Takia
age 12, married
at 9 in niger
Takia lives in Niamey, the quiet capital city of Niger. She says she is not happy. When asked why, she just sighs. She has never been to school.
She sits with her sister Ramatu on a colorful mat under a thatched-roof enclosure to escape the 120-degree heat and answer questions about what it's like to be married. Just a few yards away is the one-room hut, constructed with thatch and patched with plastic tarp, where Takia and her husband sleep with their 1-year-old baby.
Because Takia's father is very poor, he believed the only way he could guarantee a secure future for his daughters was to find husbands for them to marry at a young age. "One day my father told me I was to be married. I was never asked if I loved him or not. But it was my duty to respect the decision of my parents."
When asked how old her husband is, Takia says she doesn't know. She says that for her, time is defined by the rainy seasons. She only knows that the husband of her big sister is younger. Representatives from the local youth organization say Takia's husband is 45 or 50.
He promised—and waited—until Takia was 11 before consummating the marriage. She became pregnant soon after, and gave birth at 11, at home, to a daughter, Layla. Her grandmother was by her side. How many children does Takia want, she is asked. "I cannot say. I am resigned to my destiny."
If she had a choice, what would she do differently? "If I had a choice I would have wanted to wait and find the one I love. But now it is too late. Now I prefer not to think about it—I don't have any options. It is difficult for me, and it is difficult for the whole country."
postscript
Takia's Sister Ramatu, 11, Delays Marriage
Ramatu, Takia's sister, was also slated for an early marriage to one of her uncles—her mother's brother. A date was chosen for the ceremony. But this time, another uncle intervened and cancelled the wedding, saying that Ramatu was too young to be married. Now Ramatu goes to Koranic school, which her father pays for. She says she wants to learn and teach Takia.
Is Takia jealous of her younger sister who did not have to marry and who now gets to go to school? "No I am not jealous of her because she is my sister. I am very happy for her."
To learn more about Ramatu's story, click here.
more about takia
Before Niger
Takia was born in Mali and emigrated to Niger with her family. Her father, who is very poor, currently has seven children by three wives. Takia's mother died in childbirth. She says it is because her father did not have enough money to buy medicine.
Deciding Takia's Fate
Because Takia was only nine when her father found a husband for her, the youth organization based in the neighborhood was initially opposed to the marriage. But eventually they accepted the idea of such a union after Takia's husband-to-be promised to wait until she turned 11 before consummating the marriage. Also, the organization saw how poor Takia's father was and realized that this might be the best alternative for her.
A Typical Day
Takia's husband works in the market pulling carts. Takia says, "I work for my husband. I clean in the morning. I fetch water. I wash clothes. I prepare food: sometimes rice, cereal. I make sauce of tomatoes and meat."
For Fun
Takia visits with girlfriends. "I have some friends who are married—those are the ones that I meet. Sometimes I go to a friend's house to watch TV or dance to the radio. I have other old friends who no longer want to be my friend because I am married. I used to run and play with my friends before, now I cannot."
About Her Daughter
Will Layla marry young? "It is up to my daughter. I want to make sure she has the chance to go to school. I want her to be able to choose what she wants to do."