I was really happy when I found out about Yasmeen Maxamuud’s novel Nomad Diaries. Yasmeen is a familiar figure in the Somali community. Her articles and poetries have been published in various places and she is also an editor of WardheerNews.com. Yasmeen is also a mentor to a lot of Somali youth and often emphasizes how one should not fall victim to their obstacles but rather use them to be something in life and enrich the lives of others. On her book tour she has visited many different schools and was overwhelmed by the excitement of readers of all ages. She said “to inspire Somali kids alone was worth to write the book.”

Nomad Dairies is a novel about the lives of a Somali immigrant family in the United States. It is a story about the struggles of being a refugee in a nation that mistrusts you. It is about the misunderstandings and confusions immigrant parents and their children face. Nomad Diaries is story every immigrant will identify with in some way or another.

Nomad Diaries introduces the reader to Nadifo and her family. Nadifo, the protagonist, is one character that any Somali person can definitely relate to. I was truly amazed with her resilient attitude and the ability to endure the difficulties life has thrust upon her and her family in a very unique Somali way. Before the civil war that would shatter the lives of Somalis and literally left them homeless in their own country, Nadifo was the wife of a prominent government official named Cartan. Growing up she was not used to such prestigious status and was a poor girl. After marrying Cartan, she was instantly placed in a position where she literally could buy anything she liked. Her home was a place where other women envied. She bought things for her house from different countries, as the author notes, “She wanted to harmonize Europe, Islam and Asia in her home, a unique design never seen in the elite houses of the ruling party in Hamar” (18).

In all aspects of life, Nadifo and Cartan were the typical successful couple. They had all life could offer and were raising children who would inevitably become successful too. Geele, the eldest son, was sent to America to study. He was not the typical rich spoiled child who took his parents wealth for granted; he realized it was due to his father’s title that he was granted the opportunity to study in the United States. He made a good use of it.

Nadifo was excited about Geele’s education in the U.S. and she did often brag about it. On his return, she arranged his marriage with a beautiful girl named Sagal. Nadifo handpicked Sagal for her son. According to her, Nadifo, outer beauty and “pure” bloodline (tribe) were very essential. 
It was the evening of Geele and Sagal’s wedding that would drastically change the lives of Nadifo and Cartan’s family. On this joyous day she lost the most prceiuos jewel and one of her children would be left in a position where death could have, perhaps, been more merciful.

Nomad Diaries takes the reader on a heartfelt journey of this family as they make their way to live in the refugee camps to Kenya. Before they make their way to the United States, Nadifo and her family buried and left behind a gruesome family secret; a secret that would forever change their lives. This was a secret that Nadifo had no problem leaving behind in Kenya but would witness the consequences of it every day of her life.

Once the family immigrates to the United States, they are faced with the usual ordeals of immigrant families. The older members of the family are doubtful of a strange new culture; whereas the younger ones embrace it wholeheartedly.

Nomad Diaries touches upon many issues that are very prevalent in the Somali community everywhere. When one of Nadifo and Cartan’s daughter, Henna, marries a non-Muslim man the family voices their concern about the fact that the man is not a Muslim and not his ethnicity. However, when her son, Haybe, expressed his desire to marry a Somali girl the issue instantly becomes of her belonging to a tribe Nadifo disapproved of. The girl Haybe wants to marry is highly practicing Muslim who is also very successful in terms of her career and educational life. Nadifo, however, ignores all the good things about her – and makes an issue out of her belonging to an “impure” tribe.  She goes as far as arguing “what does her type know about religion? They ate unholy meat, she is using you” (220). As you can see, Nadifo and the rest of the family are using Islam where they see it benefits them. Sadly, this is an issue I have seen in some of the Somali communities. What is qabil (tribe)? To me it is just a label which has been used in our society to degrade and destroy our country and our people. Isn’t it shame when a parent or an adult uses that as a reason to stop their children from marrying someone who is a practicing Muslim and also a highly qualified person in terms of their professional and educational life? Please do not get me wrong, I am all for mixed ethnicity weddings, however it agonizes me when I see Somalis being happy with their family members marrying outside the Somali culture and sometimes also outside Islam yet create an obstacle for two people who wish to get married because one of them subscribes to a tribe that is deemed as “impure.”

Nomad Diaries also touches upon issues such as polygamy and cheating in some of the character’s marital lives... Sadly, even in real life the divorce rates are high within the Somali community in the Diaspora. 

The other issue the novel tackles is the dark side of parents and children relationship. Most of us have or are still guilty of lying to our parents about things we did or still do in our lives. Sadly, I think this is both a parent and child caused problem. One cannot clap with one hand, and therefore the superficial parent-child relationship in some of the Somali community is caused by both. The younger generation of the Nadifo and Cartan family is distanced from their parents. They are caught between a dual identity – where they are Somalis at home and Americans with their friends.  I think this goes beyond the Somali community as most immigrant families are faced with this dilemma.  I think readers of Nomad Diaries, Somalis or non-Somalis, will learn a valuable lesson about this issue.

Recently, I came across a Somali youth who was a bit disappointed with the way the male characters were portrayed in the book. However, I think it is very easy for someone to just look at narrow picture of any novel and become disappointed. One needs to view the holistic image of the male and female characters of the story and also comprehend that these characters are fictional.

Nomad Diaries is not a book that presents a rosy image of the female character, while completely tarnishing the image of the male characters.  This is a story of an immigrant Somali family and their hardship and struggles of being a refugee in a country that is very different from their own. It is a story of a couple (Nadifo and Cartan) who were rich back in their native country yet living on welfare in the U.S. It is a story of the inhumane actions caused by hatred for this or that qabil (tribe). It is a story that will make you laugh, shed tears, and nostalgic for Somalia. And most definitely it is a story you will fall in love with.

Nomad Diaries was definitely a joy to read.  One cannot help but fall in love with Yasmeen Maxamuud’s profound and vivid way of painting resonating images in the reader’s mind. Her art of storytelling is highly addictive. Although the book is fiction, one learns a lot about the Somali people, culture, history, proverbs, etc. I recommend Nomad Diaries to non-Somali readers who are interested in learning about a culture and a people who manage to occupy the front pages of major news papers around the globe. For Somali youth this book will reconnect them to a culture that is long forgotten. Today when you look at the media there is absolutely nothing positive about Somalia or its people.  There is so much more to Somalia than the horrendous images and stories we have become accustomed to. I also recommend this novel to Somali readers who will inevitably enjoy reading about the struggles of the average Somali immigrant in the Diaspora.  Characters like Nadifo, Cartan, Cabeela, Haybe, Warsan, Idil, and Shirwac are sure to touch your heart and remind you what it’s like is to be a refugee Somali living outside Somalia.

Halimo Ahmed
Email:halimaahmedd@gmail.com