Talibes

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In parts of urban West Africa Talibes (or Talibé, Arabic for students) are religious students or followers of specific religious sect or teacher. In contemporary Senegal, Mali and Guinea, these are often children living with a Marabout religious teacher in order to pursue a free religious education. In Senegal, many street children are nominally talibes of disreputable teachers, and the word has become synonymous groups of begging children who ply the streets of urban areas.

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[edit] The Talibes

Talibes traditionally reside with a religious teacher (Marabout) helping him with labor in exchange for their koranic education. Often they belong to sufi Moslem brotherhoods (such as the Mourides) and they retain the title talib as a source of pride throughout their lives.

Most Talibes are well treated and very respected for their education and their youthful training through hard work. They are usually housed with families in good conditions and can leave the Marabout's home whenever they wish.

Talibes may come from poor or rich families. The aesetic nature of the thraditional education is itself valued as a passage of boys into adulthood.

Some urban teachers have taken advantage of this traditional education to exploit children. Young boys who are seen begging for food or money many urban areas across the Republic of Senegal, are often Talibes as well, sent from their rural homes to urban areas by their parents in order to pursue an Islamic education. Usually their parents are very poor and frequently are unable to provide paid education for their children. These talibes are reputed to be kept against their will, unfed, and forced to stay with the Marabout until the age of fifteen or more.^[1]

These Marabout come often in the northern areas of Senegal and see in the city a way to make good benefits. 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 writings. 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.^[1][2]

[edit] 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 . Each Talibe will give to the Marabout between 250 and 500 cfa francs per day.^[3]

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[edit] Work Cited