“…I was really scared of being a refugee. Being a refugee is so hard. You have no country to go back to. Every time I would see refugees coming from Sudan (to Uganda), and I see my situation, I would feel I’m better…”
The Narrative of Baikai
In April 2023, a war broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rival factions of the military government of Sudan. The fighting concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region, which left many dead, others injured, internally displaced and others fleeing the country.
This was equally the case for Babiker Hanafy, also known by his Chinese name as Baikai, a Sudanese student at the University of Khartoum at the time.
Baikai was caught right in the middle of the cross fire and opted to flee the country and would later find a safe haven in Uganda, through destiny helpers, to stay in a relatively peaceful environment and continue with some of his passions, and later proceed to China for further studies.
Background
Before the War broke out, Baikai was a student at the University of Khartoum, in the capital of Sudan, pursuing a Bachelors degree in Archaeology and Chinese Studies.
He had also invested some time earlier in 2019, when he was a high school student, to learn some English, from a close-by English Institute.
Being a rare language in the country, he wondered why he was studying it but for some reason he just kept learning, not knowing how it would significantly change his life, as later revealed.
“English in Sudan is like Chinese in Uganda, very few people know it,” Baikai said.
While he was at the University, he appeared a bit more special than the other students because he had the language advantage. He could often help the Chinese teachers who were teaching at the university explain some concepts, since some of them spoke English and Chinese but could not speak Arabic.
This also enabled him to have a better grasping of the Chinese language as well.
THE DESTINY HELPERS
Shortly after the Covid 19 Pandemic, economies opened up, Sonia Shah a traveller and blogger from the Republic of Kenya, visited Baikai’s hometown.
The year was 2021.
She was able to meet Baikai who was the only English-speaker in a large radius, and he gracefully offered to be her tour guide.
“She wanted to visit a certain mountain, which is a tourist attraction site in Sudan, but could not speak Arabic. I offered to help her freely,” Baikai said.
Baikai had guided two other tourists, Aniela Zaba from UK and Petro Maraise from South Africa before, who happened to know Sonia, and that’s how they recommended him to her.
“I could help them move around the city as their tour guide and interpreter. I would also show them the places to have local food and other beautiful areas. I didn’t charge them anything but sometimes they just gave me what they felt like,” Baikai said.
In fact, with Sonia, Baikai says that she tried giving him money but he refused opting for friendship instead.
“She offered me money but I refused. I was just interested in making friends, and not work as a tour guide,” Baikai said.
Later after the tour, Sonia promised to keep in touch, and they parted ways.
THE EXODUS
After the war broke out in Sudan in 2023, a great part of Baikai’s University was destroyed, especially his faculty area.
“University of Khartoum is right in the middle of the city, it could not be spared,” Baikai says.
He went back home and discussed with his parents his desires to continue his studies despite the destruction.
The parents had nothing much to offer. Being a second born in a family of six, living in underprivileged conditions, he understood that it was very difficult for him to be supported further.
Sonia Shah, whom they had been in touch through the phone for about two years, could constantly check on him, especially with the news of the war all over.
“Sonia was checking on me every day, especially when the war broke out. When I expressed my desires to continue studying at least the Chinese Language, she offered to support me,” Baikai said.
Sonia Shah later sent Baikai 1,000 US dollars and asked him to use it wisely to get to a safer place and hopefully continue a bit with his Chinese language.
“She said that when I am in position, I should also help someone else in need as payback. I hold that to my heart,” Baikai said.
Baikai discussed his decision of relocating, with his father, and upon getting his blessing, he took the next flight to Ethiopia. He stayed there for two days, but due to some other undisclosed complications, he decided to take another flight to Uganda.
All along, he was checking online for locations that had a Confucius Institute where he could enrol to continue with his Chinese language studies, and that is how he ended up in Makerere University, in Kampala, Uganda.
THE CONFUCIOUS INSTITUTE, MAKERERE
Baikai landed at the Confucious Institute in Makerere University. Here he met another destiny helper, Dr. Zhong Jianghua, the Chinese director at the Institute.
After hearing his story, Dr. Jinghua allowed Baikai to take all Chinese classes for free.
“I think he saw the passion in me to study Chinese, and what I had gone through. He told me to come to class every day and study without paying anything,” Baikai said.
He later explains how he had been constantly treated well at the institute.
“I found a home here,” Baikai said.
Dr Zhong Jianghua says that when he heard Baikai’s story, he got ‘very touched.’ He later adds that as an institute, they are not only focused on teaching the Chinese language and culture, but also to keep friends, learn the Ugandan culture as well, and help those in dire need.
