You would not know it from looking at him, but Alpha is 8 years old. In fact, he had previously told me he was 4 and then 5. But his father, Amadou, says he was born on Christmas Day 2000. His mother soon abandoned them.
After his wife left, Amadou met another woman with whom he had a girl they called Tambeh. Even though she is younger than Alpha, Tambeh is noticeably taller. She is very shy and doesn’t talk much. Sometimes, she smiles.
The family lives in the village of Lakka, steps away from the beautiful beach that attracts a steady flow of ex-pats on weekends. To contribute to the household income, Alpha walks up and down the shore selling tiny baskets made by his dad. Whenever there are white people around, he can be seen, his little capped head bobbing along the shore, gingerly approaching sunbathers in the hope that they will part with 10,000 leones (about $3.50) for one of the delicately woven baskets. With his bright eyes and endearing smile, he is the most charming little boy I have ever met. Anywhere.
Last week, Amadou invited me to come visit their house, so today, I accompanied them back to the village. I was prepared for poverty and poverty is what I encountered. Their small shack is made of bits and pieces of flimsy materials, covering a dirt floor that must become a mud bath in the rainy season. But technically, they are not homeless, and they manage to eat every day.
Inside the shack are an open sitting area, Amadou's workshop, and a kitchen with pots and pans around a wood fire on the ground.
At night, the family retreats to a single bedroom they rent in a sort of boarding house that stands close by. The parents sleep on a thin mattress. The kids share a straw mat, a small sheet, and a pillow. The family's clothing hangs from the ceiling.
According to UNICEF, 69 million children are engaged in child labour in Sub-Saharan Africa. Alpha is one of them. Should he be spending his afternoons selling souvenirs under the hot sun? Should his dad be reported to the SL police's Family Support Unit? Is Alpha being exploited? How else could he be spending his time?
The other kids in the village play in the dirt among the chickens and stray dogs. Some just sit in the shade of the two stalls where colourful fabrics blow in the wind and wood carvings rise from the sand. Meanwhile, Alpha learns to socialize and interact with strangers. The owners of the few bars and restaurants know him. Because he is not begging, they let him mingle with their customers. He is often given some water or a bite to eat. He learns new English words.
Amadou listens to him when he talks, and Alpha seeks out his father's hand when they walk together. He says he and his sister go to school during the week. He can count and spell and sing riddles and a song about safety precautions when crossing the road. So I believe him.
What the future holds for poor children like him is unclear. But for now, with his friends, and under the watchful eye of the community, Alpha appears happy. Just look at him.
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