Fati Abubakar is showing the important “bits of Borno” the world needs to see

Google Borno.

The first five results have a story about bombs going off, or people exchanging gunfire.

But Borno wasn’t always this way.

Borno was home to hardworking and good people who lived normal lives. Then Boko Haram happened.

Fast forward to today, and Borno is still home to hardworking and good people, who still manage to thrive in the midst of all the chaos, but we hardly get to hear about their struggles.

Enter Fati Abubakar.

Armed with a camera, Fati is telling everyday stories of life in Borno, as people try to get on with everyday living.

‘My mother dressed me as a woman when the insurgents came to our village and we left our home at 1am. We spent two days in the bushes. When we finally arrived #Maiduguri, we managed to rent a room with the help of people around town but food and water is a problem. And I don’t go to school anymore. We left all of my documents back home. I was in form 2 in secondary school. I would love to continue my education, we tried but the fee and uniform is 3000naira and that’s minus books and other things. We can’t afford it’ Abdulqadir #photojournalism

A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Mar 8, 2016 at 5:38am PST

Everyday laughter.

What was meant to be a portrait of the boy in a blue denim shirt.. [NYSC #IDP camp, #Maiduguri] #everydayafrica #dynamicafrica #checkoutafrica #refugeecrisis #children #face #series #bitsofborno #Maiduguri #Borno #bokoharam #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #streetphotography A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Dec 19, 2015 at 3:55am PST

Eyes that have seen very dark moments.

‘It was 61 of us [Youth Vigilantes] that invaded Fori [an outskirt of #Maiduguri] to fight off the #Bokoharam insurgents, only 2 of us came back. I’ve lost so many friends. Some were burnt and others shot’ Hamidu Abubakar #bitsofborno #religiouscrisis #maiduguri #borno #africa #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #potraiture #lightroom6 #everydayafrica #cnn #bbcafrica

A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Dec 20, 2015 at 2:06am PST

 The ones that strike really good chords in you.

There are soldiers everywhere in Borno, but there are flowers too. It is what you choose to see. #bitsofborno #maiduguri #everydayafrica #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #checkoutafrica #dynamicafrica #everydayeverywhere A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Nov 25, 2015 at 2:25am PST

And the swagging boys that make you want to just bump fists with them.

When you and your homeboy decked out in #urbanwear and paparazzi appear.. *kanyeface* #Maiduguri #eid #checkoutafrica #everydayafrica #dynamicafrica #fashion #fashionforward #youth #natgeo #africa #onlyinnigeria #leadersofafrica #onlyinafrica #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #travel #bitsofborno

A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Oct 4, 2015 at 2:02am PDT

 The kids smiling through it.

Cuties in Class [Orphans at the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School] #everydayafrica #everydaypeople #bitsofborno #photojournalism #dynamicafrica #dynamicafricaphoto #documentaryphotography #bokoharam #impact #religiouscrisis #girlchildeducation #school A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Jan 5, 2016 at 1:42am PST

To the ones who are living through all of it.

100years old and still alert. Old women in #Maiduguri are colorful at every age. [Faces of Maiduguri] #potrait #everydayafrica #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #documentaryphoto #checkoutafrica #oldwomen #oldergeneration #grandmothers #potraitmood

A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Nov 17, 2015 at 12:03pm PST

In the end, most of the people still believe in the one thing that keeps us striving when the odds are against us —hope.  

A truck at the Cattle Market in Maiduguri aptly has ‘No condition is permanent’ painted on it. The insurgency that has plagued Borno seems unending but the hope is evident in everyday life as trade goes on. Also proud to present our work going places. Instagrammer Fati Abubakar takes us beyond Boko Haram in Nigeria’s Borno State | Africa is a Country – http://africasacountry.com/2015/10/bitsofborno/ #bitsofborno #photojournalism #documentaryphotography A photo posted by Yerwa (@bitsofborno) on Oct 25, 2015 at 6:11am PDT

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