Photobook
Somali Sideways
Photobook
Somali Sideways
Table of Contents Copyright © Mohamed Mohamud & Somali Sideways, 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at the address above. Published by Looh Press 56 Lethbridge Close, Leicester, LE1 2EB, UK. www.LoohPress.com, admin@Loohpress.com Typesetting & Design by JP Kusmin Cover Design & Managing Editor: Mohammed Abdullah Artan Pictures by the subjects with full permission. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Available ISBN: 978-1-912411-04-7
Forward § 6 Introduction § 6 Chapter 01: Going Back Home § 10 ffHibo Beilah § 13 ffKhadra Ali § 14 ffIsmail Burhan § 16 ffLadan Barkhadle § 17 ffNoor Ibrahim § 19 ffSaid § 20 ffShoukri Areh § 22 ffSumaya § 23 ffYussuf Farrah § 24
Chapter 02: Business and Careers § 26 ffAbdirahman Kahin § 29 ffAbdul Wahab Shill § 30 ffSacidyo Dhubow § 36 ffIkram Ali § 37 ffSagal Abdi § 43 ffIlhan Omar § 44 ffSumaya § 46 ffSharmake, Abdi-Hakeem and Hassan § 47
Chapter 03: Creative Arts § 48
ffKhatra Hassan § 54 ffIsmail Sabrie § 55 ffLadan Osman § 57 ffNasteha and Nuni Yusuf § 62 ffYassin § 63 ffZahra Qorane Omar § 67
Chapter 04: Family § 68
ffAdil Ali § 71 ffBarni Ilhan Omar § 74 ffFaiza § 78 ffHamda Yusuf § 79 ffNaima Farah § 81 ffKaamil § 82 ffKhadijah § 83 ffKids § 84 ffMobarik Omar § 86 ffMunira Hassan § 87
Chapter 05: Inspiration § 90
ffHassan Noor Sayid (Aar Maanta) § 92
ffAbdulla Farah § 95 ffEman Bare § 96 ffHaroon Hassan § 98 ffMahdi Hashi § 104 ffMohamed Hussein § 105 ffSohair Al-Baroud § 108 ffZuleikha Suleman § 115
Chapter 06: Race and Identity § 116 ffAnisa § 121 ffSiham § 127
Chapter 07: Students § 128
ffAmal § 130 ffHodan, Filsan, Hibaq and Amaal § 134
Chapter 08: Travels § 136
ffBilan § 139 ffNajib Ahmed § 143
Special Thanks § 144
Forward
On
the Somali Sideways website, the platform is described with great humility as just a place ‘for Somalis everywhere to share their stories by standing sideways’. This collection of cherished memories and individual journeys; to me, embodies much more than a platform for storytelling. It is a gateway to understanding, to shared humanity and authentic voices that obstruct harmful narratives. The same way the subjects of each anecdote stand sideways, the reader is compelled to shift his/her view on issues and a group of people they may have had already formed judgment on. Somali Sideways is disrupting the discourse of failure by shining a light on global Somali success. It offers a medium for Somalis themselves to see & celebrate one another; not along tribal lines, but in celebration of what unites us at the core, even when we are scattered across all corners of the globe; Somalinimo.
For non-Somalis, it provides an intimate insight into a group of people often described as one of the most displaced ethnic groups in the world. Reading these stories opens a portal to an assembly of sub-cultures, influences, upbringings and worldly views. Somali Sideways captures all the dichotomies of the Somali identity and does so through humorous, emotional and difficult passages. What I find to be one of the most interesting dimensions of Somali Sideways is that it has democratized story telling by creating an interactive pathway for anyone with a story to share, to do just that. Somali’s are everywhere, it’s time our stories are too. Peace & Camel Milk, Ilwad Elman Director of Programs & Development Elman Peace Centre www.elmanpeace.org
While
Introduction
at university, I read an article in May 2014 that Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group based in Somalia sent in a suicide bomber who blew up the Somali parliament and deployed gunmen on foot in a highly-organised attack on the state.When I finished the article and after much research, I said to myself why are most of the news coverage on the Somali region about terrorism, famine and piracy? There wasn’t enough coverage showing Somalis in a positive light, so I thought it was vital to do something about it. There was a problem though as I didn’t know how. In the beginning I thought of using photography as a way of portraying Somalis in an artistic way and illustrating their lives on a platform. This is when the idea of Somalis standing sideways came to light. I started gathering my friends in London to take part in this new project I just created. At first, they were sceptical but decided to participate nonetheless. Later on, many Somalis from London got involved and it became what is known as Somali Sideways. Soon I started receiving submissions from around the world and it quickly became a global platform where Somalis can share personal stories. Many people have asked me the reasons behind the concept of the sideways angle and I was drawn to the conceptbecause people choose to share certain aspects of their lives and they keep other parts of themselves private. On the one side it’s about sharing stories that you wish to share,and the other remains a mystery. In the beginning I thought it was weird but then I realised it’s the weird things that people remember.Somali Sideways is a photo project that is looking to focus on changing the perceptions of Somalis and the diaspora – a people who often getnegative stereotypes. The book covers issues as complex and diverse as immigration and identity, while others deal in the normal flow of everyday lives.
Chapter 01
Going Back Home
From
the mainstream media outlets, you read about violence, terrorism and bombings yet every year there has been a huge increase of Somalis going back. As a result, many Somalis have opened businesses to help restore the country and others have returned to reconnect with their roots
Hibo Beilah Jazeera Beach Mogadishu, Somalia
"A
  abbo left Somalia to study in the US with the intention of eventually working in Mogadishu. By the time he had completed his studies, Somalia was not the same. He got a job at a bank in the Ivory Coast, married my Hooyo Macaan, and started his family in west Africa. I attended several international schools my whole life, and was usually one of very few Somalis. Me being Somali was often the butt of many jokes throughout my schooling, but I made sure my class rank spoke louder than people's attempts at comedy. Aabo and Hooyo taught me never to forget that I am a strong Somali Muslim woman who will eventually return to her country and serve her people. The way I see it, Somalis are generally beautiful, strong, funny, intelligent, and witty human beings. I have never forgotten this, I am so proud of being Somali, and I hope to help Somalia however I can in the future, insha' Allah. Soomaaliya ha Noolaato".
Khadra Ali New Jersey, USA
“I
 was born in Somalia in 1988 but left for Kenya after the war, at first I didn't know what to make of Kenya. Of course, we had family there but I just didn't know what to expect. It's safe to say I was afraid of the unknown. I learned a long time ago that it's ok to be fearful of the unknown; it's always wise to walk slowly into the darkness. After a few years, Kenya has become a place I can call home. I made friends that I can till this day call them my friends. December 13th 2000, my family and I moved to California and once again I had to make new friends which of course wasn't as easy as it was in Kenya. When you look different from the bunch, your peers can be cruel at times, when kids reach middle school, bullying becomes more common and sophisticated. In middle school, I developed a tough skin, I stopped caring what people said about me and my life became a wonderful big adventure. Everything became a sense of wonder and delight. Being Somali means so much to me and I take great pride in my culture, religion and identity and over the years we have had a lot of negativity associated with our name, I was tired of defending the good name of all Somali people and as Humans in general and wanted to do something about it. One of the most valuable lesson you can ever learn in life is that how you perceive yourself is not how others perceive you. As proud as I am to be from Somalia and be Somali others didn't see my beautiful country as I did. When you listen to the words of wisdom whispering within your minds, exceptional things can happen and I knew that it was important to create a platform. What motivated me to open a page on Facebook was the idea of inspiring our younger generation, everyday there is a different challenge that awaits us but I wanted to show them that anything is possible. What my page "Q's With Lady K" has done so far is something I'm very proud and I hope to be doing this for a long time. I know there will come a day where Somalia will see a brighter day but until then there has to be change-makers and who better then us to do that. For me love is freedom, respect and acceptance and I wish all the same".
Ismail Burhan
Ladan Barkhadle
East African University Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia
Horniman Museum, Forest Hill London, UK
“A
few years ago, I left Kenya to live in Somalia. I was completely sure my life ended. I loved my life in Kenya and the things I did over there such as going to school to see my friends and the general lifestyle. My dad make the decision for us and we moved to Puntland, North East of Somalia. I didn't get along with anyone I met. I went to school, finished it and started University. I did a civil engineering course. When my classmates back in Kenya were finishing school, I already did my 2nd year of university. Today, I realised My dad made the best decision ever. Many things I never thought would happen in my life actually happened. Right now alhamdulilah I can design any building type with both hand drawing and using autocad. I write sometimes and would love to be a writer one day. All these unexpected things are happening and after each day passes by, I realise am moving ahead no matter how the state of Somalia is today. To all of the Somali youth living outside Somalia today, know that being in this country will give you many opportunities. Let's all go back to Somalia one day and see how it feels like. I promise you will love it".
“I
was born and raised in the Netherlands; I came to the UK at the age of 11. Throughout my life, my identity has always been an issue. In Holland, it was instilled into our mind-set that we should identify ourselves as Dutch. It was a culture shock when I first came to the UK. I was often told to look at my skin colour when I told people I identified myself as Dutch. For the first time ever, my identity was challenged. Where am I from? Who am I? These questions plagued my mind. Then I picked up several Somali history books and I haven't been able to put it down since. Our people have such a rich cultural history in the Horn of Africa. From the pre-colonial empires of Awdal, Ajuuraan, Queen Araweelo's; to the anti-colonialists like Sayid Mohamed, Xawo tako and the revolutionary founding fathers of the Somali Youth League. How could I deny I was from such a remarkable nation? Even though I've never been to Somalia, I identify myself as 100% Somali. My Somalinimo kicked in, and when my 6th form teacher asked the class what they identified themselves as, I proudly answered I am Somali. Somali baan ahay. 'I am a single hide (Greater Somalia) that had been torn apart, forever branded all over (with Somali), Some men once disintegrated me, Whilst I tended to my flocks, The obligation of unity I still carry, I am Somali'- By late poet Abdulqadir Hirsi Siad.
Noor Ibrahim Wallace Collection London, UK
“I
don't normally share my personal experiences, however, having read so many inspiring stories, here is mine; I grew up in a small town called Prinsenbeek in Holland where we were the only Muslim family. After 12 years my mother realised we were losing our identity and culture as we could barely speak Somali let alone know anything about our history and culture so she decided to embark on a journey to Hargeisa in 2002 for a family holiday. After 2 weeks in Hargeisa, my mum sat me and my brother down and informed us that we won't be returning to Europe as she wanted us to learn the culture and religion and I actually still remember to this day how I reacted, I literally left the room crying as it took me about 3 days to digest the news. Once my mum and my younger siblings left Hargeisa, I sat down with my brother and assured him that it's only going to be a short time and we will be fine as long as we stick together. After few weeks I was still struggling to come to terms of with my new surroundings and had hardly made friends as we struggled to speak Somali and we felt lonely and extremely homesick, missing our friends and family back in Prinsenbeek. I was struggling enormously as I used to cry in the toilet, but I realised I had to stay strong for my younger brother as he needed me during this difficult period. After several months we managed to get accustomed to our environment, built better relationship with our families especially my grandmother as well as also making friends and slowly starting to learn Somali and gradually adapted to our new surroundings. Looking back now, I am very thankful for my mother to have the foresight and the courage to leave us behind in order for us to learn about our history, culture and truly understand how lucky I am to have so many opportunities unlike many of my peers back home. Something that started as a holiday for few weeks turned out to be a life changing 2 and half year's experience which has changed me to the person I have become today. I will always be thankful to my mother, for the ultimate risk she took as I now know without that experience, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I love you mum and I always will".
Said Buran village Sanaag region, Somalia
“W
hen the civil war in Somalia broke out, Many young people fled to other parts of the country. I was lucky to get educated because of the young men who volunteer to teach us. But 13 years ago, I was forced to leave my village and I ended up first in Ethiopia and then to the Dadaab Refugee camp in Kenya. I later got accept to Jomma Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology to study Media and Communications. I went back to my village last year. The school opened a secondary school and one of their students was awarded a scholarship from the International University of Africa in Sudan last year. The community did not only achieve that milestone. They also fundraised and built 16 new classrooms. I sat at one of the classroom desks to contemplate the journey I made when I first arrived and my life now. I dare you to come home to see how people are making Somalia better not because of the donor funding from companies and NGOs but because of the hard work and determination Somalis are doing in the region"
Sh o u k r i A r e h Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne, Australia
“A
llahi ba mahad leeh. Being born and raised in a different era than my parents, I was taught at a young age to count my blessings and take advantage of the opportunities Allah(swt) had bestowed upon me. With all of the ups and downs I am presented with in my life, I always make sure to say "Alhamdulillah" and show gratitude to the All Knowing. As I repeatedly keep in mind that surely this is the magnificent plan of Al-Mutakabbir and He only knows what's best. With unconditional love and support from my parents, I have achieved many desired outcomes. This has brought me one more step closer to accomplishing my goal of helping the next generation of Somali's in Australia as well as my people in the motherland. With the help of The Creator and the support of my loved ones, they have empowered me to become the individual I am today. Alhamdulilah, I am eternality grateful".
