I asked this one before, but I cannot find it anywhere. Two weeks ago one of my kindergarten students told me "My brother turned eight yesterday, but he did not banish me." I asked her what she meant, but she could not tell me. She is a little Nigerian girl. I am curious about what she means from a cultural standpoint. I do not know if this is a tribal or regional thing. I am just very curious about it. I could ask her parents, but I do not want to offend them. I have researched it, but cannot seem to find any answers.

Is she Muslim?
I think it can mean different things in Islam, from having to retreat to another room when men enter, to separating beds/bedrooms of siblings at a certain age, to the English meaning of driven away or shunned.
If you find out that she is Muslim, I would ask this here under Islam.

Is she Muslim?
I think it can mean different things in Islam, from having to retreat to another room when men enter, to separating beds/bedrooms of siblings at a certain age, to the English meaning of driven away or shunned.
If you find out that she is Muslim, I would ask this here under Islam.

Thanks so much! I know it has been years, but I could not remember my password. My son asked me a question tonight, and he told me to try askmehelpdesk. I logged in instantly without even trying to recall the password. It just came to my mind to try an old password I used to use. Amazing. I think this as one of the last questions I asked so it has been at least four years. I still do not know the answer, and I am no longer in contact with this family.

And is this a real "brother" There are many practices in both Nigerian practice and Islamic customs that happen to a boy who turns 8.
In a farming culture for example, a boy is arranged a wife, at that age, for future marriage and other customs.