Caught between two worlds: Hambula, the Fulani Christian

By Robert James 

Hambula Musa sometimes feels he is stuck between two worlds – the world of the Fulani and the world of the Christians. 

Fulani by birth and by culture, he has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and that has provoked persecution from his family, close friends and the wider community.  

But, sad to say, he has also faced persecution from Christians, who cannot accept that a Fulani man could ever follow Jesus.  

Hambula, who is in his 20s and studying to become a veterinary assistant in West Africa, said: “Muslim Fulani say Christian Fulani are no longer part of the tribe—that we’re spoiling their name. They isolate us. They refuse to eat with us.  

“Even my close friends won’t share food with me anymore. They don’t trust me. Their parents warn them: ‘Be careful around him—he’ll turn you into a Christian.’ We no longer worship or fellowship. 

“That’s what I face at school too. Christian students don’t trust me—they say all Fulani are bad. One day, I was stopped by a group who wanted to kill me. I explained to them that I’m a Christian. Only one among them listened but the others still wanted to harm me.  

Christians don’t trust us, and Muslims don’t trust us either. We’re caught in the middle.

“Christians don’t trust us, and Muslims don’t trust us either. We’re caught in the middle.” 

He became a Christian through the patient work of a Fulani pastor, a mission worker and of the Holy Spirit. When it became clear to his family that he had put his trust in Christ, his parents threw him out of the family home. He was forced to find refuge with a mission worker, who continued the work of discipling him. 

He admits he was rebellious as a teenager, as shown by the fact that he defied his parents to go to a Christian school, while they thought he was attending Islamic School. 

Now fully committed to his faith, Hambula has no doubt that God has been by his side through his persecution. 

He said: “One night I was struggling, wondering if I’d done something wrong by leaving my parents. While I was sleeping—or maybe half awake—I saw a bright light shining into my eyes. I couldn’t see anything behind the light, but I heard a voice telling me not to doubt anymore. It said what I did was right. That experience made me stand firm.” 

Hambula has no doubt that God has been by his side through his persecution. 

Hambula is now determined to share the good news of Jesus with his Fulani brothers and sisters. 

He said: “I want them to be saved, to have eternal life. The Bible tells us that without Christ, we’re already condemned, we have no inheritance in God’s kingdom. And also, the violence in this country — the terrorism and killings — much of it is caused by Fulani who don’t know Christ. If they knew Him, they wouldn’t be doing these things. There would be peace if they truly knew Christ.”