Sumaya Bosaso Beach Puntland, Somalia
“M
any people tend to call my current location a failed state or the land of the lawlessness; but in all honesty, its home for me. The people you meet and the experiences you witness whether it is good or bad will eventually shape the individual you will become. I didn't find my place here in the beginning because learning to adapt to a different society in which you know close to nothing about is difficult. But with time it grew on me. Don't seek for a luxurious lifestyle. Yearn for visiting historical places back home as well as understanding and learning about your cultural heritage. Whether it's talking to the locals, drinking cups of beautiful Somali tea with your Awoowe or catching the sunset with your loved ones. This made me appreciate the little things in life. P.S Bosaso beach will be my number 1 holiday destination insha'Allah".
Yussuf Farrah Mogadishu, Somalia
"M
 y wife took this picture. It was nice timing because at that moment I had just stepped on a crab. We were both laughing so hard. I couldn't have imagined that Somalia would turn out to be like this. I came here at the beginning of the year and I instantly fell in love with the country. I was supposed to go back to Kenya but I told my mother and father that I'm staying here with my grandmother. It has been the best three months of my life. I couldn't be happier waking up next to my other half who can cook Canjero for me every morning (kidding haha). The conflict of Somalia is older than me but I am here in Xamar and I want to raise my child here insha'Allah.
Chapter 02
Business and Careers
Not
only are more people choosing to invest in start-up businesses in the region, there are also many Somalis who have invested in businesses and formed careers in the West such as Europe and North America. Some have thrived in their respective fields such as politics, teaching, fashion and sports to name a few
A b d i r a hm a n K a h i n popular Afro Deli & Coffee (OWNER) Minneapolis, Minnesota
“I
t's a dream come true. I have always wanted to replicate our great service and unique taste of food in every city and town in the state. Food doesn't have any borders. We serve everyone who eats. I had a vision to create a mainstream restaurant. During the years, many lenders turned me down. They kept telling me the business won't thrive downtown and they told me to look elsewhere. But it took me 20 mins to say: I want to prove them wrong".
A b d u l W a h a b Sh i l l Franklin Learning Center Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
"I
'm an Adult learning instructor with a background in Computer Information Technology. A lot of Somalis come to learn English as a second language and to have basic education. This program started in 1988. One of the main reasons why I do this is that my people need to learn the language in order to move forward with their lives. Since the project started we've helped more than 10'000 Somalis living in Minnesota. The best feeling is seeing students who come here successfully learn the language, graduate and most importantly contributing to the American society. This will change the perception and stereotypes of Somalis living in this country. I intend to go back and focus on the IT field. Whatever happens I will not give up and carry on giving back to the Somalis living here".
Ayan Moha med Bond Street, London
“I
was born in Somalia, but was raised in Denmark and moved to London, UK in 2004 where I live currently. During my early years I have always been creative. I have a keen eye for fashion and was always designing or making my own outfits. However, in school I was getting good grades in the science subjects. I made the decision in high school to pursue my science route and leave the creativity side as hobby. Luckily when I came to London I came across a degree where I could bring the two worlds I love: The natural sciences and the beauty world. Having studied all aspects of the cosmetic and personal care industry - I discovered I really enjoy the marketing side of product management and I see myself in this career for the long run�.
Ahmed Mohamed
Hodan Nal ayeh
Perth, Western Australia
Integration TV (Founder/Host) Novotel Hotel, Toronto, Canada
“B
“G
usiness has always been my passion. In high school, I imagined that the best way to help my family was through business, in theory anyway. Starting a business wasn't easy after graduating university at age 21, neither did it make sense at the time. But I just knew it had to be done somehow. I didn't give myself another choice than to make it work. I was young, no experience, and without much savings to mention the least. First few years were very very tough, made many mistakes, but I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for those mistakes. Life has taught me to be grateful for the mistakes that teach me lessons. For my Somali brothers and sisters, while your young take risks, because without risks you'll never know what you "could have been". It's better to take risks (calculated risks) when you're young and single compared to when you're married with kids. Don't be afraid to try out different career options. I graduated with Management and Marketing Double Major, but ended up in Financial Planning. I don't know what the future holds, but I know there is a vision for our lives that is greater than our imagination can hold. I hope and pray that we all become successful one day and make a difference to where we all call home "Somalia".
oing back to school recently to pursue Journalism again ignited my passion to live my best life. I remember as an 18-year-old girl in university, I had a passion to one day be an Anchor on CNN. It was hard to get a job at CNN after I graduated. I did not have the networks nor connections like many of my friends at university. I was discouraged from going into media and settled to earn a living. It took me many years to realise my gifts and how I can use them to make a difference. I came back to my dream to be a Journalist when I travelled to Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya with late Somali legend Saado Ali Warsame. Standing in the middle of an open desert field with sand blowing in my face, I realised, my fellow Somalis needed my gift of storytelling. I did not need CNN or any other network to be a voice for my community; I needed to create my own platform. I did not need anyone to hire me when Allah hired me for the job. This week was the season finale of Integration TV Season One. Wow, 26 episodes on a major TV network in Canada and a YouTube Channel that is growing daily with a global audience. What a milestone to see what I created to make a difference for Somalis globally. Many thought I was crazy to invest my savings, drive around with my kids to sales meetings and work 18-hour days. While I thought Integration TV was helping my community, it actually did more for me as a person. In a year, I can see the growth in me. I learned to overcome my fears, believe in myself and understand the business of television. My dream to make a difference started with a simple idea to use my gifts, but I received many more gifts in return. All praises is due to Allah for helping me to help my community. I trust Him".
Sacidyo Dhubow
Ik r a m A l i
San Diego, California
Westfield, London
“I
“I
came to the United States when I was 9 years old. I grew up in a big Somali community in San Diego California. I always loved fashion growing up. My idea was to start a line that was both fun and modest keeping the Deen in mind. What inspired me to start my own line is that majority of retailers here in the United States and around the world often neglect women who want to dress modest by providing clothing that are revealing which is a disadvantage for women like myself and many others. My line offers affordable and stylish clothing. I wanted to wear something fun while still being covered. I started making clothing for myself. I started my journey not only wanting to help myself but to help my sisters who want to dress modest. My line is fun, modest and fashion forward. I design and make my own clothing. It’s been a long road but alhamdulillah I’m getting a lot of recognition as a designer now. I’ve been invited to many modest fashion shows. There are not a lot of Somali designers, and the support I receive from women of all walks of life is amazing. Whatever you want to do in this world work hard, pray and Allah will guide you through the way. My goal is to change the fashion industry to show that dressing modest is beautiful”.
stand here, amidst the sheer abundance of high street stores bustling with shoppers. As I glance around, I can't help but wonder whether there would ever be a brand of a similar calibre catered to Somali fashion. With the ever-growing presence of the Somali Diaspora in the UK and the rest of the world, it puzzles me that there are hardly any household brands in the fashion and retail sector that represent our heritage. Up until last year, I can honestly admit that I had relied on my mother to buy me a Dirac every time we had received an invite to a relatives wedding. Last summer, I decided to take the matter into my own hands and gained first-hand experience into the dynamics of Dirac shopping. When it comes to traditional garments such as the Dirac, I found that we are confined to either tiresome commutes to unglamorous parts of town which are a far cry from the sprawling shopping centres that we have become accustomed to, or an expensive shopping trip abroad in search for that perfect outfit. There isn't anything necessarily wrong with these two options, nevertheless being a young woman living in a cosmopolitan city who loves to rock a Somali Dirac; I began yearning for an alternative. Culture combined with Simplicity, Glamour and Cutting-Edge Technology. It is this dilemma, that inspired the idea of heblayo.com. I along with my team want to shake up the Dirac industry, bring it to the 21st century and create a lasting legacy that our future generations living in the UK and beyond can be proud to show off".
SuSu Mohamud Saint Paul Minnesota, USA
S
uSu Studio is pioneering new methods of introducing modest fashion to online shopping world. Founded in the capital of Minnesota in 2015, in order to meet fashion needs and wants for locals and the socially conscious. SuSu Studio is now an outlet and resource to the modest fashion world both locally and online. We pride ourselves in perfectly balancing style with comfort with all of our designs to allow any woman to feel modest and fashionable. Modest style or M-Style is the new trend being led by SuSu Studio. SuSu Studio truly believes that there is demand for a section of fashionable clothing that is not being met. Not all clothing are the same, just like not all people will have the same taste in clothing. It started as a dream, a dream in building a brand and a company where the taste in clothing isn’t limited by choice of clothing available. SuSu Studio is where modesty meets options and endless fashion styles are introduce to every individual. Self-identification is characteristics and qualities that are important and how the world perceives you. Your clothing is part of your identity and we are here to help you express yourself. At SuSu Studio, Fashion equals more choice in clothing, making M-Style endless!
Hussein Nuur Mississippi River Bridge Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
“A
s a young man coming to the United States, I did not know what to expected. Alhamdulilah God has opened up many doors for me and I'm blessed to live the life I live everyday. My dream is to see Somalia become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa as I believe it has the potential to be. My ambition is to become a Physician Assistant and I'm currently finishing up my Bachelors on Respiratory Therapy. With the knowledge and experience I have and will have, I want to build a clinic in the Somali region insha'Allah".
M arawa Los Angeles, USA
“I
grew up a nomad - my father is Somali and my mother is Australian. As a child I lived in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Middle East. We never stopped travelling. My childhood hero was (and forever will be) Olga Korbut. She was a gymnast whose raw emotions, originality and huge smiles wowed the judges and won her medals and fans everywhere. Such a huge inspiration. I saw Starlight Express when I was 8 years old and for the next 10 years dreamt of playing the character ‘Pearl' from the roller-skating musical. Delores Van Cartier (from Sister Act), Josephine Baker, Esther Williams, Tandi Iman Dupree and Perez Prado are all legends I look up to. I played drums all through high school (strictly James Brown classics) and music was my life. After graduating I went on a tour of circus schools in China which blew my mind. Running away with the circus had also become a legit degree and so I enrolled in a Bachelor of Circus Arts—which I didn't get into - but it seemed like the only degree that made sense to me - so I reapplied the next year and thankfully they let me in. I've performed and taught hula hooping in Nepal, New York, North Korea, Melbourne, Zagreb, Spain, London, Paris, Poland, Mexico, Somalia and LA. I feel really lucky to have done this and to have made great friends all over the world. Along the way I have done a lot of cheesy TV, including a Japanese game show filmed in Paris by an Italian production company. Through a series of workshops in 2012, Marawa's Majorettes was launched, a glittering team of adorable hoop performers that amazed crowds just like me and also teach! An army of Hoopers!
Sagal Abdi Lake Victoria Mwanza, Tanzania
“O
n July the 8th 2014, I lost my grandmother (May Allah grant her Jannah). She was diagnosed with kidney stones but died of bowel cancer. On the 11th of July, I googled 'volunteer in Africa'. It frustrated me that her 'doctor' completely missed signs of cancerous symptoms. Then I remembered that most professionals lack the resources as well as adequate training. The education system in Africa needs new ideas and reformation. Everyday I remember my grandmothers last words to me 'You are so militant you will lead one day'. After volunteering with International Citizen Service I noticed huge personal development. I enhanced my leadership skills and even more understanding of development issues in our continent. Now this isn't a sob story but it is in fact the backbone of the Sage foundation. Too often most of us Africans assume in colonial power and want an education out of Africa. We should appreciate our resources and environment in order to produce future leaders. For the Sage Foundation, the silence of the Young Women in East Africa will be broken. We will challenge issues such as FGM, early child marriage and empower women through education. It will operate from the UK but will provide funds for literacy lessons, training in Micro Finance for young women in rural communities and also careers advice. Also, empower underachieving UK Somali children through outreach work in local schools. Unemployment needs to be tackled but ways of not relying on a corporate job would be introduced. For example, many women who sell street food in Djibouti deserve a food centre (Micro Finance). Through donations and funding this will be established. I made a 5-year plan in January 2015, persistence beats resistance and I will achieve my goals. The work I do expects you to work for peanuts before eating caviar. However, 'after hardship comes ease'. The Sage Foundation will grow and soon will have a dedicated team. Let's embrace our rich culture, use our resilient personalities, belligerent, inspiring life-skills and apply these to our chosen career path. You can do it".
I l h a n Om a r Minneapolis, Minnesota
“I
am fluent in the diverse needs of our neighbors, and I am ready to lead to create the kind of change our communities need. I am running for the office of State Representative, so that we in District 60B have a representative who can be counted on to move issues forward and get work done. Important work, like funding for early childhood education; pushing for more affordable housing and adequate housing; advocating for a living wage, flexible scheduling, paid sick leave for all workers; support for small businesses; protecting our environment; and reforming the criminal justice system. By addressing these issues, we can start to close the opportunity gap and make our district, and our state, more equitable for all. I am running, not just because I understand liberal ideas, but because I am a progressive who will take action to get things done. I am running so that my fluency with the diverse groups in our community will no longer be unique. I am running so that we can interact with one another on a regular basis, and know that we are all in
this fight for equity together. I am running because our current leadership is complacent and many folks are being left behind. I value the resources in our community as each person has something to contribute and I want to partner with you to make our community stronger. I have considered Minneapolis my home since my family moved here nearly 20 years ago. I am a Muslim woman, of East African-descent, born in Somalia. My husband and I have chosen to stay here and raise our three young children. This is my community and I want to make a difference. It's time to look toward the future -- to the education of our children and the opportunities of graduating students and working professionals. It's time for action. It's time to let go of the familiar, and embrace a modern leader for modern problems". Ilhan was successfully elected as the first Somali American Muslim legislator elected to office in the United States.
