The Journey of an Incredible Woman
A young girl in the desert has been pleading with her father Ibrahim who wanted to travel from Balanbaalle in Northern Somalia to a village near Baardhere in Gedo region. She wanted to accompany him with the blessing of her mother who was to remain behind. Sumaya was his only daughter. I t was widely accepted norm in Somalia at the time, for the husbands not to disclose their travel itinerary with their wives and therefore the young girl's mother hasn't got a clue about her husband's travel destination. This was partly because the travel plans could be fluid as situations like rain; drought and war could alter the destination for travel. Wives were commanded to pack food and clothing for the husband's journey and they obeyed without hesitation. The little one cried, and her father agreed for her to tag along. She joined him on a long and treacherous journey. Although she was happy with her father's company, they went through hell. The weather was harsh; ther...