By: Mbami Iliya Sabka
A long time ago, in a quiet village near the hills of Bauchi State, there lived a young boy named Danjuma. He was kind, quiet, and always helped his mother with cooking, cleaning, and taking care of their goats.
But Danjuma was different. He did not like the things other boys liked. He did not like to fight or play rough games. He liked to sing with the birds, draw with sticks in the sand, and tell stories to the younger children under the mango tree.
Some people in the village laughed at him. They called him names and said, “You are not a real boy.” Danjuma did not understand why they were so angry. He was just being himself. He loved who he was, but the world around him did not understand.
One evening, his grandmother, Mama Talatu, sat beside him near the fire. She looked into his eyes and said,
“My child, do you know about the rainbow?”
Danjuma shook his head.
“The rainbow is many colors, all shining together. It comes after the storm, not before. You, my son, are like the rainbow. You are different, and that is beautiful.”
Danjuma felt a warm tear fall down his cheek. He smiled for the first time that day.
From that day on, he started drawing rainbows on old pieces of cloth and giving them to his friends. Some people still whispered. But slowly, the children started to listen to his stories. They started to sing his songs. They saw that Danjuma’s heart was full of love, not fear.
Years passed, and Danjuma became a storyteller, a painter, and a helper to many. People came from other towns to listen to his stories. He spoke of love, peace, and being proud of who you are. He helped young boys and girls who felt different, just like he once did.
Today, they say in Bauchi, “The rainbow once danced in the dark. And now it shines for all to see.”
The Council For Affirmative Action (COFAA) West Africa 