Sh a r m a k e , A bd i - H a k e e m a n d H a s s a n Saint Paul Minnesota, USA
S um aya Buckingham Palace, London
“I
remember everyone else had in mind what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives... Except me. I tried everything but I wasn't passionate about any of them. Until I came across teaching. Which made me realise that you don't have to rush into making life-long decisions. It will come to you and no matter how old you are it's never too late".
“W
henever we get an opportunity, the three of us would check out what's hot right now in fashion. We like to search for clothes online and find things that we like to wear. And we would always find something. But as time went by, we liked what we saw, but we didn't really love it. The more we began to search the less we began to like it. And the more we wore what we wore the more it became apparent that what we were wearing was not us. And we would walk down the street and see others rocking the same thing. So we got thinking. Why don't we love what we wear? And then it hit us one day, it occurred to us, the reason why we don't love what we wear is because, well, it didn't represent who we were. It had no essence of us. It did not feel like us. It did not embody who we were and what we stood for. One day, we were searching heavily for something that we love. Going to countless clothing store websites and stores in search for what represented us; it became apparent that there was nothing there. So we look at each other in disappointment and ask the question. What represents us? We began to think and think. And those thoughts began to form ideas. Those ideas became designs. In order to understand what represents us, we decided to figure out who we were, where we came from and what embodies us and how we came to be where we are. So that is when we took a journey into history. We began to understand the fact that our ancestors were more than just hard working, but hard working royalty. Ancestors born in the motherland of Africa, with generations of royalty and nobility. So once we understood where we came from, we started to look at where we are now. Take a design from here, put it over there. Blending and clashing them like painters would paint. Sculptors would sculpt. An illustrator would draw. And once we had that thing that caught our eye, the thing that we felt was like our own, we made a design for us. And the more people we passed, the more they too seemed to join in on it. It became a Royal Luxury of the modern age. And Royal Lux was born".
Chapter 03
Creative Arts
The
Somali region has universally been known as ‘the nation of poets’ and more and more Somalis have embraced this form of art. However, there has been a massive influx of Somalis who have created their own artistic concept such as photography, film, radio and writing short stories.
Fahima Abdi Canary Wharf Pier, London
“W
here to start? I want to first say how inspiring the stories I've read on Somali sideways are and thank the participants for making this world seem much smaller and connected. I'll keep it brief, I haven't the least bit of an emotional background or upbringing but when I actually think of it; even that in itself is quite emotional. To happily walk and live the life of a westerner and not be able to fathom what could have been if our motherland remained the same, is quite saddening. It seems the more you ‘fit' in and belong, the more detached you become from your roots. Well let me tell you, I am very detached. Being around family however keeps the dream alive as I romanticise of what life was like out there in Mogadishu, devouring in their most humorous memories and collecting a stream of stories which I have turned into ‘how amazing' tales that I'll never experience; like reading a book. On the flip side however, you cannot miss what you never had, right? My life as it stands is too lengthy for Instagram but my most recent project is Her Random Walk. I have always been the type of person that jumps from one project to another. There are many facets to who I am as I find great pleasure in many different activities (mostly creative). I have in the past planned and attempted to kick start just one hobby but always found myself feeling limited and boxed in. This is how HRW came about; HRW is a place where I will never run out of words or ideas - a place where I can just continue to express myself. A place that will allow me to, in a chain of events, live out all my hobbies so that in future I will Insha'Allah be able to reflect back on this ‘walk' in the form of a documentary. This may not make sense to many but as with human nature, it takes getting to know the idea fully to understand the concept. So walk with me to find out where this road leads. If you've gotten this far, I thank you for reading. You shall hear from me soon or may see me walk past ha! Peace and love x".
Halima Hagi-Mohamed San Diego College San Diego, USA
Abdifatah Ali
“W
Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham
hen I was 16 I joined a writing website called Wattpad. I didn't experience very much luck in the beginning. It was only when I decided to write for others that my stories became popular. In a few month's time my works were getting a million reads and hundreds of comments. My stories were being featured on the front page! I was enjoying the temporary fame I was receiving, but a part of me felt insincere. The things I was writing about didn't fall in line with my culture or deen. One day my older sister told me about a Muslim writing competition for the youth. I wanted to give it a shot. I remember telling myself that if I won, then I knew writing was my calling. I made a promise with God that if I were to win then I'd delete all my Wattpad stories. It just so happened that I ended up winning first place in my division. From then on I collaborated on a Facebook page with my younger sister. We wanted to share stories that Somali girls like ourselves could relate to and find meaning in. We launched it in July of 2011 and called it For Somali Gabdho. On the side I decided to create my own blog. I called it "Xalimo's Musings", and launched it in September of 2013. I started out with rants and satirical posts, poking fun at the Somali culture. I did it for fun, and didn't expect for it to become so popular. These days it has a much wider audience, with a total of 72,000 hits. Back in September of 2014 I submitted a short story of mine to an organisation that partnered with my college. I ended up getting my submission accepted and performed in front of a crowd of 300 plus people at my city's downtown library. It was the greatest night of my life. A few weeks ago, I grew inspired from a comment on my blog. Someone had suggested I get my work published. It's always been my dream to write a book and publish it one day. From just that one comment my dream had become reborn. God willing I plan to publish a book of short fictional stories this summer. It'll tackle a lot of the issues we Somali youth face in the diaspora. I'm really excited about this book and hope to share it with my fellow Somalis living in the diaspora. So be on the lookout. I promise you, this book will be worth the wait". Halima published her book Amilah: A Collection of Short Stories about Hope. It became very successful and it has been sold across the United States.
“I
t all started with three students in a room at their university campus. We were frustrated by the negative stereotypes associated with young people. I mean if we could have a penny for every single time our opinion was rejected on the basis that we were ‘young' ‘naive' or born yesterday we'd be dancing on a beach-view mansion in the Bahamas. The cold truth was that our opinions as young people did not matter. So, we decided to do something about it, we created Sscope. Sscope allowed us the freedom to express and voice our opinion without fear of judgement. We became our own solution. Since launching we've now racked up 55,000 views and this continues to grow daily. We hope that you all join our journey, and help us help each other to be heard".
Ismail Sabrie K h at r a H a s s a n Minneapolis Minnesota, USA
“B
elieve it or not, before I got into photography, I would see a tree full of fall colours, drive by a beautiful hill of flowers, look at snow covered roads, see someone's face with tons of character, and honestly, I did not pay attention to those details. I remember driving with my dad and he would say "look at the amazing colours in these trees" and I would say "uh huh" and think nothing of it. It was not until I started capturing photos and seeing the beauty on my screen, that I began to see details, colours and light in a whole new way. Now, I will be eating in a restaurant and see someone sitting by the window, and think "wow, look at the perfect light on their face. That would make a perfect portrait." I feel like a veil was lifted and I see what I was missing for all those years before. No other activity brings me such satisfaction. I am just wired to be at my best when I have a camera in my hand. Like all human beings, I am flawed. In fact, I am as far from perfect as you can ever get and still be in the parking lot. I am the least among you. No doubt about it. But when I have a camera in hand, I am closer to my purpose and perfection than I will otherwise ever be while still walking this earth. If you can find that thing in your life, whatever it is, that thing that makes you the best you that you can be, grab it. For me, its photography".
Nairobi, Kenya
“T
his isn't a story depicting trial and tribulation; this isn't a story about overcoming odds. This is a story about the epiphanies of my early years of adulthood, and one of the most important lessons they've taught me... In school, I showed no interest nor talent of any kind in creative writing. My teachers never complimented my work or encouraged it, and for that reason, I never thought of it as anything worth pursuing. But eighteen months ago, I started writing random stories and articles of thought down on paper. It began when I thought I had a great idea for a fictional story. I never got to finish the story (the plot was way too thick) but I shared the idea of it with a friend at university. She wasn't the most liberal with her compliments but that day she was non-stop about my 'brilliant imagination.' It was a while before I started sharing other stories with people whose opinions I cared about. That introverted hill peaked when one of them suggested I should do this for a living. After that, a metaphorical spark was lit inside my head and it would soon become a roaring fire. iPhone notes turned into Instagram posts and Instagram posts turned into my self-titled blog: Sabriiye. I've been writing short-stories and other articles of thought for almost nine months now, and the reviews have been stellar. It's strange for me because I often feel out of place about it. The conviction that something you weren't praised for as a kid still being a source for approval so many years later was awfully hard to come by. I think that mental lock was first undone when I had a stranger write a 200 word message to me, describing how much my work had inspired her. The whole thing has gone a long way in showing me that there really is no black and white in this crazy life. You are whatever you aspire to be!".
Ladan Osman Chicago, Illinois
Partition:
W 
 hy are there so many men idle in homes, at the curbs of charity drives, in the grocery store parking lots. Many of our fathers are hidden from property management because they don't exist on their forms. They hardly exist off them. Why did our mothers say, "Write!" and could only sign their names shakily? They had us fill form because they pressed too hard. It took too long. Their mothers signed their names "X" and seemed bashful. My grandfathers walked out of the bush and into the city to drive bankers and diplomats. How did all our plans get foiled? There are truck drivers, programmers, accountants, teachers in the same man. What was the point of the piece of paper if we could only put them in boxes, then mop floors at grocery stores where we helped our mothers buy no-name brand cans and bread? Why did we laugh and tell stories in the house and get so startled outside it? Who was always watching us the moment we locked doors behind us? Why did we lock our hearts and tongues? Why did we come here? The same stories of better chances at a table with biscuit crumbs, the cores and pits of fruits eaten with good company. "Ah, ah," the men say "Oh, oh," the women say. For our children. "Recite the names of your forefathers," demanded our parents and their guests. "What is your tribe? Your clan and sub-clan?" "Did you know your mother's tribe is the enemy of mine?" And my mother flushed in rich waves. My mother read parts of The Pearl to me. "How can someone write such a story?" she murmured, her hand on her forehead. She rolled all the grains and small stones inside her cheeks and against the roof of her mouth. "The terrible machine," she recited, "Are we in it? Our pearl is you, you children, your minds. You are our retirement." She smelled like clove and I loved books in a way I never loved them before. "This is your Scripture," my father said, and gave me the Quran. "You love language, so argue with it. Ask it questions. Let it settle in your heart." How did God create a front between two seas; one bitter, one sweet, and have them stay neighbours? The barrier that separates our hope from despair is so steadfast. Why is it that we often meet it and never cross into oblivion? How is it there are many peoples in many lands but we hardly know each other? Who locked our hearts and tongues?
Mohamed Hersi Minneapolis, Minnesota
“I
'm a 24yr old Somali-American painter and designer raised in New Delhi, India. After the Somali civil war broke out in 1990, my family like the many others migrated. My mother, 7 sisters, brother and grandma found a new place to call home in India. The journey and struggles my mother and family went through since then has been a subject of my paintings and clothing. The love for art came to me from drifting through the streets of New Delhi at a young age. I was always the lost one in my family and referred to as “Ciyaal Suuq" by my family. Every night my sisters would have to chase me down because I loved drifting. Wondering the streets was my comfort at a very young age. A regular day drifting for me at the age of 8 would start right after the walk home from school with my older sister Lul. I remember I would wait till we got home because she would hold my hand till we entered the house. Then we would spend 30 minutes where it's pretty much her chasing me around the house to make sure I take my school uniform off. But as soon as I changed I would give it 15mins and I would wait till she goes in the bathroom to change or the kitchen to feed me and that's when I would sprint out the door. The next time I would run into her would be at night and my night always ended with her chasing me down the street to bring me home. I love her. Marking the date to a sequel in a way, my upcoming art exhibit is a following theme initiated four years ago on October 13th, 2013. After spending two years away from my craft to document, grow and experience daily life events to curate a new body of work. This year I plans on making this show personal. A lot of things changed, a lot took place in my life since my last solo exhibit considering daily events good or bad but nonetheless natural. I had to pull away for a couple of years to go through the process again, to feel and drift so I can paint again". Mohamed went on to build a clothing brand called Original Royal Refugee which became very successful all over the United States.
Mohamed Farah Calgary, Alberta, Canada
“I
'm the co-founder of the Selam Project. I major in Economics at the University of Calgary. I have a typical diaspora story. I had the typical Somali diaspora dream of being a leader and finally change Somalia for the better. In Surah Ar-Rad Allah (swt) says "...Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves..." How could I naively and arrogantly hope to change Somalia if I nor Somalis are unwilling to change. Allah (swt) who has the power to change a people's decision is telling us He will not, but on one condition. There is wisdom in this for us to learn. Today we have Somalis walking around as if we haven't been in a civil war for 25 years. As if we don't know why we're in our current situation. People who point fingers and blame others aren't solving any problems or enlightening anyone positively. How can we change ourselves if we put the blame to others? This is a trait of the weak. A trait of a people who will never succeed. While people argued and fought over politics, religion, the economy, tribes, land, and countless other reasons for discord we have racked up about 6 million orphans in the Horn of Africa, one of the largest diaspora communities in the world, Somalis treated as slaves in Yemen, and our people living generation after generation in refugee camps. We can't blame anyone but ourselves, we have to accept it, and move on. This is where the Selam Project comes in. We know our history, and we know this is not who we are. By working alongside the diaspora and local initiatives we want to help pick up the pieces. Starting with the Orphans. Alhamdulillah we've finished funding for our pilot project in Ethiopia, supporting 10 orphans for 10 years. The next project is in Somalia, the donations collected will be going towards this initiative. Inshallah this works out. Our future goal is to promote projects and initiatives that actively involve the diaspora into having a more hands-on approach to reviving the Horn of Africa".
