Before 1991, the postcolonial Somalia stood out as one of the promising countries in East Africa. This was attributed to its rich cultural heritage, cohesive society, and distinctive colonial past. However, a coup in 1991 dramatically altered Somalia's trajectory and set its people on a path of constant movement. Today, Somalis rank among the most mobile people in Africa. The Somali landscape literary now mirrors this mobility and captures their aspirations, setbacks, uncertainties, and encounters abroad. This course aims to delve into the vibrant world of Somali migrant literature. We will explore how reflections on Somali culture and experiences resonate throughout these literary works, offering insights into the Somali diaspora's journey across the globe.
We will explore these ideas through the following texts:
- Bisharo Abdullahi: The First Winter: Stories of Survival by Experienced Hearts (2019).
- Nuruddin Farah: North of Dawn (2018)
- Hassan Ghedi Santur: The Youth of God (2019).
- Waris Dirie: Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad (2011)
These books can be found via Amazon.
More information will be updated 5th April. 2024- Kursleiter:in: Denish Otieno Odanga