I want your opinions. I will only post one chapter and hear your HONEST opinions.
Chapter one. The Bodheri Family 1998
It is universally acknowledged that a Somali woman who comes of a marriage age must marry as soon as possible. The family of Bodheri are like any other average Somali family, working class, father having a job, and mother being a homemaker. Mr. Bashir Bodheri was born, and raised in Mogadishu- from a long line of Islamic educators. He was a teacher of Madras, which taught Islamic studies to children between the age of seven to eighteen. He made himself a comfortable living, with two late teenage daughters to raise. His wife, Fatma Xirsi Xashi was a more refined woman from northern Puntland, beautiful and regal in her figure, and came from a distinguished Wealthy family. She eloped with her husband in a scandal that still follows them many years later. Bashir Bodheri, although not handsome, had a wonderful glowing jet black skin tone, a manly muscular medium built, matching with a strong face. When he smiled, he betrayed a gentle heart, pearly white bright robust teeth with a captive smile. His jet black skin complexion was akin to his tribe which is Hawiye- his sub tribe being Habar Gidir. Mrs. Bodher’s tribe was Darood, and her sub tribe Majeerten. The complex subject of tribalism in Somalia runs deep, and nuanced. To touch just the surface; there are three main tribes in Somalia. Hawiye, who mostly reside in southern Somalia, concentrating on the capital city Mogadhishu. Darood, who reside west north of Somalia, and in the coastal area. Isaaq who reside in the northern parts where now it has separated from Somalia, establishing its own state- to be called Somaliland. Darood also shares part of Northern sphere Somalia, but on the border lines. Generally speaking, there is a sense of hierarchy of superiority complex within the Somali citizens. Darood mostly has been vastly understood to be on top of the hierarchy, more civilized than Hawiye. The first Darood was reputed to be a foreigner who settled in Somalia from possibly Yemen. Hawiye are mostly native people who are humble, and always hold an inferiority complex compared to the Darood clan. One could argue the complex inferiority stems from Darood's snobbish nature, and abuse to Hawiye clans. In the Northern lands, Somaliland- the Isaaqs are distinctly separate from the southern drama. Although highly snobbish themselves to both Darood, and Hawiye, they seem to find a comfortable kinship with the Hawiye.One presumes both Isaaq and Hawiye hold an un-acknowledged inferiority, and envy towards the Darood- whom appear historically worldly, and civilized. Isaaq’s comfort with Hawiye could stem from a patronizing affinity. Although the Isaaqs culture is influenced by their colonizers, the British, they never seem to properly grasp the British humble reputation as the shopkeeper nation. They value Education, and various vain pursuits than the other two major clans to be sure- but on point of utilizing that flare for education for self growth, they settle for vain ad hominem attacks. Darood mainly are business people who excel in leadership, as well as entrepreneurship. Hawiye in return are humble, but very volatile without a warning. In general, and stereotype- there is also the issue of colorism in Somali society. The lighter skin you are, the more beautiful or better you are considered to be or look, thus Hawiye being mostly known to be of dark skin are negatively viewed. To be fair, All three tribes have a good number of dark skin people, but Hawiye holds the brunt of all finger pointing, and statistically the majority of dark people are concentrated in the Hawiye tribe. Remarkably truthful although, Darood holds the most beautiful women, per capita than ALL the tribes combined.
Chapter Two. The New Neighbors
On a scorching hot sunny day, Mrs. Brother came running into their middle class brick home, catching her breath as sat on her favorite sofa.
“Girls, I just received the most delicious news ever. Neero Istanbul told me that we have new neighbors. You know the huge white estate house two blocks from our home? There are new occupants who just arrived from the United Kingdom”
“Mama- why should we care? “ Spoke Maryam Bodher, the eldest daughter. Maryam combined the mystical dark hue of her fathers jet black skin with her mothers features. Although her face was exceedingly feminine, and beauticious- she was a bouncing sporty girl, who had an inclination to religious study- just like her Madras Teacher/Father.
“Oh never Mind Maryam. You are an obstinate girl. Let me finish what I have to say. Anyways, the newcomers are a young man and his two sisters. They are exceedingly pretty girls. One of the sisters is married, and accompanies her husband. They are, I believe, Darood clan. The specific sub clan has not yet been established. Gosh, I do hope they are Majeerten. My tribe is the best of all Darood, I must boast. But don’t quote me on that, we need to dig further to find out about their subs. God forbid they are Warsangeli or Ogadeni- it will severely change my enthusiam. Your aunty Neero talks endlessly without checking her sources. Oh girls– I am soooooo happy! I will certainly make sure the single boy marries one of you.”