Mohamed Samatar Minneapolis Minnesota, USA
“F
rom a young age, I've been interested in crossing boundaries and developing a new sense of self. This search has led me to finally accepting my never-ending dream to reconnect with Somalia, one of the many homes I've been blessed with, through the Arts. The past few years I've been able to learn, lead, and listen through various creative-community oriented projects in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Through this personal investment and positive reception, it is now apparent to me that my experiences, interests, and trade of art making would be a great asset to share with Somalia. I am raising funds to create the first contemporary Art Gallery in Borama, Somaliland! I believe that word, movement, storytelling, music, rituals, and photography are essential installations to engage in the revolving conversations about; diplomacy/activism, cross-cultural understanding, social justice, youth empowerment and community building in Somalia. This initial assessment funding phase is to foster community collaboration, interest, and leadership. Would you join me in making this dream a reality?".
Nasteha and Nuni Yusuf
“W
e are 2 sisters living in different countries (CANADA and the USA). Sharing our love of fashion and lifestyle with the world through The Yusuf's. We are launching our blog in the new year and hope to feature a lot more about our lifestyles, how escaping the civil war has shaped us, what we're doing to navigate life as married career women. As well as, of course a lot of fashion inspiration through lookbooks and features".
Yassin Serpentine Bridge Hyde Park, London
“I
usually don’t listen to poetry but on this occasion I went to a poetry event. When I was listening to some of the individuals performing, I was in complete awe with some of the performances that I witnessed. I started listening to different types of poetry in my space time. I believe it is important to listen to poetry as you start to understand the complexities of what people go through and it enables you to open your eyes a lot more”.
Sheeko Sheeko Toronto, Canada
“M
arch 16, 2015 was a day of new beginnings. We began Sheeko Sheeko, with the hope and vision of linking up with young Somalis in the city who are Artists, Writers, and Entertainers or even people who just had something to say. We were excited to reach out and build connections in hopes of creating something EPIC. We soon learned that people are down to join in theory, but when deadlines are to be met or the camera is about to go on, support turned into "I'm down to help, just don't put me on camera"; which defeats the whole purpose of what we are doing. We ran around the city looking for willing participants and they were very few and far in between. We lucked out at the Somali Social Club in the west end of Toronto; this club was full of men well into their late 40's and early 60's. They did not seem to have a problem with being on camera at a moment's notice and they participated and gave us ample footage to work with (OG Interview Video). Aside from these older men, a very small handful of younger people participated after a little enthusiastic encouragement from us, and for that we are forever grateful to them. It was a stressful day with a lot of speed bumps, but we did what we set out to do. This painting you see which we commissioned by Kalkidan to do for us represents the many dif-
ferences that make Somalia. From the Camels to the Laas Gaal Paintings to the Garbi Trees to Liido Beach all these pieces complete one puzzle. Everyone is from different areas and equipped with different talents, so this shows how we come together for the collective good. Here at Sheeko Sheeko we each come from different corners of Somalia/Somaliland, and have come together in a display of creative solidarity. One of us graduated from Vancouver Film School and he has a vision to create something that would be bigger than him and bring us closer as community. One of us is an aspiring writer who had trouble with the law and decided to take his destiny into his own hands and join the movement. Lastly, but certainly not least, we have a young, beautiful, and outspoken woman who is career driven and not afraid to tell it like it is. Queen Buuq is a strong woman with personality to boot, she is the icing on the collective cake and makes our collective complete. We have made some great strides in knocking down barriers and giving a voice to our young Somali Up-and-Comers. Our mission is nowhere near complete, but we are enjoying every step of the way. We have a lot more to offer than the status quo, so stay tuned my beautiful Somali people".
Zahra Mursal Alexandria, Egypt
"I
've recently released my second novel called Ajuran - The Eye of Africa. I wrote it because I was searching for my roots, deeper roots before the civil war that we all remember. I wanted to go beyond the stereotypes, beyond the images that crammed into my imagination and I am happy that I have now reached this stage".
Zahra Qorane Omar Mogadishu, Somalia.
“I
was born in Beledweyne during the civil war, but we moved to Mogadishu when my father was killed in Beledweyne. Since that day I have been living in Mogadishu, I grew up in this city and finished the stages of education. I have a Bachelor's degree in Social Science. Although most people believe that this city is a dangerous place, I learnt many things during my life in Mogadishu. I learnt how to adapt with the different situations. I realised that every person in this world can learn something whether he lives in a safe place or not. I asked myself how I can contribute to change the bad image that the world has betrayed towards Mogadishu and its people. To show the real face of my city, I decided to start taking pictures of the beautiful places of Mogadishu, to show the world the untold stories through my lenses, and to let the world see it. I would like to tell the young generation to stand together and try to do something good for our cities and the country in general, in order to change the negative image and save the nation we need to come together. I see my camera as my weapon to fight the negative image that dominated the scenes of my city, and I still preach that Mogadishu is worth to be lived in, and to be loved. In the future, I wish to hold exhibitions in Africa and the Middle East and possibly the entire world to show them that Mogadishu is not as ugly and dangerous as revealed by the biased media".
Chapter 04 Family
Many
of the stories on this chapter are about personal experiences with their families and how it has shaped them today. Some of them talk about their parents. Others speak about their grandparents, siblings and relatives.
Abdul Elmi
with his little brother Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Adil Ali
“T
his picture was taken in the summer of 2015 in Dubai. A special family vacation to Somalia was our goal but we had some pit stops on the way. Nothing can sum up to the excitement and thrills my siblings had during this vacation. You can't buy time or memories so do what's more important to you".
Aarhus, Denmark
“A
few years ago, I had an epiphany and I have been trying to dissect it ever since. What has made sense so far is the topic of Love, I feel as though for Muslims in the western world (including myself) we have parted ways with our roots on many levels. Does It takes a holiday like "Mother's Day" or a birthday... To remember to tell your mother you love her? It's like we only care whenever we are influenced to care! Or when it's convenient. It's a sad reality, but I promised myself it wasn't going to be mine anymore. I have since created the video "Dear Hooyo" (where I had the same discussion with my mother). I realised that the effort was worth every second. The point of this story is to remember your parents. Show them you care, don't just tell them. Insha'Allah it inspires you to make the effort, daily! (For those who are already doing it, Masha'Allah don't stop)".
Ahm e d M a g a r e
A l i y y a h Ahm e d
Birmingham, England
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
“L
“I
ooking at my life I was always my grandmother's favourite. In Somalia, my grandmother Khadija looked after me until the age of three when my mother was studying in India. My last visit to Somalia was in the summer of 2012. There's nothing more beautiful when simplicity forces you to live again. I felt it when I slept on the floor, listened to the echoes of daily Adhaans and this is when I forgot my existence on social media. But most importantly the journey back to Somalia was not complete without seeing my grandmother. I remember spending most of my times with her, smiling when listening to her songs and poems. I would massage her legs and feet to identify myself because she would forget members of the family. The nomadic transition of the life of my grandmother is more than remarkable for me. From a young girl growing up in a village and now having her own house built. This had a profound effect on me because we as people all strive for 'fast success' but we sometimes forget to think about one's progress to patience, time is like counting our Abc's. So I realised that the real success in this world is happiness in the pleasure of Allah SWT. Back in UK, during my 2nd end of year art exhibition, I showcased some of my first public artworks inspired by Hidiyo Dhaqan, Somali heritage and culture. On the same night of the art show, I had challenged myself to perform a poem that I had dedicated to my grandmother, entitled: 'My Sleeping Queen'. After reading the poem I was relieved and in a emotional state. Some of my teachers and friends shared some tears and amazingly enough a woman who was a visitor at the show called me over to meet her mother. So I walked with her and greeted the elderly woman. She kissed my forehead gently and said: "Your poem was so beautiful it reminded me of my grandmother".
was born in Djibouti. I am deaf. I can lipread and speak British Sign Language. I thank Allah for everything in my life. My parents were divorce. My family lived in Somalia. I was raised by my grandmother called Hadsan in Laascanood, Somalia. She looked after me all the time. My cousins and I played everyday. A few weeks went by and my mum took me to Manchester, UK. When I left Somalia, I was really upset. I was crying all the time. I was 13 years old. My mother was an alcoholic, she would get drunk on so many occasions. I was very confused and couldn't understand as I was a little child then. I left my mother in order to live with my Aunt. She was really lovely and she helped me a lot. My aunt decided to move to London and so I went with her. When I was 14 years old, I moved and was taken care of by a family from Pakistan. My foster parents taught me everything I needed to know in life. I lived with them for many years and I thank Allah for their kindness for welcoming me into their home. The first day I went to visit my family was in Laascanood seven years ago. They were so happy to see me. I met my grandmother for the first time since I left. I haven't seen her since I was 13 years old. I began to cry and was feeling emotional. I was anxious and scared because I couldn't speak to her. My grandmother is my beacon of light and my inspiration. Unfortunately, she passed away last year. I was crying so much. It felt like someone stabbed me everywhere a million times. Words could not describe the pain I left".
B a r n i I l h a n Om a r Nairobi, Kenya
“L
ots of people have different sources of motivation, for some it may be money, for others it's fame, for most it's to have a good, stable career and for some it's just a prestigious title. For me, it's Amira, a gorgeous 4-year-old that came into my life not only as a source of light and happiness but the reason I look forward to waking up every morning. She is my inner strength, the reason I push forward even when I'm drained, the reason I eagerly look forward to going back home when I'm somewhere else and also the reason I get to smile when I'm having a gloomy day and all I really want to do is get under my blanket and shut the world out. I chose to write about her because no human being has made me this happy and I genuinely think no human being ever will. I chose to share this story because it's the most honest and most beautiful thing in my life right now and as I sit here writing it so that I can share something so personal with the world, it sincerely makes me tear up. I was headed out the gate for my usual Saturday afternoon
archery practice when my baby sister Amira ran up to me, jerked me, pulled my scarf and hastily asked "Abayo Abayo where are you going?" I simply said "Out." She hastily replied as if she really needed me to know what she was up to that day "I'm going out too you know, I'm going to Habiyar Idil's house so I'll see you when I get back okay?" I gently replied "Okay.", kissed her on the forehead and continued walking. As I walked out, a neighbour of ours walked in and Amira being Amira, she's sort of a celebrity at our residential area - literally jumped at the neighbour smiling from ear to ear, her eyes beaming like a ray of sunshine and screamed at the top of her lungs "Walashey Watasa! Walashey Watasa!" pointing at me. She usually does this to all the neighbours and I usually just laugh, kiss her and continue walking but for some reason that day what she said and the way she said it struck a chord. As I watched her face light up at my entire existence, I've never seen someone look at me with so much pride. She looked and pointed at me as if she had actually achieved something simply by being my baby sister. At that precise moment, it hit me that if nothing else what I was today was the definition of a child's role model, her role model. That I cannot mess up, that if I mess up I was messing things up for her too, that there was actualIy no room for me to mess up. I was going to become the best person I could be for myself but most of all for her because there's nobody in this world after
my mother I'd kick worldly ass for. I knew there and then I really didn't need anybody else to push me to achieve my dreams. I really didn't need any further motivation. All I needed was her. What I was completely sure about was that: I did know my dreams were larger than myself and most often than not they scared me and that sometimes I think I'm just a ridiculously ambitious 22-year-old and that there's no way I can do some of the things I want to do. But what I finally did conclude was that all I needed to do was close my eyes and remember my small sister's beautiful face how she so proudly screamed that I was her sister that day and know that if I give up I'd be giving up on the only person in this entire universe I was undoubtedly sure was cheering me on, because that sort of sincerity can only be seen on a child's face. I do promise for myself and for her that I'll be the best goddamn lawyer, CEO, future record breaker and best role model insha'Allah and I also do fully understand that every trial and every affliction that I face is preparation for the person I hopefully will become in the future,for the person I so hardly fight for every new day. When there is doubt, I will find a way or make one to be that person. So Dear Amira, my soulmate, my other half all I ask is that you hold my hand and never let go because Insha'Allah I promise not to let you down. I promise that I will be better than the person you so are so proud of".
F at i m a A l i Liverpool England, UK
“M
y late father (May Allah (swt) grant him Jannah Al Firdous) was a gentleman that knew how to express his style without following trends or fashion of any sort, of course like most women, my father was the first man I fell in love with, Islamically he was a great character and boy did he have a true sense of style. It was through the British Merchant Navy, he had travelled the world with his younger brothers as Somali sailors and was introduced to the beautiful world of tailoring on his many trips to Savile Row. Between sailing and returning home on leave, he had mastered how to 'dress' and in the process building himself a permanent wardrobe, which only needed the essentials adding to it every 6 months or so. In his lifetime my father established a wardrobe mostly made out of classic navy blue suits, the perfect grey 3 piece, the must have trench coat, the ultimate overcoat and a beautiful selection of Harris Tweed blazers. The foundation of these masterpieces were various shades of blue, checked and classic white shirts with silk ties. In terms of shoes he only ever sported brown Oxfords and traditional black lace ups, he forever wore a Swiss timepiece and I cannot remember him without his classic Fedora hats or his cream Taqiyah, in fact he was known for never leaving the house without a hat. He only owned one pair of Levi jeans, and they made their annual appearance when my mother wanted him to change the paint on the walls to compliment her seasonal decor. Thanks to my father, over the years I've become a woman that doesn't believe in disposable clothes, and I have managed to establish a brand based on responsible fashion, where I can create with the intention of passing on to the next generation. My story is a simple one but a passionate one at that. I created 19eighty2 to celebrate the man who shaped my past, present and future, and helped me find my identity in the world of Craftsmanship and Style, and to this I say Alhamdulillah everyday".
