Free and Whole, My Journey Towards Education Freedom as a Fulani Muslim Girl

"There is perhaps nothing more important to the Fulani than tradition and faith, which permeate every aspect of our lives."Though that tradition ran proud and deep, Mariama Bah witnessed, from a young age, how fear and tradition often treated women unfairly. Having seen firsthand the abuse many women face, she decided at a young age to carve her own path and make her life what she wanted it to be.Free and Whole: My Journey Toward Education and Freedom as a Fulani Muslim Girl follows a woman's tireless pursuit of control over her own life: from fighting to go to school in a culture that values religion over education, choosing not to accept an arranged marriage and marrying for love, and moving to the United States. Her journey has left her free and whole-a journey she hopes inspires girls around the world who are on their own paths toward education and independence"To my beloved late mother and every woman harboring a little girl trapped behind the imposing barriers of life. In this world, countless innocent girls remain confined behind innumerable fences, while too many men find themselves immobilized by the fear of deviating from tradition. There exists a pervasive resignation among people, a surrender to the reality of their lives that stifles their imagination and prevents them from envisioning a brighter future."