KARANTA RUBUTA

MY FRIEND AL-AMIN

2009-08-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

By Ismail Yusuf. Primary 1. Saudat Nursery and Primary School Rimin Gata, Kano, Nigeria.

Mai Suma

2009-08-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

By Abdulrashid Yusuf, Primary 5, Addy Nursery and Primary School, Rimin Gata, Kano, Nigeria.

FLOWERS

2009-08-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

By Jamila Bulama. Uncle Bado Secondary School, Kaduna, Nigeria. JSS 2

IN THE NIGHT

2009-08-22T15:10:00.001-07:00

By Hamzaa Bulama. Chrisbridge Schools, Kaduna, Nigeria. Primary 3

RAIN

2009-08-22T15:06:00.001-07:00

By Jibril Bulama, Mary Travis Primary School, Kaduna, Nigeria. Class 4

2009-08-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

NIGHT

2009-08-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

By Idris Bulama, Mary Travis Primary School Kaduna, Nigeria. Class 3

The Stars at Night

2009-05-28T14:26:00.001-07:00

By Yusuf M. Adamu PhD
Excerpts from my forthcoming book Conversation with the Earth

The first thing that fascinates Khadijah and Ahmad in their first night in the village is the night sky. The moon is gone but the night was well dotted with some tiny lamps, many of them that the two children could not count. “Uncle, I have never seen so many stars like this,” said Ahmad
“What are stars?” Khadijah asked before Ali could respond
“You are very impatient” Ahmad said
“Do not worry Ahmad, Khadijah look up,” said Ali
They all looked up at the sky. Uncle Ali began explanation, “Stars are like our Sun, and they are lamps in the sky. There are many of them up there no one knows how many they are”
“If they are like the Sun why are they not as big and as bright?”
“They are not as bright because they are very far away” Uncle Ali replied
“How far away are they?” Asked Ahmad with more curiosity
“Yes, we want to know,” said Khadijah
Uncle Ali sighs and said, “Well, the Sun is about One Hundred and Fifty Million Kilometers from the earth”
“One hundred and fifty million kilometers?” Ahmad asked in astonishment
“Yes, and it is the closest star to the earth”
“But what is a million?” Khadijah ask
“One million is one thousand times one thousand” replied Ahmad confidently.
“That means the Sun is One Thousand time One Thousand time One hundred and fifty kilometers away from the earth,” Khadijah said
“That’s right.” Replied Uncle Ali wondering how to explain to these children how far stars really are.
As he expects, Khadijah asked the question “But uncle if the Sun is the closest Star how far are the twinkling stars we that are out there?”
This is a question he expects and he finds it very difficult to explain in such a way that Khadijah will comprehend, although he is hopeful that Ahmad might grasp something. In any case, he has to try and he began “apart from the Sun, the nearest star from the earth is very far and far away, it is 66,666 times farther away than the Sun” Khadijah looked confused “I don’t understand this” she confessed. Uncle Ali could understand why she is confused, but he is not sure if Ahmad has understood him and waited to hear his response.

“Uncle, you are right, Stars are very far and far away. My question now is that why do some look white, some blue some yellow?”
Uncle Ali was surprised with the question but he reasoned that they are outside in the night watching the stars. He smiled and said “the colours of the stars is simply telling us how far and how hot they are, the yellow stars like the Sun are not as far as the rest and are not as hot. The blue stars are farther and hotter than the yellow while the white stars are hotter and farther than all the rest. I hope you understand Ahmad”
“Yes uncle, thank you, we have learnt so much tonight. It is getting cold, I think we should go in” Ahmad suggested.
“Yes, we learnt a lot, but uncle you still did not answer my question, how far are the stars?”
“You Khadijah, you are too stubborn. You are too small to understand. When you grow up, you will understand. But for now just take it that the stars are very far and far away, that is why they look tiny”
“OK, but where do the stars go in the day?” Asked Khadijah
“They hide” Ahmad replied
“Is that true uncle?” Khadijah asked again
“No, they are there in the sky. We don’t see them because the Sun is brighter.” Said Uncle Ali as he draws Khadijah and Ahmad and lead them into the house.

