Safia’s Story in Context (Somalia)
Content Warning: Discussion of arranged marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and war/conflict.
Hi everyone! Here’s some behind-the-scenes content that adds more context to Safia’s story from Somalia. I’ve known Safia for a long time, so I was confident her openness and resilience would shine through in her narrative. I wasn‘t disappointed.
Somalia
For those unfamiliar with the country, Somalia is near the top right-hand corner of the African continent when looking at a map.
Often referred to as ‘The Horn of Africa’ due to its shape, Somalia has the longest coastline of all the African countries (around 3,000 kilometres). Its coastline – which stretches along the Gulf of Aden to the north, then meets the Indian Ocean to the east – offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Its capital city is Mogadishu, which has a population of approximately 2.5 million people, and is home to many traditional Somali clans, including the Abgaal and Murusade clans.
Somaliland
Somalia is split into two parts: Somalia and Somaliland. The latter declared independence from Somalia in 1991, however, this independence is not recognised by foreign parties as possessing a distinct sovereignty.
Despite the lack of foreign recognition, Somaliland has an independent government and its own history. The region even has a unique currency and issues its own passports.
Islam
Somalia is a strict Muslim country, with most citizens following the Sunni form of Islam. Safia discusses how being a Muslim is an important aspect of her cultural identity, and she often emphasises how it is a peaceful religion at heart.
Arranged Marriage
In her article, Safia speaks openly about her experience of arranged marriage – a tradition upheld in many Muslim countries:
“When I was seventeen, my dad brought a man to our house and told me this is who I was going to marry. He was a stranger to me and I felt afraid.”
FGM
One of the more distressing aspects of Safia’s story is her experience of FGM as a child of only six or seven years old. Undergoing this procedure has made a lasting impression on Safia’s physical and emotional health, but has also fuelled a passion for ensuring her daughters do not experience the same pain:
“When I was between six and seven years old, my family cut me between my legs and sewed me up with big stitches. There was so much blood. I cried and cried and cried. It was the worst pain of my life.”
Conflict
Unfortunately, Somalia is a country suffering from ongoing conflict. The prominent terrorist organisation within the country is Al-Shabaab and the Somali government is striving to overpower them. This has led to widespread suffering, particularly towards the south of the country near the capital city of Mogadishu.
Safia’s Story
To find out more about Somalia and Safia’s story, please follow for free access.
Take care,
Rachel 🙂