Halima Painted Hall Greenwich, London
“I
remember the day my parents got separated. My mum was left with three kids. She started from nothing and she now owns a restaurant in Hayes. Nowadays you see a lot of young Somali women with no education or securities marrying men. That's why my mother always said to get an education and a job, that's more important. The rest will fall into place".
Faiza Hackney, London
“M
y mother speaks in proverbs. She has always stressed that there are two things we should never stray from: our deen and our people. These two things will keep a person grounded in this life & no matter where you are your deen and your people will blanket you from loneliness. It's been nine months and 3 days since I moved a whole ocean away from my safe haven, from familiarity, from comfort and from everyone I love & yet my mother's proverb is a truth I am now certain of. I've never been to London before this but here I am, nine months later, and in retrospect, it's been my people and my deen that have kept me from drowning, from running away, from running back. It's been these two things that have kept my heart soft, my arms open, my eyes focused and my breathing steady".
Hamda Yusuf University of Washington, Seattle Washington, USA
“I
’ve always had this dream of writing a novel about my parents. Even when I was young, their love and sacrifice inspired me. I always tried to imagine what they were like when they were my age. What was the first thing they did when they woke up, how were they around their friends, what kind of students they were, what did the mangoes taste like, what did the streets look like, how many stars were in the sky, how did the sun feel. It’s those kinds of questions that lead me to have more of a dialogue with my parents. I’d have these really long evening talks with my mom during Ramadan where I found out things I never knew about my family. I was thrilled but also terrified. What if I had never asked that question? I would never have known and it would have become just another forgotten aspect. I began to understand that my parents had been carrying hundreds of stories between their lips. So I started writing everything down. I suppose I started doing it because of the fear of my parents being forgotten. Yet I think it’s more than that. If I choose to have children I want them to know just how great and loving their grandparents are. I don’t only want the world to know their sacrifices, I also want them to know how in love my parents are, how my mother is the funniest woman alive, how my father loves nothing more than shaax and a copy of the Economist. At this point I only have a bunch of disjointed stories in my journal but I am working towards typing it all up. All I want is for the world to remember my parents and to rejoice in their love with me”.
Hoda Yusuf Salford Quays, Manchester, UK.
Naima Farah British Museum, London.
"I
“A
couple of months ago I embarked on a life changing journey. One that uplifted me and those around me. I decided to share my journey on a larger scale by starting a YouTube channel and a blog where I shed light on taboo topics in our community. I write about being blissful, living fully and being true to yourself. I wanted to show young women that life isn't over once you get married and have children. It is in fact empowering to know that we as women come out even stronger after having gone through it all. When your struggles becomes your strength, your breakdowns become the brim of your breakthroughs".
was born in Somalia and at a very young age was raised by my grandparents. My grandfather Professor Caalin was my everything. He was my hero and until today I love him more than anything. Unfortunately, he passed away few months before me and my older sister went to Finland to reunite with our mother. My childhood in Turku, Finland was the best childhood a child could wish for. I was fluent in Finnish and had a lot of friends. Few years later, we moved to Stockholm, Sweden. To start everything all over again was pretty tough but alhamdulillah Swedish is a much easier language than Finnish. It took me only 6 months to be fluent in Swedish. After few years in Stockholm, we moved back to Turku. I was quite happy about it because I needed to leave Stockholm behind me and start my new life in Finland. My mom was smart to put me and my older sisters in a Swedish school in Turku but we were the only Muslims, Blacks and Somalis in the whole school. We also spoke "Rikssvenska", the real Swedish language while in the school everyone spoke a mixture of Finnish and Swedish. Almost every day people ask us "So where are you from?" Today I'm still trying to find a short way to explain where I'm from".
Kaamil Minneapolis Minnesota, USA
“I
was born and raised in Qoryooley, Somalia. I remember vignettes of my life that stuck in my mind before the war started. All too vague but there are parts of your life as a kid that remains with you regardless of your age. Qoryooley is a very lush and green country side in Somalia. You name a fruit or vegetable, it grows there with plenty of livestock. I remember one day being with my friends. At some point, the girls challenged us (the boys) to climb a tree, and whoever climbed the fasted and reached the most ripe bundle of fruits at the top won the race. Forgot the name of the tree but it could have either been Daray or Garas. The tree was very tall, in my child's imagination. I remember being the first to climb to the top because I could hear the girls chanting my name. While standing on a weak branch and reaching for the ripe fruits, I fell. As I was hitting every branch on the way down, I fell on top of a cow that was laying down underneath the tree. When the cow got shocked, she threw me off her back by way of getting up. I could not breath nor sit upright by the time I hit the ground. As I remember, everyone ran awayso as not to be blamed for the incident, I believe. Finally I was brought over to our home by an old lady sitting nearby. I remember my mother massaging me and cracking my back to align me right. The following night, as she was putting warm oil all over my head and body, she said these words repetitively, "Hooyo, mar kasta ka qoor dheernaw saaxibadaada." English does not do justice but she said, "Mom, make sure to always raise your head above your friends." It never meant anything to me till I got older. It was as if I remembered this incident when I needed the first time in my life. And it has helped me ever since with every situation of my life; to not follow everyone's opinion, to be aware of my surroundings, to be true to myself, to observe people's behaviour, to analyse situations and life, and so many more. 'Hooyadu waa lama huraan.'"
Khadijah Forest Hill, London
“M
um: Khadijah! Kaaley, I have something to tell you! Me: Yes Hooyo! Mum: I want to adopt, what do you think? Me: Oh my God what? That's amazing! Where from? Palestine or Syria? Girl or Boy? How old? Mum: No from here...London, a Somali child. Me: Are you serious Mum? After a long explanation of how there are many Somali kids in London who have been taken away from their families and have been put up for Adoption, it hit me. That night I re-evaluated my ignorance. I never thought I'd hear the word 'neglect' used numerous times to describe the situations of Somali children, I mean I just thought it didn't happen to 'us', but it did. Only a year old, with no food at home she learnt to beg, with the help of her 10 year old brother. They would spend nights just roaming the streets, hoping to find a merciful soul. Meanwhile we would reject certain foods because we simply don't want it. We have been put in a bubble of comfort, which caused us to be blind, to the things that matter the most. A year and a half later, we welcomed her into our home, she would say 'Mummy' and my stomach would tighten. When she smiled, I would cry continuously. She opened my eyes to a world, which was new to me, but a norm to her".
beautiful and wonderful kids Minneapolis Minnesota, USA
I
t started when I was with Abdulkadir Hassan in a Native American cafe. We were just discussing about the people here and people in the UK. I was quite memorised by the art they had. They had a timeline of jewellery from the 70s until now. What captivated me was their history. So many of their people have been murdered or have gone missing. Abdikadir then walked me to an art piece created by them and it showed the life they lived during the early 1900s. I heard shouting in the corner. We looked and we saw these happy kids playing outside their house with full of joy. I smiled. What I noticed is that most of the Somalis living in the state lives in these kinds of homes, which is wonderful to see and it enables the kids at home to go outside more. It helps with their development to becoming a grownup, most important their physical developments as well as their understanding of the world around them.
Munira Hassan Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
M o b a r i k Om a r
“S
he had taught me the essence of true love, through her dialogue filled with letters of adornment. My mother always knew the right words to say. She had already predicted I would become a writer, way before I could piece familiar letters of the alphabets together. On my graduation day, I could see the impact of my achievement through the tears in her eyes. Upon receiving my degree, she approached me beaming with pride, it was evident then that I had made her dreams come true. After graduating I began writing for every media platforms I could be a part of, and last year after much encouragement from my mother, I set up my own blog. Eleven thousand readers onwards and I am realising now that my words have connected so profoundly with others. Six months after her death, I fell into great depression. The days no longer mattered, my body was carrying around an empty soul. There was days I couldn't eat, sleep or even find the courage to pray. All I was seeking was to no longer exist. Pain does that to you, it weakens you down. It's a constant battle between your mind, body and soul. It took many night of prayer and having the support of loved ones around me, before I found the courage to let go of my pain. A sudden stroke was Allah's chosen path for her returning back to him. It was evident then that only after the passing of a loved one, do you begin to see the depth of their true character. With over 2000 mourners praying over her. I discovered after her funeral, that my mother had always been helping others around her. Throughout her life, she was a woman with not much to give but a loving heart and a giving hand. Even though she no longer is present in my life, her words of encouragement will always reside within me. A mothers love resides deep within the depth of your soul, without it your heart can never truly become whole".
M a h a d Ahm e d Nairobi, Kenya
“A
t Aga Khan Hospital, the surgery was set to start. I was 2 years old and I had difficulties supporting my body because my head was so big. My grandmother showed up in front of the hospital gates with stones on each of her hands. Her motive was clear: she would break all the windows of the hospital if the operation took place. I travelled with my grandmother to El Wak on the Somalia-Kenya border where I was operated traditionally. The operation left me with four burn marks on my forehead and several burn marks on the back of my head. The burn marks on my head became the basis of name callings. I was called USB Ports, Bluetooth, Charging Ports, Head lights, Keyboard, Keypad and Buttons. It affected me so much that at times I will spend hours looking at myself in the bathroom mirror while covering the burn marks on my forehead. I would stay up all night just thinking about how I would have looked without the burn marks. That is when I came to realise that without the burn marks I would have been bedridden for the rest of my life. I repented and thanked Allah for blessing me with a cure. I started to love myself and when I met people for the first time and they gazed upon my burn marks, I would smile and tell them the story behind it. Some laughed, others took pity on me while the rest told me that my grandma was a badass! I received numerous offers from plastic surgeons to help me get rid of my burn marks but I shut them down and told them they were lucky none of their windows have been broken yet. I often visit my grandma back home in Somalia and the first thing she does is she kisses my burn marks. I wish to fulfil a promise I made to my grandmother which is when I start a family, I will name my first son Jibril and my first daughter Jamila. My grandmother's two favourite names. I love you so much Ayeeyo Isnino may Allah make you one among the dweller of Jannah. Ameen".
Nasra British Museum, London
“I
remember when I was a kid in Nairobi during the 1990s. My Uncles and Aunties were in our living room and as normal my Mum fed and entertained them. My brother and Mum gave me and my other siblings the shoes of our guests. My mum told us to throw the shoes at them. So, we started throwing their shoes like they were being ambushed. My mum was the orchestrator of the whole operation. Then in the end she would say that they used to do that to each other when they were kids. We still throw shoes at all her childhood friends who come to our house!".
Chapter 05 Inspiration
In
a world where we are constantly talking about talent and ability, we tend to forget about the role of inspiration. Inspiration allows us to overcome our everyday limitations and experiences. Here are some of the Somalis who have managed to exceed their own limitations.
Hassan Noor Sayid (Aar M aanta) Isiolo, Kenya
“B
e at the right place at the right time" was the quote written on the board of one of the dormitories at Wamy Orphanage where few friends and I have been doing charity work for the past few days. Many of Isiolo's residents, a town 285km north of the Kenyan capital, are descendants of Somali soldiers who fought in World War I. I didn't know much about this town until the morning of January 13, 2013, when I received one of the most shocking news: My best friend of nearly ten years Jamal Moghe was killed by bandits on a nearby road and was to be buried there. Brother Jamal was a tolerant, kind and above all a forgiving individual. He was the sort of friend you could have an argument with and regardless of whose fault it was, he would always be the first to call. If you did not answer, he will call again. He never took anything to heart. It was no surprise that one of his last tweets was: “Forgive me if I have wronged you, forgive those who have wronged you, for Allah forgives the forgiving heart." On the night of my wedding, Jamal was my best man. Having done so much to help me prepare for my big day, I wanted him to enjoy the moment without any responsibilities. However, being the kind of friend he was, he spent the evening outside in the cold welcoming guests at the door. Following his sudden and tragic death his widow, some friends and I have been exploring charitable options to keep his memory alive. Eventually we came across 'Wamy School Children's Home' under-funded orphanage school situated under the mountains of Isiolo town - not far from Jamal's final resting place. One of the orphanage's teachers remarked that they hardly had visitors so our visit alone was much appreciated. After we asked what we could do to help, they gave us a list of things. The list included fixing broken windows, buying water tank, mosquito nets, blankets, bed sheets, slippers, washing buckets etc. Thanks to money we collected from families and friends over several months we were able to provide all the items requested ourselves. I believe all our lives are somehow connected. There was a reason why my friend's final resting place was to be in Isiolo, there was a reason why my friends and I ended up in that orphanage. In other words we will always be at the right place at the right time for what is destined for us. However, miracles happen when we get out of our comfort zones, when we consciously and actively create chances for those who are less fortunate than us. Let's not rely on NGO's or other organisations whose business it is to help others. But let's get out there ourselves with whatever money or resources we can afford and make a difference in the lives of our brothers and sister every now and then Insha Allah".
