Dedicated to preserving dignity in death, the Abdullahi family has served as volunteer grave-diggers at Kaduna's Tudun Wada Cemetery for decades. Their labor, previously unpaid, is now recognized with a salary, thanks to the new local council chairman, who appreciates their essential role in the community amidst pressures from both work and occasional intercommunal violence.
The Abdullahi Family: Guardians of Kaduna's Tudun Wada Cemetery
The Abdullahi Family: Guardians of Kaduna's Tudun Wada Cemetery
For over 50 years, the Abdullahi family has selflessly managed the largest graveyard in Kaduna, Nigeria, earning respect and gratitude while now finally receiving a formal salary.
For more than half a century, the Abdullahi family has served with unwavering dedication as grave-diggers at Tudun Wada Cemetery in Kaduna, Nigeria. This family has been crucial in managing the city’s largest graveyard, which was designated for Muslim residents a century ago. Since the 1970s, when Ibrahim and Adamu Abdullahi first began their work, their lineage has continued to uphold this solemn responsibility.
The family, comprised of three main custodians— Magaji, Abdullahi, and Aliyu— reports for duty every day at dawn and works tirelessly to ensure that burials adhere to Islamic customs, which dictate that they occur quickly after death. Despite the strenuous and often emotionally challenging work, especially during times of intercommunal strife, the Abdullahi family remains committed to their calling, deeply rooted in their faith.
Up until recently, their hard work was largely voluntary, dependent on small donations from bereaved families. They would dig graves, wash corpses, and prepare them for burial, often facing the harsh realities of their environment with limited resources. Their perseverance has resonated with local residents, who regard them as pillars of community spirit.
However, a recent announcement from a new local council chairman promises to change the family's circumstances. Acknowledging their longstanding contributions, he has pledged to formalize their role by providing salaries, though still below the national minimum wage. These developments have brought hope to the Abdullahi family, as they anticipate improvements in working conditions and security for the graveyard.
While they have always worked for the community's benefit, the acknowledgment itself marks a new chapter in their saga, with hopes that the family’s legacy of compassion and service will continue through the next generation.