“I remember, I gave him some Chinese snacks, we sat down and he narrated his story to me up to around 11pm. When he came here, and saw the Confucius institute logo, he cried. It was like seeing his parents,” I was very touched,” Dr Jianghua said.
He further narrates how he keeps him Engaged in order to not feel lonely.
“I even took him to the Chinese Middle Festival Function. I just don’t want him to feel very lonely. You know, Middle Autumn Festival in China is meant to re-unite people. To get together,” Dr Jianghua adds.
He further adds that Baikai is a very talented student that needs extra attention.
“He is a very special student. I asked the teachers to pay more attention to him, and the other students to take care of him,” Dr Jianghua adds.
Mathew Muleme, Baikai’s friend and classmate at Confucius institute said that Baikai’s passion in the classroom is very clear to all.
“He has the passion for what he wants to do. He loves Chinese language studies.” Muleme said.
He further adds that Baikai’s ability to adapt not only in the classroom environment, but also outside his class, in the society, has made him stand out among many.
“Going into a different country, you meet different people, speaking different languages, but the moment I saw him, I knew he was flexible. He is always eager to learn. He tries to learn and speak Luganda too and can live in any environment,” Muleme said.
Madrine Namaganda, another friend and classmate to Baikai at the institute appreciates his humility and willingness to help others with the Chinese language.
“He is so humble. He wants to always be of help. He is willing to help everyone in class so that we can pass. He is very bright, and famous because he speaks Chinese like a Native. His Chinese is so native,” Namaganda said.
She further adds that Baikai loves to make friends and not want to lose them.
“He loves making friends and fears losing them. He takes his friends like family,” Namaganda said.
Dr Jianghua concludes by saying that the institute hopes to provide more opportunities to students who are in need, but also better opportunities of studying Chinese.
He also adds that Baikai is among several other students in need that the institute has tried to extend help to.
“We have many students who are in need too, just like Baikai. They come and we have to help them. We appreciate people who put in efforts towards enabling us help these students,” Dr Jianghua said.
He also revealed that several Chinese companies and individuals have already come on board to partner with the institute to help contribute to their work, but they could still need an extra hand, and especially for Baikai, but also the institute at large in whichever capacity.
One thing about Baikai is his open mind.
“I am open minded. Any opportunity that comes for me to continue with my Bachelors as well as Chinese studies will really do me good. All I need is a good education.” Baikai said.
FACING FEARS
“I was really scared of being a refugee. Being a refugee is so hard. You have no country to go back to. Every time I would see refugees coming from Sudan and I see my situation, I would feel I’m better. I’m better because now at least I am continuing my studies at the Confucius institute of Makerere University,” Baikai said.
He hopes to take his family out to a safer place as well someday. His parents, older siblings but especially younger siblings keep him disturbed at heart, thinking about them all the time.
“People may have dreams but you can’t say ‘when I grow up’ in Sudan these days. There is no certainty of growing up. You can be bombed at any time. At least outside you can grow up,” Baikai said.
CHINA AT LAST
Eight months down the line, Uganda would be Baikai’s transition point for further opportunities to other continents, thanks to his teachers at the Confucius institute. By press time, Baikai speaks to Migrant Narratives Africa from Xiangtan University, in Hunan, China on a scholarship.
He tells this publication that though he now has to adapt into a new culture, and though he really does miss his family back at home (Sudan), and his new found home (Uganda), he is glad that he can at least speak the Chinese language, which will ease his ability to communicate and make some friends in China too, and get some quality education.
In the phone call interview, he pauses for a moment, takes a deep breath and expresses his emotion towards his friends and family back in Africa.
“I stayed more than eight months in Uganda and all this time I was afraid of the unknown. I didn’t know what would happen next or what the future looked like. I missed back home (Sudan), but I could not go back. Having some true friends in Uganda kept me going,” Baikai said.
He is particularly very grateful to the Director of Confucius Institute in Uganda, Dr Zhong Jianghua for trusting him, and giving him an opportunity to explore his dreams.
“He is like a father to me. May God bless him,” Baikai said.
Baikai who is on other study programs in Xiangtan, China, plans to continue with his Bachelors as well. He says he is willing to learn as much as he can, while thinking of how people who have had to leave their countries due to similar circumstances can be redeemed.
After his studies, Baikai hopes to go back home and help his people too.
“I think its time for me to help myself, and after I am done, I will go back and help other migrants. I saw how some migrants were treated. I think they need our help,” Baikai concludes.