As Mrs Bodheri spoke effusively, the younger sister came into the living room with her father. Soon they were briefed into what was going on, and quickly were tempted to return to their study library for safety. But with the thunderous voice of the mama bear, none of them was so brave as to muster the energy to do a U-turn. After recapping, and recounting the dubious information, she concluded by asking:
Now- Proud Papa- what do you think of my scheme?”
“Scheme? My dear wife, how many times should i remind you, my girls are not slave girls on sale. They are barely of marriage age as it is” Mr. Bodheri spoke softly as he fumbled with his newspaper.
“Not of marriage age? Are you mad Sir? Maryam is nineteen, and Sahra is seventeen. Both are past marriage age. A few years added, and they will be considered spinsters. I cannot risk that. I am woefully desperate. “ She spoke as she eyed her most stubborn eldest daughter, Maryam.
In point of beauty- Maryam stood tall, beautiful, but with a boy energy which irks her mother. She is vastly intelligent, a Hafidh of the holy book, and recites with the most melodious tone of voice. Her younger sister Sahra was petite, small, and pretty. She was more glamorous than her older sister. She loved everything pretty, and dressy. Sahra was not as intelligent as her sister, but was very kind, and homely.
“Mama, why do you look at me like that? “ Asked Maryam while she stared at her father, for help.
“My dear Maryam- I still blame you for refusing two marriage proposals. This is really outrageous. Next year you will be twenty. If I live to see that, it will be very painful. It will kill me“
“Mrs. Bodheri. Stop it!! My Maryam is perfect as she is. I would be as happy for her if she were single, and spinster for life. There is not a prince in the land who is fit to marry my Maryam” Spoke Mr. Bodheri with an uncommon valor, and passion.
“Well, I am not going to sit here, and waste time. Come on, Sahra, let's go dress up, we have no time to waste. We are going to visit our neighbors, and introduce ourselves. Make sure you put on your favorite purple dress, a little eye make up touch, and not more please. You need to save the make up dazzle va va voom for a more formal engagement occasion. “
Chapter 3 The Birthday Party
Chapter one. The Bodheri Family 1998
It is universally acknowledged that a Somali woman who comes of a marriage age must marry as soon as possible. The family of Bodheri are like any other average Somali family, working class, father having a job, and mother being a homemaker. Mr. Bashir Bodheri was born, and raised in Mogadishu- from a long line of Islamic educators. He was a teacher of Madras, which taught Islamic studies to children between the age of seven to eighteen. He made himself a comfortable living, with two late teenage daughters to raise. His wife, Fatma Xirsi Xashi was a more refined woman from northern Puntland, beautiful and regal in her figure, and came from a distinguished Wealthy family. She eloped with her husband in a scandal that still follows them many years later. Bashir Bodheri, although not handsome, had a wonderful glowing jet black skin tone, a manly muscular medium built, matching with a strong face. When he smiled, he betrayed a gentle heart, pearly white bright robust teeth with a captive smile. His jet black skin complexion was akin to his tribe which is Hawiye- his sub tribe being Habar Gidir. Mrs. Bodher’s tribe was Darood, and her sub tribe Majeerten. The complex subject of tribalism in Somalia runs deep, and nuanced. To touch just the surface; there are three main tribes in Somalia. Hawiye, who mostly reside in southern Somalia, concentrating on the capital city Mogadhishu. Darood, who reside west north of Somalia, and in the coastal area. Isaaq who reside in the northern parts where now it has separated from Somalia, establishing its own state- to be called Somaliland. Darood also shares part of Northern sphere Somalia, but on the border lines. Generally speaking, there is a sense of hierarchy of superiority complex within the Somali citizens. Darood mostly has been vastly understood to be on top of the hierarchy, more civilized than Hawiye. The first Darood was reputed to be a foreigner who settled in Somalia from possibly Yemen. Hawiye are mostly native people who are humble, and always hold an inferiority complex compared to the Darood clan. One could argue the complex inferiority stems from Darood's snobbish nature, and abuse to Hawiye clans. In the Northern lands, Somaliland- the Isaaqs are distinctly separate from the southern drama. Although highly snobbish themselves to both Darood, and Hawiye, they seem to find a comfortable kinship with the Hawiye.One presumes both Isaaq and Hawiye hold an un-acknowledged inferiority, and envy towards the Darood- whom appear historically worldly, and civilized. Isaaq’s comfort with Hawiye could stem from a patronizing affinity. Although the Isaaqs culture is influenced by their colonizers, the British, they never seem to properly grasp the British humble reputation as the shopkeeper nation. They value Education, and various vain pursuits than the other two major clans to be sure- but on point of utilizing that flare for education for self growth, they settle for vain ad hominem attacks. Darood mainly are business people who excel in leadership, as well as entrepreneurship. Hawiye in return are humble, but very volatile without a warning. In general, and stereotype- there is also the issue of colorism in Somali society. The lighter skin you are, the more beautiful or better you are considered to be or look, thus Hawiye being mostly known to be of dark skin are negatively viewed. To be fair, All three tribes have a good number of dark skin people, but Hawiye holds the brunt of all finger pointing, and statistically the majority of dark people are concentrated in the Hawiye tribe. Remarkably truthful although, Darood holds the most beautiful women, per capita than ALL the tribes combined.
