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Drinking the Word    of God Introduction The Towns of Zinder and Bondoukou • Zinder • Bondoukou The Production of Writing Water Education and Scholarship in Zinder and Bondoukou • Education • Scholarship Health, Well-Being and the Talismanic Tradition • Erasure: Writing Water • Talismans • Special Prayers Resources for Further Study Acknowledgements Comments

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Scholarship


Knowledge of the Qur'an and other religious texts is highly regarded in Bondoukou and Zinder. Children begin attending Qur'anic school as early as age four or five. Although boys and girls begin studying at the same age, it is generally men who attain the highest levels of scholarship. Because women marry at an earlier age than men and assume numerous household responsibilities they have less time to continue intensive study. In spite of these responsibilities some women do continue to study and receive recognition as spiritual leaders in their communities. Scholars are viewed as the religious authority of their communities and are consulted for advice on spiritual as well as physical aspects of well-being.

Library of Malam al-Haji Harisou Watara, Bondoukou.
Bookseller, Amadou Omar Diop, Bondoukou.		Malama Hadiza writing text for erasure, Zinder.
Scholars, Zinder.
Men reading the Qur'an in mosque in village of Bondo Dyula, near Bondoukou.		Karamoko al-Haji Alai Watara, Bondoukou.
Malam Oumarou Illo, Bondoukou.

Education . Scholarship

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