Almajiranci

Almajiranci () refers to a system of Islamic education practiced in northern Nigeria, the male gender seeking Islam knowledge is called Almajiri, female gender is Almajira, and the plural is Almajirai . The system encourages parents to leave parental responsibilities to the attached Islamic school. The Hausa word Almajiri is derived from the Arabic word, '''' "al-Muhājir," which refers to a person who migrates'' from his home in search of Islamic knowledge.

Colloquially, the term has expanded to refer to any young person who begs on the streets and does not attend secular school. Many people in Hausa land give 'Sadaka' to almajirai on daily basis seeking Divine reward and protection. Almajirai are children, usually from poor rural backgrounds, who leave their hometowns to study Islamic learning with malammai, teachers of the Quran. Most malams were educated in the alamajiri system themselves, and as they do not receive a salary but depend financially on the alms of the community and the work of the almajirai. The almajirai usually begin their studies between the ages of 3 and 12, and learn about the Quran in schools called tsangayu. In their early twenties, the almajirai reach sauka, graduation, and become gardi or gardawa. When not engaged in learning the Quran, almajirai in rural areas may work on farms, while urban almajirai conduct small tasks like domestic chores, running errands, and fetching water. Some almajiri attend secular schools concurrently, or switch between secular and almajiri schools. Additionally, almajirai practice alms begging, or almajiranchi, out of necessity to eat. Almajiranchi was not originally part of the almajirai system, but it is now said to prepare the almajirai for the hardships of life, make them strong and humble, and keep them devoted to studying the Quran. The practice of alms begging is widely denounced as child abuse in Nigeria.