Chapter Two. The New Neighbors
On a scorching hot sunny day, Mrs. Brother came running into their middle class brick home, catching her breath as sat on her favorite sofa.
“Girls, I just received the most delicious news ever. Neero Istanbul told me that we have new neighbors. You know the huge white estate house two blocks from our home? There are new occupants who just arrived from the United Kingdom”
“Mama- why should we care? “ Spoke Maryam Bodher, the eldest daughter. Maryam combined the mystical dark hue of her fathers jet black skin with her mothers features. Although her face was exceedingly feminine, and beauticious- she was a bouncing sporty girl, who had an inclination to religious study- just like her Madras Teacher/Father.
“Oh never Mind Maryam. You are an obstinate girl. Let me finish what I have to say. Anyways, the newcomers are a young man and his two sisters. They are exceedingly pretty girls. One of the sisters is married, and accompanies her husband. They are, I believe, Darood clan. The specific sub clan has not yet been established. Gosh, I do hope they are Majeerten. My tribe is the best of all Darood, I must boast. But don’t quote me on that, we need to dig further to find out about their subs. God forbid they are Warsangeli or Ogadeni- it will severely change my enthusiam. Your aunty Neero talks endlessly without checking her sources. Oh girls– I am soooooo happy! I will certainly make sure the single boy marries one of you.”
As Mrs Bodheri spoke effusively, the younger sister came into the living room with her father. Soon they were briefed into what was going on, and quickly were tempted to return to their study library for safety. But with the thunderous voice of the mama bear, none of them was so brave as to muster the energy to do a U-turn. After recapping, and recounting the dubious information, she concluded by asking:
Now- Proud Papa- what do you think of my scheme?”
“Scheme? My dear wife, how many times should i remind you, my girls are not slave girls on sale. They are barely of marriage age as it is” Mr. Bodheri spoke softly as he fumbled with his newspaper.
“Not of marriage age? Are you mad Sir? Maryam is nineteen, and Sahra is seventeen. Both are past marriage age. A few years added, and they will be considered spinsters. I cannot risk that. I am woefully desperate. “ She spoke as she eyed her most stubborn eldest daughter, Maryam.
In point of beauty- Maryam stood tall, beautiful, but with a boy energy which irks her mother. She is vastly intelligent, a Hafidh of the holy book, and recites with the most melodious tone of voice. Her younger sister Sahra was petite, small, and pretty. She was more glamorous than her older sister. She loved everything pretty, and dressy. Sahra was not as intelligent as her sister, but was very kind, and homely.
“Mama, why do you look at me like that? “ Asked Maryam while she stared at her father, for help.
“My dear Maryam- I still blame you for refusing two marriage proposals. This is really outrageous. Next year you will be twenty. If I live to see that, it will be very painful. It will kill me“
“Mrs. Bodheri. Stop it!! My Maryam is perfect as she is. I would be as happy for her if she were single, and spinster for life. There is not a prince in the land who is fit to marry my Maryam” Spoke Mr. Bodheri with an uncommon valor, and passion.
“Well, I am not going to sit here, and waste time. Come on, Sahra, let's go dress up, we have no time to waste. We are going to visit our neighbors, and introduce ourselves. Make sure you put on your favorite purple dress, a little eye make up touch, and not more please. You need to save the make up dazzle va va voom for a more formal engagement occasion. “
Chapter 3 The Birthday Party
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