Bakar Ali Washington Square Park New York, USA
“I
was born and raised in Somalia, in the midst of a civil war. I grew up in a lawless Mogadishu, where violence was a daily reality. I lost many of my friends and family as a result of this violence; including my own mother, killed in an attack. I came to United States five years ago. When I arrived in the U.S, I was truly alone. I did not have any family or friends in the city where I settled. Upon arrival, I enrolled in a community college where I studied English for two years. Then I went to University where I double majored in Urban and Community Studies as well International and Global Studies and I also minored in Political Science. During my time in college, I did not have any 'fun' times that my peers enjoyed at university. It was difficult to not experience college life but I knew that my peers had family to support their education while I was all dependent on myself and paying my education. I had to work a lot of hours to not only support myself, but also to support my family back in Somalia. I took a larger than normal course load, and as a result, would sleep very few hours. In addition, I was involved with the University's Student Government and the Muslim Students Association. When people asked me what was motivating me to work so hard, I would tell them it was because of how and where I grew up. When I was child, we did not have electricity, clean water, or a sense of safety. Sometimes we had to go school amidst a sea of bullets flying over our heads. These experiences made me stronger, because they taught me how to survive in spite of a difficult situation. Now, having been in the U.S. for 5 years, I've been blessed to earn an Associate's degree, two Bachelor's degrees, and am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Administration at New York University. In the future, I hope to return to Somalia to help rebuild my country. Every Somali youth who has received the opportunity to get an education and professional training should think of sharing their skills to help develop our native country. I've seen many young people in America and Europe who claim they are no longer Somali, or ignore what is happening in Somalia. Let me give you a bit of advice. Just because you live in a developed country with its luxuries and opportunities, does not mean that your Somali identity is gone. We must embrace this part of our identity and aid our Somali brothers and sisters in need. We need to show the world that Somalia coined the “failed state" has the potential to rise again, and become one of the world's most civilised nations".
Abdulla Farah Qatar University Doha, Qatar.
“T
his city is so beautiful. I'm planning to use the skills and knowledge I've learnt to go back home and contribute insha'Allah. There is a Qatari Proverb which states: Actions are based on intentions, which is taken from the Islamic faith. If our intentions are pure, the possibilities are endless". #SomaliSideways.
Em a n B a r e Saskatchewan, Canada
“I
am a Canadian-Somali designer/journalist/yoga teacher. I've always known that I did not want a conventional career path. I would drive my mother crazy as a little girl because I would say I wanted to do everything. And I did. I wanted to create a career that was a lifestyle. The idea of being somewhere for a certain number of hours always made me feel incredibly claustrophobic. But I didn't listen to my younger self. I finished my degree, got a 9-5 job, moved to my dream city and then I crashed so hard. I'm talking eating pizza in bed four days a week, netflix every weekend, and more miserable than I have ever been. I didn't understand why. And I had “it". You know, that thing you're told to aspire to. I was living in a beautiful condo in downtown Toronto, and working my dream job. I owned a friggen couch that wasn't even from IKEA! I was as grown up as I could have been at 22. But I was also more miserable than I had ever been. I remember being at work and thinking, “Is this it? Is this where I will be for the next 40 years?"
That's a scary thought for someone like me. I'm a cross between a nomad and commitment-phobe. The idea of being stagnant, or working the same job until I retire makes me nauseous. I CANT. But that's what's “right", or so I've been told. So I toughed it out. The longer I was there, the more I didn't recognize myself. I had lost my sparkle. Sometimes I would look at pictures of myself and I felt like I was looking at a stranger. Even my voice began sounding less like me. I was going through motions and so detached from everything that makes me the person that I am. Until one day I just decided I couldn't give another day of my life to something I did not love with all of my heart. So I quit. I didn't tell my parents, or friends back in Saskatchewan. I just did it. And then I did maybe the craziest thing I've ever done in my life. I went to fashion school. Again, I didn't tell anyone (I tend to do that a lot). I didn't ask for opinions I just did it. I've wanted to be a fashion designer since I was a little girl, but it's not exactly the most stable sounding career choice… especially for a girl from the prairies of Canada. Or so I've been told.
Don't get me wrong, I love journalism, but there is more to me than just that. Cue fashion school – the best experience of my life. It was like for the first time, I was exactly where I needed to be. And it's weird how everything around you is shaped by your relationship with yourself. Because I was finally doing something that made my heart happy and was so unpredictable, I began changing. For starters, I stopped eating pizza in my bed. And then I did a serious detox of my life. I cut out the people who brought in bad vibes and the friends who weren't really friends. And that's really hard for me because I don't like accepting that I can't make someone better. But it's true, you can't. And I just got to a point where I decided to always pick myself first, and I haven't really looked back since. If someone doesn't fit into your life and is bringing you down by being there, why hold any space for them?
Haroon Hassan Orangery, Kensington Gardens, London
“A
fter leaving sixth form, I embarked on a new challenge. I had a sheltered upbringing during my early years. I was fortunate in a sense that my parents kept me busy and kept me away from anything that could divert me away from my education and more importantly my religion. I made the decision to move away from home and challenge myself against students of a higher calibre than myself. It was a gamble for a number of reasons. Firstly, I was leaving my family and friends behind. Secondly, I was leaving behind somewhere which I was used too, like something as small as not having to tell the barber what haircut I liked etc. And finally, I was heading to a place I knew nothing about. My first year was a disaster. By December, I had barely made any new friends, my room mates and I was massively underperforming academically. It would take nearly 30-40 mins to head to the Mosque for Jummah prayers, which was conducted in Bengali. Now I have nothing against Bangladeshi people or their language but me and my best friend were the only ones who couldn’t understand a word! To make matters worse they seemed like a close community and I didn’t feel like I could join and I have to say it but it kind of put me off going to the Mosque. Another difficulty was the University environment. If you wanted to make friends, it seemed like you have to join them. But avoiding them was much harder and as there weren’t many Muslims around. You were considered weird if you requested the alcohol to be kept away from your section of the cupboard. I just about got through the year academically and socially but I felt with little to show with it and thinking whether university was for me. Anyway, the turning point was doing Champions, a program which developed me more as a person and made me take responsibility in learning how to deal with different people. I was able to excel at something which I failed to do in my first year. This success gave me a platform to go from strength to strength, in terms of socialising and I carried that into university. The only issue was all this success was getting to my head and it did have an impact on my belief and it even impacted me academically as I was not at the level where I needed to be and I was in trouble. I failed to prioritise my studies and it was not until third year I got the balance right. I kept my social group close, and made sure that my priorities were my studies and my deen because those two key things ingrained in me through youth and what I was used to. In the end I not only exceeded my own expectation I made solid friends and resisted temptation of the university environment, well I just about did it”.
Karima Osman Colorado, USA
“I
t's a beautiful thing to just be. To feel in the moment and not let outer influencers deter you from your ultimate dream. Overtime, I've realized that we can achieve our goals in a variety of ways. While there may be one goal, there are infinite paths. So when life seems to not coincide with what I want, I try to embrace it and modify how I go about my same goal. Growing up, my father has always told me stories of life in Somalia. His dynamic stories capitalized on the rough strength, but poetic gentleness of my people. He retells certain stories over and over, and with each time, it feels like he reveals an untold aspect. Stories never die, and never cease to have a multitude of impacts. Similarly, our dreams hold the same fluidity as a story. There may be one underlying message, but multiple ways and interpretations. I am currently working on my first poetry chapbook centered on my people. Writing seems to reconnect me. Somalis are truly poetic and it's a privilege to write poetry about a poetic people. My mother is a translator here in Denver, she invests in gathering basic necessities for new refugees as the state government fails to adequately do so. I've met a lot of the refugees through the years, and the richness in their stories compensates for their poverty in this dunya. My book is heavily centred on the refugees in my community. I remember just 10 years ago I could count all the Somalis in my city. The population has blossomed and with that, so has my responsibility. I don't take it lightly when I say one hand is for earning my education while the other is for helping. It is better to teach the man to farm than give food, so Insha'Allah, I'd like to become a doctor and open a clinic back home and train future physicians".
Hibo Osman Mankato, Minnesota
“S
ince I can remember I constantly asked myself “Hibo everyone has a passion for something, what is yours?" I went from trying to write poetry, to writing a book, to painting, you name it. Until I finally fell in love with weight lifting. In the beginning, I started working out because I've always felt insecure and very self- conscious of my body. I had so many images on my phone and in my room of women fitness models I wanted to look like one day. But throughout my fitness journey I've realized that you are your own unique person. No matter what, you will never look like anyone else. So having that mindset I started to push myself even harder and I went from trying to look like someone else to being my own inspiration. I started to see a change in myself that I always hoped for. I was always that girl who hid behind the treadmill and watched as everyone else lift weights from a distance. Until one day I told myself that all this fear is just in my head and in order to face it head on was to go for it. I wanted to look strong while also having the ideal physique that I always envisioned for my personal liking. Also, I wanted to change the idea that lifting lowers a women's femininity and to help them understand that weights enhance a women's frame. At the end, it takes determination, self-control and of course patience because those are the important essentials of achieving anything in this life. There's still more for me to learn and this whole fitness lifestyle is a process that has no specific deadline. What definitely keeps me going is the results I see and knowing that it's an important part of a lifetime of good health".
Hafsa historic Dome of the Rock Jerusalem
“S
ometimes in life you can feel that a certain experienced changed you and that you will never be the same again. Before last week, I thought of myself as a balanced human being. Balanced in my academic career, balanced in my deen and balanced in my feelings of right and wrong, peace and justice. Going to Palestine, changed my views radically. To see people stripped of their dignity forces you not only rethink your own ideas and life but it also makes you rethink the meaning of Islam. In the countries I have visited I have yet to meet people as nice and welcoming as the Palestinians. Even though the whole world is turning away from the horrific happenings in Palestine, they still find a place in their hearts to welcome visitors. This influenced the way I thought about balance. In order to live through difficulties that sometimes can seem more than you can bear, we need to be unbalanced in our devotion for Allah. The belief that justice will prevail someday, is what makes the Palestinians keep going on with their lives. It is what makes them go to school. It is what makes them start businesses and open shops. It is what makes them enjoy life. Surrounded by negativity they still try to limit the pain and they choose to see the good in people. They try to find happiness in the littlest of things".
Mahdi Hashi Islamic Society Boston Cultural Center, USA
Mohamed Hussein Nairobi, Kenya
“T
he Greater Boston area is considered by some to be the most intellectual city in the world, boasting a university/college student population that make up 1 out of every 6 of its residents. Harvard and MIT are the forefront a of the elite higher learning and research institutions, while Boston Children's Hospital and Mass General rank high among the world's best scientific research ambulatory care centres. Cities around the world have theatre districts, shopping districts and shamefully the "Red Light District"... nothing personal against Amsterdam. But this city has the Fenway Colleges - a neighbourhood consisting of 6 or 7 great colleges/universities (my sister is a recent Masters graduate from one of these schools) and the Longwood Medical Area, a district that holds around the same amount of upscale medical institutions. Not to bore you with the facts about my city, but I'm getting to a mind tickling point here: through those gates that I stood awkwardly when 10 year old Elmi took a sideways picture of me taking a break during Tahajjud prayers. I was reminded that hundreds if not thousands of Muslim students, intellectuals, professionals and future thinkers of the world from all over the planet have walked and will continue to walk through those gates insha'Allah to pray there. I couldn't help but realise: Is Boston the modern day Al-Andalus? Or is it Kufa? Is it Damascus, where kings and queens of Medieval Europe would write diplomatic letters requesting the Caliphs of the Abbasid Empire to attend their world renowned learning institutions? Is this the city where a young stem-cell researcher makes the greatest discovery of our generation the night after she stepped away from her lab at Harvard Medical or MIT to pray Tahajjud and ask Allah's help with her work? Or will it be little Elmi himself? Kind of awesome don't you think?".
“S
omebody once told me that old age is made difficult because there is no comfort in sleep: there is nothing to dream of because there is no possibility of being able to fulfil that dream. Without dreams the existence becomes hollow. Something happens to make you believe that you are not good enough anymore and like a defeated army, you retreat, sometimes quietly, sometimes in disgrace. The problem lies in faith. The question of faith is simple: what makes some people believe in themselves while others doubt each and every step that they take? Maybe it has something to do with the upbringing. Faith is not born. Faith is nurtured and that is why, in my opinion, it depends on upbringing. Our faith is not in fact ours: it is others faith in us. It seems that whatever happens in those early years of our lives shapes us, determines the things we will do and those we won't. It decides what kind of people we will be, whether we will believe in ourselves or we will be forever in utter confusion clinging to temporary supports, striving to go on with each day".
