Shaihu Umar plot
The story is set in northern Nigeria towards the end of the 19th century. It begins with a discussion between Muslim students and their famous teacher, the wise man Shaihu Umar. They ask about his origin and Umar begins to tell his story: He comes from a humble family and was separated from his mother after his father died and his stepfather was exiled. His subsequent trials were marked by slavery and he was subjected to a number of tests until his Arab master Abdulkarim finally adopted him. He attended Koranic school and became an imam when he reached adulthood. After a dream, he decides to look for his mother.