become herdsmen, to preserve the lineage through livestock, and to honor the ways of the ancestors.
At just nine years old, tragedy struck. Alhaji Ruwa Abdulkareem passed away at the age of seventy-three, leaving behind a sprawling family and an enormous inheritance to be divided among wives and children. In the wake of this loss, the family’s unity began to fracture. Dawud inherited an impressive forty-seven cows, including numerous strong bulls, a treasure by Fulani standards. It was expected that this inheritance would seal his path. Dawud was to become a cattle owner and continue the family’s noble way of life.
But deep within the boy’s heart, an invisible rebellion brewed.
Unlike his older siblings who saw cattle herding as both a duty and destiny, Dawud began questioning the very foundation of his upbringing. To him, life among the cattle was confining, a tradition that clipped his budding wings. He yearned for a different kind of wealth, the wealth of knowledge. At twelve years of age, when most of his peers had already settled into the rhythms of pastoral life, Dawud developed a bold and almost dangerous interest: formal education.
Education, however, was frowned upon in Dawud’s world. Among his kin, the pursuit of literacy was seen as a distraction, even a betrayal, of their cultural identity. Those who went to school were whispered about, labeled as deserters of their heritage. For Dawud, embracing education meant setting himself at odds not only with tradition but also with the entire fabric of his family’s way of life.
Conflict quickly followed. His siblings viewed his ambition as an act of rebellion, an unforgivable deviation that needed to be crushed. What began as scolding soon escalated into open hostility. Dawud endured punishments and relentless psychological attacks designed to break his spirit. But even amid threats and isolation, he remained unyielding.
At twenty-one, the breaking point arrived. Unable to conform to the dictates of tradition and unwilling to surrender his dreams, Dawud was eventually expelled from the family home. His siblings, infuriated by his stubbornness, ganged up against him, plotting not only to ostracize him but also to destroy his future. A malicious scheme was devised. They connived with local law enforcement in an attempt to frame Dawud for crimes he did not commit, hoping to see him jailed.
Providence, however, intervened. Dawud caught wind of the plot and acted swiftly. In a daring escape under the cover of night, he fled his home and made his way to the Mambila Plateau in Taraba State. There, among the lush mountains and cool breeze, he found refuge under the protective wings of his uncle, Ardo Gori.
Ardo Gori welcomed Dawud not as a rebel, but as a brave soul carving his own path. For six months, Dawud lived in exile, away from the simmering resentment of his siblings. During this period, he found a renewed sense of hope and a quiet space to reflect on his aspirations. It was here, far from the suffocating expectations of his birth home, that he fully committed himself to the pursuit of education.
When the time felt right, Dawud returned to his village. Though the tensions had not completely faded, the flames of opposition had cooled enough to allow him to continue his studies. His return marked not a defeat but a silent victory. Dawud had crossed the Rubicon. There was no going back.
His journey, however, was never a solitary one. Dawud’s fight was never just about himself. His daring move inspired a ripple effect within the family and the larger community. Where once education was seen as a betrayal, it slowly began to be viewed as a possibility. In the years that followed, Dawud’s tenacity bore fruit. By 1999, thanks to the trail he blazed, the Abdulkareem family began producing university graduates, over ten at the time of writing, and over twenty others were enrolled in various higher institutions across Nigeria.
Dawud’s story was one of seeds sown against harsh winds, yet taking root and blossoming in unexpected ways. His life became a living testament to the power of conviction, courage, and resilience.
Beyond inspiring a shift in attitudes towards education, Dawud poured his rich life experiences into writing. His award-winning novel, Diary of a Peasant Child, a blend of fact, fiction, history, and fantasy, captures the spirit of defiance and dreams that defined his early life. In it, readers journey through landscapes of conflict and hope, tracing the steps of a boy who refused to be bound by the chains of tradition.
Looking back, Dawud Abdulkareem’s early life was a portrait painted with strokes of struggle, sorrow, and steadfast hope. His beginnings were not easy. He was no child of privilege in the classic sense. Yet in a world that sought to confine him, he chose to dream, and in doing so, he not only redefined his own destiny but reshaped the destiny of generations to come.
Dawud Abdulkareem was and remains the rebel son of Fulani heritage, the one who dared to dream beyond the cattle fields, the one who turned exile into enlightenment, and whose courage lit the way for others to follow.