For over 50 years, the Abdullahi family has been dedicated to managing the Tudun Wada Cemetery in Kaduna, Nigeria, a sacred space for the city’s Muslim community. This family of grave-diggers began their service in the 1970s, with two brothers, Ibrahim and Adamu Abdullahi, who passed down their legacy of selfless work. Today, their sons—Magaji, Abdullahi, and Aliyu—have taken over, working tirelessly without formal pay until recently.
Each day, the team digs up to a dozen graves, washes and prepares corpses, and maintains the vast cemetery. The work is laborious, especially during tragic times like religious clashes in the 1990s, but they continue with unwavering resolve. Their dedication stems from a belief instilled by their fathers—that this work is a service to God.
Until a recent intervention by the local council chairman, the family survived on small donations from mourners and food grown on a small farm. Now, they receive modest monthly salaries, though still below Nigeria’s minimum wage. The chairman has also committed to improving the graveyard by repairing walls, adding solar lights, and building a facility for washing corpses.
Despite the challenges, Magaji hopes one of his 23 children will eventually continue the family tradition, keeping alive a legacy of care and devotion to the community.