Moha med Mussa
Yahya Saddiq
Clifton Hill Melbourne, Australia
Pyraminds Cairo, Egypt
“A
“T
t 9:30am, I was sitting in one of my psychology lectures. The topic being covered this week was Anxiety Disorders. The lecturer goes through her material, historical information, definitions, statistics, causes and treatments. “Stressful life events trigger our biological and psychological vulnerabilities to anxiety" she says, slight mumbling as people process this. Silence once again as she begins to list examples of stressful life triggers. “Marraige, divorce, difficulties at work death of a loved one, pressure to excel in school". At around 10:30am break time, there was chatter all around me. A particular conversation catches my attention, “how are you coping with assessments, I'm freaking out, I don't know what I'll do if I don't get into honours". I knew what she was feeling, I thought maybe she met the criteria for Anxiety Disorder. At 5:47pm, I was finishing work off at the library and adhaan on my phone goes off. I received confused glares. Decided to pray at the University Mussala before I headed home. The Imam recites an ayah I am familiar with “And for those who fear Allah, He always prepares a way out, and He provides for him from sources he never could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is Allah for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion". (65: 2-3). At 6:40pm feeling content, I make my way home and I know with the help of Allah I'll make it as a psychologist".
he last thing I remember before I fell asleep in the back of a Peugeot car is that my family and I were travelling from Yemen to Jeddah through the mountains of Hudaidah. Later, after 14 days I found myself in a room lying on a bed in a very poor condition. The only thing I was remembering at that moment was that I was with my family traveling back home. From the bed I looked through the window and I saw the mountains. My brain was telling me that there were no mountains in my neighborhood, and started asking myself why I'm here? Then a woman walked-in and shockingly screamed "he's up, he's up!". Later on, I knew that she was my nurse and a horrible accident happened to us where our car flipped three times upside down, driver died, and my life stopped for 14 days. Doctors were telling my family that I won't survive. My life changed ever since I became more conscious. I got through a lot of things since the accident that made me so grateful to Allah. One of those things that I'm proud of is the Somali Community Runners, which I co-founded it with my friend Kamil. It's basically a community of Somali Runners who gather every week to run in the streets of Cairo. Our dream is to enlarge it and have Somali Runners in every Somali community around the world. This is my way of thanking God for being here".
Sohair Al-Baroud Kuwait City, Kuwait
“M
y story began when I was 17 years old. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy which is the fourth most common Neurological Disorder affecting people of all ages. Not many people know about this disease and how it could really affect someone's life, and how dangerous it could be if you don't take medication. As a human being, it took a long time for me to accept that my life has turned around and my lifestyle would change from now on. I became more sensitive, emotional, not feeling stable and not confident enough as I use to. The most hardest thing is when I see sympathy on people's faces when they find out my sickness. I was fortunate that all my Epilep-
tic attacks were at home. My Mum would sit beside me and read Qur'an. She would ask 'Sohair do you remember me?' since most of the time I don't remember what happen until I realise I had the attack again. I remember when I first had the attacks. I was in hospital and the first thing I did was I asked the nurse to cover this scar I had during the attack. After putting some cream to clean the wound, she told me to keep it open so it could heal faster. But I was afraid of how people will look at me and what my answer would be if people ask how I hurt myself. The turning point for me was when I had my first attack at work. I went to hide in the bathroom and I cried. I waited until my brother-in-law came. I told him to take me to mum and as soon as I saw her, I ran towards her and cried over her shoulder. She tried her best to make me feel better although I knew how hard it was for her to see me suffer. I used
to hide it from friends and colleagues. I faced a lot of challenges and through those challenges, I became more open, positive and optimistic. Whenever I see people who are suffering more than me who can't live their life properly or don't have the means to get proper medication, I thank God for giving me a chance to live my life. So start by changing the way you think and look at the world. Live your life for every second that goes. Dream big. Never let an obstacle stop you from fulfilling your main objectives. Look for what keeps you motivated. From all that darkness, there is light and my light was my mother. She changed me as a person and made me believe in myself and my ability. My family gave me wings to fly and supported me in so many ways. I thank God that I am blessed to have such a family encouraging me to never stop fulfilling my dreams".
Frah Abdi Mountainous region, Nagorno Karabakh town of Shushi, Armenia
Ahmed Abdull ahi private garden Holland Park, London
“N
ever let go of Hope. There will come a moment when all the stuff you've been through all makes sense. When you're able to connect the dots and what you have wished for has finally come to be. Then before you know it, you will look back in a sigh of relief and ask yourself... How did I get through all of that? Allah"
“M
y parents were among the many who had to make one of the hardest decisions of their lives. To send their child away to safety and hope for a better future. I was one of many Somali children to leave in such circumstances, leaving behind your entire family with the knowledge of sacrifice, intention of betterment and the reality of life's struggles. Growing up in a foreign country without the presence and guidance of your parents comes with a lot of obstacles and challenges. At 16, I ran away from home and I remember being in the park the whole day with friends like nothing was wrong. As it got darker people started to leave until I was the only person left in the park. That's when I realised I had no home to go to. These challenges taught me that the only thing you can absolutely control in life is how you react to things out of your control, and there's a lot you can't control so the better you adapt to this reality, the more powerful your highs will be, and the more quickly you'll be able to bounce back from the lows. Everything that happens to you in life is either an opportunity to learn and grow or an obstacle that keeps you stuck. You get to choose. My life's experiences whilst growing up has led me to see the value in young people and provide opportunities for them that wasn't available to me. Alhamdulillah, I work for the biggest youth organisation in the world which enables me to do the job I love and lets me travel the world. So my brothers and sisters when life hits rock bottom, Take a deep breath; it's going to be ok, maybe not today, but eventually. There will be times when it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong, You might feel like you will be stuck in this rut forever, but you won't. Sure the sun stops shining sometimes, and you may get a huge thunderstorm or two, but eventually the sun will come out to shine. Sometimes it's just a matter of us staying as positive as possible in order to make it to see the sunshine break through the clouds again and remember Allah won't put you through more than you can bear, he might let you bend but he won't let you break".
Moha med Sharif Queen Mary University London
“I
was born in a very small town in Ethiopia called Harshin. It was just one road half the size of Oxford Street. One shop provided everything for everyone who lived there. My dad was very religious so he travelled with a group of others to do Dawa. My sisters and I would travel quite a bit to get to a farmer who taught Qur'an. We had no books or pencils, just wood and ink. We learned the Arabic alphabet and a few chapters of the Qur'an. A few years later when I was about 7, my family moved to another town called Harta Sheek (Hart Sheik) at one time being the largest refugee camp in the world. I stayed with my uncle in the countryside looking after sheep. Every morning I would wake up with my macawis, eat the traditional breakfast canjeero and tea. But I preferred cow milk. Then I would herd my sheep and take them miles away to feed them. The sun is blazing and there are no trees to sit un-
der. When the sun is right in the middle of the sky its lunchtime, someone brings you a bowl of white rice and yogurt. This was the best way to cool down and it tasted absolutely amazing. About 8 months later I moved to live with my family. My dad wasn't travelling as much, and he worked as a construction guard with me helping lay the bricks during the day. 3 years later we moved to Hargeisa. This was when I learned about electronic devices. My mum bought me a toy bus for Eid, it ran on batteries and it made fascinating sounds. It opened the doors like the London red buses do. Every time it broke, I would take it apart and see all the wires, motors and motherboard inside, it made my eyes dazzle with astonishment. I always found the
problem and fixed it. A year later I moved to the UK at age 11. I was never exposed to violence and on my first day of school I cried. I did not know 1+1 or Hello but I loved the ICT class. I would use the computers like I had been using it for a while. I pressed every button. Ran every program installed on it and it was the excitement of my life. I worked hard and achieved the minimum grades to get into sixth form. My passion for computers and problem solving started with that red bus I was gifted for Eid. I am now in my third year of Computer Science at University and I hope to one day Insha'Allah inspire children to find their passion and interest. But first I would love to know where I could find that red bus!".
Z u l e i kh a S u l e m a n Minneapolis, Minnesota
“T
his is something not everyone is aware of (and quite hard to share) but two years ago, myself & 2 other friends got in a car accident. A drunk driver of a pick-up truck t-boned us & ended up totalling the car we were in. Alhamdulillah, we all ended up coming out in good health but I suffered a deep cut to my cheek due to the glass breaking during the impact. Blood was streaming down my face and I was in total shock. I was rushed to the ER, got 22 stitches in the inside layer of my cheek & 22 outer stitches. In the following months, I developed a scar on my face that took a blow to my self-confidence. I would do the most to hide it, & act as if everything was okay & I was fine. I would always ask myself, "what ifs", "why me?". I knew everything was the will of Allah, but to accept your Qadr & come to terms with it was something totally different. Fast forward to almost 3 years later & I honestly can't say I'd be the person I am today without the accident. It was the catalyst to drawing nearer to Allah, putting my utmost trust in Him, & finding comfort in Him because only He truly understood what I was going through when no one else did. Initially I failed to understand why it happened and why it was me who had to deal with the physical, emotional, & psychological traumas of the aftermath of the accident. Little was I aware of where Allah was taking me; that in the end, that event would actually contribute to my growth & discovery. My scar is not the remains of an injury but the proof of healing. Allah heals all wounds, the seen & unseen and mends that which is broken. What remains of that night shown by my scar is a reminder of my story— a story of survival— that not all bad is indeed dark, as Rumi once said, "the wound is where the Light enters you." We will all encounter bumps on this road called life, we will stumble or fall. We can either choose to pick ourselves up (w/ the help of Allah) or succumb to the pain & allow it to numb/paralyze us. In the end, all thanks are due to Allah—the Most Just who would never burden you with something you wouldn't be able to handle".
Chapter 06
Race and Identity
We
live in a time where islamophobia and racism have become ever so prevalent and it is imperative that we get our voices heard and stand up against those who do not want us to succeed.
Abdirachid Fidow Feltham Station, London
“A
n Islamophobic man verbally attacked me on the South West train this morning from Twickenham to Richmond whilst I was standing in the busy train minding my own business, when to my utter amazement, he asked me ‘' Are you going to blow yourself up on the train''. I wincingly replied ‘'I don't talk to bigots", to which he simply moved closer to me in a threatening manner. Seeing that he wanted to start a fight, I decided to defend my honor by simply fighting back using my head instead of my hands which seemed like the wiser option. ‘'I bet your ignorance and small mindedness insults everyone on this train, you're a fool who only watches and listens to news that fuels and divides communities. You are an example of what gives extremists more excuses for their horrible actions'' I proclaimed and then added, “In fact, you are actually no better than them". At this stage I thought the situation would escalate into a train brawl however, to my luck, there were several true Brits on the train who could not tolerate this bigot anymore and decided to step in and pushed him away, which offered me a sense of protection and reassurance that we have a decent society to hold onto. I wish to thank all those strangers who are my true brothers and sisters of mine for their kind, thoughtful and supportive actions shown today. I never thought this could happen to me, but I finally understand what many of my Muslim peers are going through everyday on public transport, they are faced with harassment and threats to their lives. Islamophobia is rife and living on these shores, it is high time we all prepare for this inevitable outcome by simply showing people what true Islam is and sharing our resonating values of peace and the love for humanity we all have been taught and that is to respect, show love, tolerance and compassion in the face of adversity. It is what my religion teaches and entrusts me to convey everyday to my fellow occupants of this planet. I take this time to send a message to all those reading this who share the same ideals of hate and bigotry, I am determined to defeat you, I am ready to show you what true Islam teaches. If you decide to continue your ways. Do not worry there are millions like me walking past you as you continue with your daily life and routine.
Aisha Osman Beaverton Oregon, USA
“I
am a 15-year-old Somali- American. All my life I've had to deal with Islamophobia. Especially living in a time were groups a killing innocent people in the name of "Islam". I've also been racially attacked due to the colour of my skin. In May 2015, I decided to write a letter to President Obama and told him about my life as an American Muslim. I then was invited to attended an Eid reception hosted by the White House. A few days before I left to Washington DC, I was asked to introduce President Barack Obama. Being a teen I thought my voice wasn't going to be heard but it was. Inshallah with my experience I will keeping spreading the word of peace, love and unity".
An i s a Ontario, Canada
“M
y family was fortunate enough to flee Somalia just before the civil war broke out. Alhamdullilah for being raised in a Somali household; my thick skin is credited to my parents and six brothers. With Trump becoming the next President, I fear for my Muslim brothers and sisters as well as any other minority group who'll have to face any such discrimination as a result of his presidency. However, we should all remember to stay strong and 'make racists scared again.' Anywhere a racist rears their head, we will combat them. It's that simple! I'm also thankful to Allah that my family was able to make Canada our second home and wouldn't have it any other way. Even though I still have yet to visit Somalia it's a country that will always run deep through my veins and will forever be a place I can call home".
Am i n a Hassan Oregon, USA
“G
rowing up I was always the token Black/Muslim friend (my family & I were the only Somalis in my small town) and I felt the high pressure of painting my people in a positive light. As I grew older and was exposed to more Somalis (through social media) I realized how important representation really was. While my social media accounts (Instagram, YouTube and blog) are mostly for personal enjoyment, I am passionate about my online presence because of the fact that black Muslimahs lack representation in the blogging world. 9 times out of 10 the influencers and bloggers we have access to are Arab/South Asian, making it difficult for black Muslimahs to feel included. I hope to use my blog/channel as a way to both shed light on issues within the Somali community & also highlight the fact that not all successful, stylish Muslim women are Arab/ South Asian! I'm starting a Masters of Education program in Minnesota and I hope to use my career as a tool for the next generation of Somali- Americans"..