History Teacher

2009-03-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

By Muhammad Yusuf

Boys

2009-03-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

By Muhammad Yusuf

Big Boy and Girls

2009-01-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

By Muhammad Yusuf

Colours

2008-12-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

Drawing by Muhammad Yusuf JSS 2C BUK Staff Secondary School, Kano, Nigeria.

Man in Babbar Riga

2008-12-26T15:58:00.000-08:00

This is a man wearing Hausa Traditional Dress (Big Gown). the young artist uses computer software (Paint) to make his drawing.

Drawing by Muhammad Yusuf (Abba) JSS 2C, Bayero University Staff School, Kano, Nigeria. (November 2008)

IRAQ

2008-09-23T14:27:00.001-07:00

Ilustrations by Muhammad Yusuf. JSS 2C, Bayero University Staff Secondary School, Kano, Nigeria.

2008-08-29T14:35:00.001-07:00

MY TEACHER

2007-12-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

No one in this world is as great
As important as my teacher know
Teachers teach us like their kids
Teachers give us the best in everything
They guide us and shape our lives
They teach us kindness and good manners
They train us to be good citizen

Oh God of creation we pray
Reward our teachers with the best
Bless their lives and help them too
For teachers wherever they may be
Male or female know, they are great

(c) Yusuf M Adamu 2007

PEACE

2007-12-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

God created us differently
Our languages very many
Each with a culture unlike the other
But created us on one earth
He gives us one Sun and one moon
Loving us more than all things
We are lonely in the universe

If we’re lonely all over everywhere
It is peace that shows our thanks to God
It is peace that brings love and smile
It is only peace that makes us human
Let’s live at peace with one another
Let’s live at peace with every one
God loves the peaceful

(c) Yusuf M Adamu 2007

HOME

2007-12-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

My home gives me joy
It is like no other place
It is not as beautiful as others
Neither is it as big as others
Nor located in the best of places
But it is better than other homes
Because it is where I live
Where daddy and mommy lives
Where we merrily live in peace
I love our home, more than any other

(C)Yusuf M Adamu 2007

My new book for children

2007-12-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Animals in the Neighbourhood is a story of two sisters Khadija and Batulu. They went on an errand in a typical African town of northern Nigeria. In this journey they discovered many domestic animals and in the process learn how to count from 1-20. They also learn about the names of animals in Hausa language. The book is well illustrated with beautiful pictures of animals and a traditional African architecture at the background.

It will be published First week of February, Godwilling. The book is being published by:

Adamu Joji Publishers based in Kano. For details, they can be contacted via this email: ajpublishers@yahoo.com

When I become the President of Nigeria!

2007-12-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

By Abdulrashid Yusuf
Primary 3B, Addy Nursery and Primary School, Rimin Gata, Kano, Nigeria

My name is Abdulrashid Yusuf. I am seven years old. I am tall and I am fair in complexion. I am Muslim by religion. My best game is football. My best food is rice with chicken stew. My bedtime is 10 o’clock. My hobby is playing with computer. We are 6 in our family. My father is a lecturer and my mother is a nurse. The name of my small brother is Isma’il. He is 4 years old. The name of my elder brother is Muhammad. He is 12 years old. He is at the Bayero University Staff Secondary School. The name of our eldest sister is Khadijah she is 14 years old she is also at the Staff Secondary School Bayero University. She is in Senior Secondary II. My best colour is yellow.

The name of my hometown is Tsafe, we use to visit them from time to time .We stay at the Bayero University staff quarters. We used to live at Giginyu quarters in Kano. I have many friends, my best friend is Bello. I love my family very much they are very kind. My father buys us books always, he also borrow books for us from the library in town. He wants us to read a lot. He said if we read a lot we will be good citizens and wise.

I want to become the president of Nigeria, so that I give the people of Nigeria water and electricity and I will make the roads very clean. I will build schools and mosques. My next birthday is August 23. I like my self because I am very obedient and kind. Thank you for reading my first composition.

The picture is my younger brother Ismai'il (left) and me (right).