What does a young comedian, a woman bus driver, a young political activist, a former US marine who once ran for a Parliamentary seat in Kenya and a visionary who developed a number of charter schools have in common, they are all the focus of a new book called The Somali Diaspora: A journey Away.

The book which made it is debut recently is a conversation starter and a great coffee table book. It is a positive way to introduce the Somali Diaspora against a backdrop that is productive, innovative, and progressive. It is a necessary replacement of what has become of Somalis lately, namely warlordism, pirates and the pessimistic depiction that has for a long time occupied mainstream world media.

It is a great way to start a dialogue with your children, where people who look like them through hard work and presevereness are accomplishing their American dream. It is also a book that can be used to remind all particularly the young ones that there are still others who are suffering in Dadaab refugee camp, a place where if not them, their parents and relatives now in the confines of America comfort once lived.  This book connects the dots through black and white professionally done photographs that are themselves storytelling, until you read the thoroughly researched essays which succinctly complete the picture. 

It is not frivolous work documented in haste but a carefully organized book which as Doug Rutledge details came about as a result of much preparation, presentation, getting to know communities across the country, and many consultations with community elders and members. 

Five years, is not a blink in the life of a photographer and a writer but as is apparent in this book five years in the life of Roble and Rutledge means great cohesiveness, storytelling and order achieved with patience and sacrifice. The book is diverse so that Kadra a Somali mother with a son in the American Armed forces, Nimco a young political hopeful or Habib a young man trying to shake the devastation of war and refugee camp out of his life offer something for everyone and for the Somali community.

The book is a feast that replaces the agonizing negativity that had engulfed the community for so long. Roble and Rutledge are to be commended for all the hard work that went to bring this book to fruition. A picture as they say is worth a thousand words, the cover of the book for that matter says it all for me, Somalis have come a long way. The Somali Diaspora: A journey away has certainly captured its rightful place in Somali literature.

By Yasmeen Maxmuud
Email: yasmeenmaxamuud@gmail.com
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