April 23
First, a bit of background!
Imala is an area of Ogun State in the southwest of Nigeria, an area under the jurisdiction of a traditional ruler known as the ‘Kabiyesi’ by his subjects. Wanting to develop the area (which by the way is one of the most depressed I’ve seen in Nigeria,) and wanting to find a solution to the conflict between the Fulani and Yoruba tribes living here and just across the river in Oyo State, Kabiyesi with his own organization, Imala Land Development Foundation, (ILDF,) is working with three organizations, including our own – Schools for Africa - towards permanent solutions.
Professor, Dr. Gary Maxey, Founder of West Africa Theological Seminary, (WATS,) and Dr. James Rose, Director of Christian Development Foundation, (CDF,) are planning to build a mega Christian University here in Imala, including a vocational school and training centers. Dr. Rose tells me that Imala Town will be a city of over a million people once the University and vocational training centers are established.
Schools for Africa, (SFA,) has been given 2,000 acres of land on which Fulani families may settle peacefully, with a large school for their children, a clinic and training for Fulani women in Community Health, guest and teachers’ quarters and most importantly, an area of their own on which to graze their cattle, sheep and goats.
In the Nigerian system, all land under the Kabiyesi is his by rights. Although legally owned by others, as the Kabiyesi, he can take the land, arrange with the owners on compensation, and use it as he will.
The 2,000 acres belonged to four families – three of whom willingly relinquished their portions.
The fourth family, however, has not.
On this first day in Imala, we were invited to the Kabiyesi’s palace, where he told us of the conflict and asked that we be patient for another two weeks, not starting work until all of the land was free. This put me in a very bad situation, as we were eleven people in our team, drivers, police, masons and carpenters, a cook and our dog Bullet…..and we only had very temporary shelter before we’d have to move. Our plan was to quickly build a staff quarters on the site, (which we’d not yet seen,) then move there, out of the training center we’d been given to stay in for just one week. But now Kabiyesi was telling me we had to be patient for two more weeks before starting work! After I pleaded with him, explaining our circumstances, the Kabiyesi said to be patient until the coming Tuesday, just four days away. I could do nothing more than agree and thank him, before driving back to explain this to the ten men on my team.
Good things happening on this first day in Imala were:
I had a nice chat with Dr. Gary Maxey who with his wife Emma Lou are having a house built in Imala and plan to stay here permanently.
I found out I can get my Covid vaccine right here in the government clinic!
Bullet and I saw a Pin-tailed Whydah in the side yard of our temporary shelter!
April 24
Today we visited Alhaji Bature, the Fulani chief who will move to the new SFA site with his extended family, leading the way for other Fulani to come. At Alhaji’s camp, after sitting for a few minutes with the men, I walked around with Haruna, (the Fulani man who works with us in SFA,) greeting the women and children, just giving them a chance to see and become used to this strange, white-skinned woman and know they have nothing to fear. It will take time! Many women covered their faces while several of the younger children ran away screaming!
When we got back to our temporary shelter, we found Sharjeel there, working, with several of his team. Sharjeel is a Christian missionary from Pakistan. He told me his mother and father had come to Nigeria as missionaries, years ago. His mother died here of an apparent heart attack, and now his father has gone to America. Sharjeel has at least one other brother who is a missionary in Nigeria. Sharjeel is married with two sons both attending university. He and his wife live in Lagos, but plan to move to Imala by next year.
Sharjeel and his men were attaching batteries to the solar panels and reactivating solar electricity for us! We have light! And fans! WooHoo! This means a lot in this country which is so hot and humid at this time of year!
Alhaji Bature had suggested we go across the river tomorrow to visit his elder brother, Alhaji Shehu, leader of a large Fulani community there. We agreed and decided to buy a bag of rice to take along as a gift to Shehu. But do you think we could find rice anywhere? We drove for miles, from one little village to another, but people didn’t even want to TALK about rice! Finally someone explained that the customs officers took so much money from anyone bringing rice from the capital city, Abeokuta, that rice was smuggled in, and it was forbidden to even talk about it! But we persisted and finally were rewarded by one Yoruba woman who brought a bag of rice out of her house and sold it to us. We divided the rice into three, planning to give a portion to Alhaji Shehu, one to Alhaji Bature and saving one portion for our team.
April 25
Today is Sunday. Officer Jacob, Okon and I, the three Christians on our team, worshiped together and prayed. We especially prayed for our dear Muslim brothers on the team, that they would come to know and love Jesus.
