Mr. Bourkanyana has happy news to share with us. Young Somali writer Ayanna Abdi, living in our neighbourhood, publishes her debut novel this week. See an extract from an article about her below.
Mr. Bourkanyana knows Abdi and they are trying to organise a writing course for girls with Abdi as course leader. They hope this can be a way of getting girls from different cultures together and learn writing techniques to share their stories.
„Ayanna Abdi`s life is becoming more hectic every day. On Wednesday her debut novel “My Soul`s Home” is released, and in November she debutes as a commentator in the Independent News`s new comment`s slot “My Signature”, which three young writers will alternate between writing.
– I`m very proud of my book and getting this opportunity to speak my mind in a national newspaper, Abdi says. – It`s important that a wide range of voices get through in the public room, and the debates on immigration and cultural problems are very narrow and one-dimensional in our society today. She catches her breath: – With exceptions of course.
Her book tells the story of a young Somali girl`s struggle to get accept and recognition for her studies and ambitions both from people from her own religious and cultural background and from the society in which she lives now.
– Being two-cultural in our society is not necessarily a negative thing,- I appreciate a lot this position in which I can compare and learn from both cultures. I cannot and don`t want to represent a whole culture, I speak from my own experiences and feelings. If I can inspire other immigrants, especially girls, to see that it`s possible to follow your dreams, I`d love to do that.”
Article from The Independent News.
Photo: farah_abdi_omar
