User:Aloyse Sonko

Senegal is confronted for years to one phenomenon which is The Talibes. These children   often boys are taking in charge by men called Marabout. But, theirs living conditions, theirs educations make a big issue   for the  Senegalese government.

Who are they?
The Talibes are the young boys who can be found, begging for food or money in all Senegalese big cities. When they are younger they leave, their family in the city or in the village to go leave in another city with a man called Marabout who will be their tutor and the responsible of their koranic education. Usually, their parents are poors, very poors and they cant take them in charge. Also, parents cant pay for them modern school it’s why they  bring them to the Marabout house in exchange of this education they will give to the Marabout  a compensation gift and the children would be engaged I farming or other enterprises to support the Marabout. Once in the Marabout house, they live in very bad conditions , often in unfinished house and are exposed to many troubles.

Definition of the word Talibe
For many people in Senegal Islam ask to bring children in Marabout house, what is totally wrong because be a Talibe is not to be a children in the street asking money or food to everybody  and being sick everytime because of bad conditions of living. But, be a Talibe is to stay near to one religious chief called also Marabout, to help him in different jobs in exchange to their koranic education. Often they belong to the Mourides brotherhood and they are not young. But many others people which are not true Marabout, take advantages of this phenomenon to exploit family specially children. The real Talibes are very respectable because they live life very hard and are in very good conditions and can leave the Marabout house whenever they want contrary to the  others who are forced to stay  with the Marabout until the age of  fifteen (15)or more.

Goal of the Talibe
Also, the real Talibe come from poor as rich family. It’s for them a way to show that they can live life very hard and they can afford the bad side of life.

Education with Coran
Many families bring their children in the Marabout house because it’s a way for them to show that they can believe in god. Contrary to the real Talibe in the Mouride brotherhood who receive a good koranik education and can pursue its studies in all Islamic universities in Arabic country, the street children has no education and often is forced to help the Marabout until his death or go to the village exploit the land of his parent. Often, he is completely lost, he doesn’t remember his name , or just don’t remember their families. But, the real goal of the Talibe is to know totally the Koran before leaving the Marabout house it’s just a type of old education

Ethical responsibility
The Marabout come often in the northern areas of Senegal and see  in the city a way to make good benefits it’s why they go house to house to ask family if they can’t carry theirs childrens, he can do it for them. Usually, we can have confidence in them when we first meet them, also, they have received a strong koranik education even if they are not honest. Many people respect the Marabout because of his knowledge about Koran and  they cant move back on what the Marabout said. The Zatkat in the Koran ask people to help those who has not the mean to help themselves in terms of foods, clothes…This is one strong argument for the Talibe but the Marabout has its own arguments for parents he often told them that at the end of their education children are strong mentally, physically and can face all kind of situations in life and if you don’t want your children be a Talibe you don’t respect Koran and its writtings. Also, 25% of the Marabouts will tell parents that be a beggar children will help children to find his way. But, the fact which is totally amazing is that the own children of the Marabout are all in private school to receive modern education.

Business Talibe
With the phenomenon of the Talibe a real business appeared because they sent the children in the street more than 10hours to ask for money and then they give it to the Marabout. They have to take breakfast, lunch, and dinner out of the house of the Marabout. With theirs benefits, the Marabout will pay the education of his own children , or he will take a new wife , or build a new house. The children don’t have the time to learn Koran or to play game with others children. They are here just waiting for money or food and they are scared to have a bad day because if it’s the case the Marabout will beat them. Each Talibe will give to the Marabout between 250 and 500 francs cfa(Senegalese currency) per day. Here is the testimonial of one children named Moussa, I found around my block. What’s your name? Moussa Where you come from? Tambacounda What are you doing here? The Marabout sent me there because he told me that people in this area are rich and they are going to give me money and food also. What is your schedule? 5am -10pm : Im working on the street. How much you have to give to the Marabout per day? 400f cfa Do you have some news of your parents? I don’t know them This day I left Moussa with the feelings that he will never receive any education in his life and I give it to him his money for one week and I ask him to not talk about that to his tutor

Living problems
The Talibes live a very hard life, usually in very bad conditions , they use to not take a bath during several days, they have dirty clothes , they can be identified also , by their empty tomato pots which serve to keep the begged food. They live in unfinished house or in the street, they don’t have the primary thing each one need : toilet. If they live in the Marabout house they are often too much.

Diseases and drugs
But, the fact which worry the authority is the disease , they are often sick because of the lack of sanitary and they don’t have a medical assistance. Much of them don’t know what is an hospital or what is a physician. To have more benefits,the Marabout thinks that Talibes should stay as they are because each one who sees a Talibe is going to help him  and to give him money  .At the end of the day, those who don’t give to the Marabout , are beaten.

Solutions
With all these treatments, many organizations asked to stop the Talibe phenomenon, because it’s a real issue for development, people see in this phenomenon a way to be rich and not to work in exploiting children. In fact they make distance between children and theirs parents, it’s why children can stay 10 years without seeing theirs kids and the Marabout avoid the kids to meet theirs parents. Also, parents have a great part in this phenomenon, because they don’t know the real importance of good  and modern education.