S a g a l Ahm e d
F a i z a Om a r city of Ghent, Belgium
“I
remember the core feeling of my religion being contested when I was in my first ethics class. Having lived in Belgium at the time for only a few months, the memory of that day is still vivid in my memory. The teacher started the class by asking the following question: ‘Who believes in God?' I then, nonchalantly, raised my hand up feeling like it was the most natural thing to do, something I probably could have done in my sleep, it is inherent in who I am today and who I was at the time, it was me. I then looked up expecting everybody else's hand to be up, instead mine was the only one raised, I sat and hoped that at least one more person would, but that didn't happen. Everything just stopped and everyone was staring at me. Not only did I actually grasp the fact that I was not in a country where everybody looked like me, I was also in a country where everybody didn't believe in something I was taught to be so instinctive, so intuitive and so universal. I remember being 13 at the time, feeling left out, and maybe even a bit embarrassed. I then sadly put my hand down. Going back home that day and I asked my mother what happened and she told me that I was there to educate my fellow classmates in what I believe in, in what I think is important. I finally had the chance to change and take Islam instead, but I didn't. I continued doing ethics for six years. And in a world of today where the media magnifies the few rotten apples who do despicable acts in the name of this beautiful religion, my former classmates tell me that at that very moment, they realise that there is also a flip side: that there is also a world where innocent Muslims are killed, resulting in situations where we, as Muslim girls, in the West, have to choose between wearing the hijab and life, for the fear of being attacked or even worse killed. They think of me and remember that there is a face to the unknown that they were once all scared of. All this to say, hang in there my fellow Muslims. Build yourselves up so you can build a better Somalia so that our children get to grow up in a country where everyone looks like them and believes in that same something that you were taught to be so instinctive, so intuitive so natural and universal, to believe in that same, beautiful Islam. Insha'Allah khair".
Sagal Bedel
Siham
Acton Park, London
Hong Kong
“H
ere I stand as a Somali, from the Ogaden; from among the forgotten people. Here I stand for the forgotten, hidden and voiceless children of the Ogaden. Here I stand as a 15-year-old born and bred in London, who has had a blessed and sheltered upbringing. Yet, here I stand crying with the orphans, in agony with the physically abused, and distraught with the ones who have been bought up in fear and know nothing but fear. I stand for the 15 year-old girl who was raped recently and kept quiet for 3 months until she could not withstand the pain. This 15 year old is a family friend's sister and no different to me except by Allah's Qadr (Will). I didn't hear this in the news or read about it on the Internet. I heard it firsthand. These children live in terror every day, a real and unfortunate terror. I stand here today so that more of our people, the Somali people will for once be in support of their people wherever they may be, whether in the western world, or Somalia or the Ogaden. I stand here today to not forget the people that have for so long been forgotten. I ask you today to raise your hands for the children of the Ogaden; with the biggest weapon bestowed upon man; Dua. That Allah brings peace to these children, that they like us, live a sheltered life filled with not only their needs, but also their wants. That they spend the rest of their life in bliss, and more importantly that we never forget the forgotten. I pray that they become remembered. Though I feel humanity has failed these children, like many children around the world, I stand here with hope".
"R
ight now, we live in a testing, frustrating yet most exciting time of our lives. Being a black, Muslim woman in this trump era has somehow empowered us. Instead of feeling defeated, we have shown resilience throughout. I couldn't be more proud of my heritage and race. In this digital age, we are more connected now than we have ever been. This is power. We have all found it tough to see our own communities suffer from drought this year but we have come together and created the Love Army for Somalia. With this power, it is important to remember that we matter. We must remain present and connected. Alhamdulilah".
Chapter 07 Students
Most
Somalis are going to university more than ever before studying a variety of subjects such as social sciences, medicine and engineering. Some have even taken up further study once they’ve completed their Bachelors.
Am a l Pakistan
“I
recently graduated from Medical School. Just as soon as I was done with my A-level exams, I could not wait to enter medical school. And when I did get in, I just could not wait for the first semester to be over. And when that was over I just wanted to get done with next one. Before I even knew it, I was in my final semester and all I wanted was to get through it and graduate. Now that I have graduated its finally hit me that I should have savoured every single moment of my university life instead of always wishing to reach the next level. Once you graduate, although you are in touch with them, you don't get to see your friends as much. Also, you are no longer a carefree student whose only worry in the world was getting a good GPA. You are a responsible adult who must manage and think of a dozen things, the first and foremost of which is when/how are you going to get a job that will hopefully make your parents proud. So my advice to anyone who is currently in university is to live in the present moment, enjoy your campus life and make tons of memories with your friends. These are your golden years and once it's over you are not going to get them back. So live them to the fullest".
F i q i Om a r Limburg, Germany
"I
was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. I'm currently studying in Istanbul, Turkey. I was hit by this huge wave of ambition one day. As I was sitting and thinking about the differences between our generation and our older generation, it occurred to me that us Somali youth now are far more innovative and cultured than our older counterparts. The reason being most of our parents and grandparents had to flee the country for either political safety or an increase in our livelihood. We were influenced by other cultures, ideas, environments, and hobbies. Hobbies especially. Many of us love fashion that we wouldn't have been influenced by in Somalia, many love sports that wouldn't have normally been popular in our land, many more developed a passion for technology that might've not been available for us back home, many refined their religious ethics and manners after witnessing the many beliefs that would be non-existent in our Muslim majority country, and a majority developed a love for traveling that would've been laughable if our parents had stayed in our little town in Somalia. All in all, the conditions we grew up in shaped our identity as Somali youths, an identity that is almost completely indecipherable from the older generation. A great deal of us, seeing how it affected Somalia, grew up hating tribalism; this I have a problem with. Because when we say we hate tribalism, majority often associate it with hating tribes completely. And youth, being such the bandwagons that we are, tend to just accept it and ill mouth the whole notion of tribes. Tribes are amazing. Tribes are backed up in the Quran as being a means to identify oneself and others. Killing, robbing, judging, and looking down on others based on tribes is what I find deplorable. And I'm sure there are others that agree. Seeing as how we youth are, seeing as how cultured we are, seeing as how well taught (by our parents and grandparents and educational systems around the world) we are; I'm sure that Somalia is in good hands. All we need to do is get together, as the future of Somalia, to make the future of Somalia. As long as the Somali youth come together under the guidance of our older and wiser Somali elders, I don't see any reason as to why I can't stay home in Mogadishu, sipping on my shaax and enjoying the view of little children running around happily".
Hodan, Filsan, H i b a q a n d Am a a l Sheikh, Somaliland
“W
e all individually left England in the last few years to make the journey to Somaliland. All of our parents had the idea much like many other Somali parents which was to bring their children back to the motherland to get a taste of our people's culture and tradition at its finest. The four of us had the fortune to meet each other during our time here and are lucky enough to share our experiences. One of the biggest problems we thought we would face was the education system. School finishes here in form 4 (year12) where you graduate with the SLNCE certificate. This qualification, however is not globally accepted and this makes it harder for students who are graduating in Somaliland to move to Western educational systems. Schools in Somaliland have now started to offer British qualifications. Our school is offering IGCSE and more schools are starting to follow by providing more known examinations throughout the country. Somaliland was different and unselling at first. Each one of us had their own difficulties adapting & copying with the lifestyle in Somaliland from the simple things like the weather & food to more complicated things like communicating with the locals. For those of you already who have their preconceived judgement on life in the motherland, I'm here to tell you that your wrong and to make your journey here to develop your country while discovering more about your culture and religion".
Chapter 08 Travels
Travelling
and Somalis is something that goes together very well. The Somali people are known to be a nomadic group that have followed a traditional and simplistic life for centuries. Currently there are approximately more than 2 million Somalis living in the Diaspora and it will increase in the many years to come.
Bilan Monteverde, CostaRica
“I
wasn't born in Somalia. I have never been to Somalia. I have always been the only Somali person in my class. I never had any Somali friends growing up. I make grammatical errors when I speak Somali. All these things have even deemed me, “not really Somali" according to some in the past. Why does any of this matter? Despite all this, I have never felt more connected to my Somali identity. I have an unmatched appetite for malawax at all hours of the day. In my room I blast Saado Cali (Allahu naxariisto) and sing all the lyrics to Xamdi to my roommate, just as my grandmother had done to me. Most of all, I dream, like many of us, every day of a way I can help Somalia. In my consumer behaviour course, I sat and listened to my professor speak about the way people assign associations to everything from brands to places. That is when it dawned on me. Whether we realize it or not, each and every Somali has the power to influence the world's perception of Somalia. From the way we interact with members of our own culture, to the way we interact with those of other cultures, we are the future. Diaspora or not, we are all undoubtedly unique and have the ability to communicate with the world in any language—Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish, you name it—the talents of those originating from, “the failed state." Through my travel photography, I have learned that if I can't bring the world to Somalia, I will bring Somalia to the world insha'Allah".
Marian HajiMohamed Presidential Palace Panama City, Panama
M
uhammad Ibn Battuta, one of the greatest travellers in history, captures my love for traveling and exploring in a few simple words “Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." Travel has always been an integral part of my life, Alhamdulillah. From childhood, I have always had an innate need to see the world, meet new people and experience new cultures. When I travel, I get to see how truly expansive and perfect the creation of Allah SWT is, and how blessed I am to exist in such an exquisite masterpiece. We all, and I speak for myself especially, often focus on the relative challenges of our daily lives, forgetting that the world is much larger than the microcosms in which we live. I think travel is essential to not only appreciating what we have, but also dispelling ethnocentric misconceptions of people who are different than us. When you travel the “other" becomes familiar, which creates more room for love in our hearts. So, like Ibn Battuta so eloquently said, traveling has made me speechless and turned me into a storyteller.
Port Dreams Bare feet imprint destinies upon ever changing sands, gazing eyes scan the horizon imagining untouched lands. Hearts race to the rhythm of waves crashing on shore, moist hands clasp the charted course, adventure is in store. Virgin travelers evoke sighs of fear as sails lift into the sky, the comforts of home foregone, oblivion their new ally. Veteran voyagers eager to embrace the rumbling of the sea, their spirits high in paradise, longing to be free. Conflicting emotions permeate the air converging into one, blending with melodic precision on a unilateral mission. Explorers en masse overshadowing preconceived fear, gracefully gliding through currents, a destination unclear.
N a j i b Ahm e d Royal Albert Hall, London
“I
've been blessed enough to have had the chance to travel to multiple parts of the world, alhamdulilah. I've been given an opportunity not to just lounge around and relax, but the chance to embrace new cultural practices, different ways of living and most importantly I've been given the chance to learn. Not just about myself, but about all sorts of things. The thing I learnt most about my travels is contentment. I've spent time in Zambia, Egypt, Kenya and many other countries. My most memorable journey was to Zambia, I learnt so much about myself on that trip. I remember one evening when I was approached by an elderly man asking for money, I gave him 50,000 kwacha which at the time was equivalent to about ÂŁ4. This man looked at me with astonishment and said "I think you've made a mistake", and I asked "how so?". He stood there explaining to me just how much he could do with this money and as he did all I could think of was, this money would have barely paid for a sandwich and a drink at a local cafe I used to eat at. Later that night I thought about all that man had said and I realised just how ungrateful I was as a person. It amazes me to think that the words of a man who I had a chance encounter with, has held so much weight in my life since. I highly recommend travelling to anyone who can afford it, and if this post has inspired you to visit Zambia, make sure you check out the Victoria Falls in Livingstone, to this day I still regret not making time to go".
Sp e c i a l Th a nk s I would like to thank all the people who have taken part in this book and without all your wonderful stories this project would never have happened. To all my friends and family who have supported me fully. Words are often inadequate to express my joy for your help. For sharing my dreams; for your invaluable help, support and patience, I say thank you.
Hibo Beilah Khadra Ali Ismail Burhan Ismail Ladan Barkhadle Noor Ibrahim Said Shoukri Areh Sumaya Mohamed Yussuf Farah Abdirahman Kahin Abdul-Wahab Shill Ayan Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Hodan Nalayeh Sacidyo Dhubow
Ikram Ali SuSu Mohamed Hussein Nuur Marawa Sagal Abdi Ilhan Omar Sumaya Mohamed Abdi-Hakeem Hassan & Sharmake Fahima Abdi Halima Hagi-Mohamed Abdifatah Ali Khatra Hassan Ismail Sabrie Ladan Osman
Mohamed Hersi Mohamed Farah Mohamed Samatar Nasteha and Nuni Yusuf Yassin Warsame Sheeko Sheeko Zahra Mursal Zahra Qorane Omar Abdul Elmi Adil Ali Ahmed Magare Aliyyah Ahmed Barni Ilhan Omar Fatima Ali Halima Nur
Faiza Jama Hamda Ali Hodan Yusuf Naima Farah Kaamil Haider Khadijah Mobarik Omar Munira Hassan Mahad Ahmed Nasra Mohamed Aar Maanta Bakar Ali Abdullah Farah Eman Bare Haroon Hassan
Karima Osman Hibo Osman Hafsa Mahdi Hashi Mohamed Hussein Mohamed Mussa Yahya Saddiq Sohair Al-Baroud Ahmed Abdullahi Frah Abdi Mohamed Sharif Zuleikha Suleman Abdirachid Fidow Aisha Osman
Anisa Amina Hassan Sagal Ahmed Faiza Omar Sagal Bedel Siham Amal Asad Fiqi Omar Hodan Filsan Hibaq and Amaal Bilan Haji-Mohamed Marian Haji-Mohamed Najib Ahmed