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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes LANGUAGES MORE > Last Updated: Wednesday, 1 September, 2004, 15:38 GMT 16:38 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Transvestite trial the talk of Nigeria By Amina Waziri BBC correspondent in Kano A transvestite faces trial in September in a case which has become a big talking point in the northern Nigerian city of Kano. Abubakar Hamza has become a big celebrity in northern Nigeria The issue of sexual orientation is a controversial one in Africa and the existence of transvestites usually gets little attention. But 19-year-old Abubakar Hamza has become famous with posters of him dressed in women's clothes selling well among male admirers. He is charged with living and dressing as a woman in the first case of its kind in this conservative city. But what is shocking for many Nigerians is that he lived as a young woman in the heart of a family for seven years, without his secret being suspected. Betrayal The Adamu family, who have now themselves become celebrities in Kano, were shocked when they discovered Hamza was a transvestite. Until his arrest they fondly called him Kawajo which in the Fulani language means friend. The mother, Hajiya, says she treated him like her own teenage daughters. "In fact whenever they quarrelled I always took his side because I never liked seeing him upset. I was so fond of him he was just like a daughter," she says. During his stay with the family, Hamza spent a lot of time with her teenage daughters but they did not suspect he was not a girl, despite the fact that he always dressed and undressed in the bathroom. "He never allowed people to touch him in a playful manner," says teenager Umma. Alhaji Adamu, whom I met sitting in front of his house, told me that even though Hamza had not engaged in any indecent behaviour he still deserved to be punished "because he had broken Islamic laws". Abubakar Hamza is currently in Kano Central Prison awaiting trial where he will answer charges under Section 9 of the Prostitution and Immoral Acts Law. If he is found guilty he will get either one year in prison or be asked to pay a fine equivalent to $80. Many in Kano are talking about this story and are eagerly awaiting for the trial due on 16 September - if only to get a glimpse of the famous young transvestite. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AFRICA STORIES SelectDeal to boost Darfur aid suppliesGrim search after Uganda collapseForeign truckers released in IraqDR Congo rebel back in governmentEritreans jailed for plane hijackKenya seeks 'miracle baby' pastorSouth Africa gas blast kills fiveBotswana strikers 'being evicted'Baroness posts bail for Sir MarkBlast victim sues German agencyAfrica declares 'war' on locustsDarfur dangers continue warns UNNigerian troops patrol oil cityE Guinea coup plot trial haltedEritrean 'hijackers' go on trialBriton in 'miracle baby' chargeSudan's 'lost boys' in AmericaSomali hospital finds its feet'Paying for a wife'Do you have a story to tell?Send us your pictures of AfricaSLeone 'child-smuggler' arrestsProgrammes and schedules  TOP AFRICA STORIES NOW Deal to boost Darfur aid supplies Grim search after Uganda collapse Kenyan truckers released in Iraq DR Congo rebel returns News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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