At 7:30 am we set off for the river, along with Alhaji Bature and four, rented motorcycles and drivers. We loaded everyone on a large canoe and made the trip across in just five minutes! The motorcycle ride took longer, about thirty minutes – and I hated each and every one of those minutes – sure we’d crash and burn at every turn! No matter how I begged and pleaded, my driver insisted on top speeds on a little, winding path that was either deep sand or rocks and gravel! It was horrible! I’ve got to find another way to get to this Fulani village!
The visit itself, however, was great. Alhaji Shehu was so happy with our coming, and of course, with the rice! We walked around again, greeting men and women who had NEVER seen a white-skinned person before! Can you imagine? But with time, they got used to me, and we were able to talk, take pictures, have a nice time together.
Alhaji Shehu’s wife was sitting by a fire on which was a pot of boiling milk in which floated large, green leaves. Haruna explained that she was making ‘cheese’. Hmm. The leaves, he said, were to wrap the cheese in preparation for sale. He pointed out a Yoruba man sitting nearby, waiting to buy the cheese.
I remembered seeing these ‘packets’ being sold along the roadside and wondering what they were! Now I know and will have to buy and try! I’ve not seen anything like this in any other part of Nigeria! So much fun to see something new!
Alhaji Shehu welcomes the idea of a school and requested a borehole for water.
April 26
I’m getting very nervous about this long wait to start work. The workers are better about this than I, but we’re spending big money feeding eleven people who are doing nothing but sitting about all day long. I’ve sent a text to Prince, Kabiyesi’s son, asking if any decision has been made about starting work, but he’s not responded. Also, I’ve looked up the signed agreement between ILDF and SFA which clearly states that 2,000 acres will be given to SFA for this job.
I made a big decision today! I’m moving permanently from my flat in Abuja, (which I rent for 4.5 million naira yearly,) to our SFA site in Imala! The site is only a little over one hour’s drive from Lagos where there’s a good airport, from which I can fly to do regular visits to our projects in Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States, and out to the U.S. when needed. The money SFA will save on this move will pay for the additional teachers we’re hiring for our schools in Bobi and will hire in Imala! So happy also to be a part of a missionary community again, with Dr. and Mrs. Maxey and Sharjeel’s family close by!
Finally, Prince has called! The dispute between the four families has not yet been settled, but Kabiyesi together with Dr. Rose has found a piece of undisputed land on which we can start. In fact, according to Dr. Rose, or James, (as I will now call him,) the very fact that we are starting the project may help to propel a positive decision on the rest of the 2,000 acres.
I dreamed tonight of JW Haley, pastor, pioneer missionary in South Africa, Mozambique and Central Africa. In my dream I saw Rev. Haley standing on the hill overlooking Lake Nyalendati, saying, ‘What a beautiful place to build a mission station!’ That mission station would later become my home, Inhamachafo.
Is this dream significant somehow, a foretaste of our own introduction to the land we’ll be shown tomorrow? Land on which we will build a mission station? Tomorrow will tell!
April 27
At 8 am today, Prince came riding up on the back of a motorcycle, and led the way to the new, SFA site. This was it! TODAY we would see the place that will be home to Alhaji Bature’s clan and many other Fulani, and home to me!
We followed Prince through one small village, then another, finally turning and driving about ten kilometers along a fairly decent dirt road through a landscape that was mostly jungle with only a few cleared patches of farm. Prince then turned into one small settlement and introduced us to the ‘Bale’, or local chief, who had donated the identified, undisputed land to SFA. On his motorbike, Bale then led the way to show us the land.
The road continued some three or four more kilometers, then there was a break in the jungle, a change in the light, and suddenly, a break-through! And there was the river! The river, flowing gently through green wetlands, the river, flowing down past Alhaji Shehu’s boat landing, all the way to the dam!
The land we were shown was above the river, with full access to the water before us! A natural wetlands area, teeming with grasses, flowers and birds. I saw Lapwings, great flocks of African Jacana, Coots, ducks and Egrets. A birdwatcher’s paradise!
I stood on that high ground overlooking the river and could only say, ‘Thank you, Lord. Thank you, thank you.’ It was my dream come true.
This will be a fine place to build a mission station!
May 4, 2021
We’ve started with building the staff house, then will go on to the teachers’ quarters, guest house and school. The first foundation has been laid and walls are going up. We’re ordering lumber today. Work has begun on the borehole, and a bulldozer is coming tomorrow to clear the entire 10 acres for the school compound. Haruna is showing Alhaji Bature the 200 acres; Bature will select a suitable place within this land where his own family will live. All glory be to God!
I’ll send the next diary installment in a week or so!
Thanks for caring about SFA’s work in Imala! We’re so excited to see the wonderful things God will do in this place!
Love and blessings,
Phyllis Sortor
