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.
It 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; there was no drinking water, no shelter, no food nor the comfort of the family. She could not complain because it was her idea to come along. They have finally reached their destination and settled down after months of walking through the never-ending terrain.
Her father started working and he earned a couple of camels at first. The camels reproduced and kept increasing in numbers. He soon became wealthy. The young girl has developed into a fully-grown, tall and beautiful woman. With her light colored skin and long dark hair, she became the most admired girl in the neighborhood. She was shy but her brown eyes and beautiful smile could drop any man to his knees.
Her father was content with his only daughter even though he became superbly wealthy. He also refused the advice of his relatives who encouraged him to marry a second wife who might give him a baby boy. His family aggressively taunted him to try to get a male heir to his wealth but he desisted their temptation.
A male suitor in the neighborhood noticed Sumaya's beauty. Abdulla was a poor youngster who had nothing else to offer except his love. Sumaya's father has noticed Abdulla's malingering around his daughter. One day, he summoned Abdulla enquiring his intent. Abdulla was frank with him and put the cat out of the bag, "I love your daughter," said emotionally shaken Abdulla.

Ibrahim has spoken to his daughter asking her whether she was happy with Abdulla because he could sponsor their wedding. Amazingly! She replied yes! And Her father had arranged everything for a big wedding for his daughter. She was married off to Abdulla and she left the nest.

Few weeks after the momentous and glamorous wedding, disaster has befallen the family and Ibrahim died of a sudden illness. He never saw his wife again. Her father and her only role model out of the picture, Sumaya became lonely and depressed. She has lost her best friend.
She wondered whether her husband could fill the hole left empty by her father's departure. One year after her father's demise, she delivered a baby boy, Daud. Soon afterward her husband falls sick, and after a long illness, he too has passed away.
She became a widower and a single mother with a little boy. Being a strong woman, Sumaya has faced the reality and emerged victoriously. She had to tend to her camels that she inherited from her father as well giving care to her son.
Being a single mother and leading a nomadic way of life was an unbearable challenge to borne but for Sumaya, it was like a walk in the park. She was an early riser and the challenge she faced was balancing between tending to the camels and looking after Daud. She carried her child on her back while walking long distances through forest infested by deadly wild animals in order to feed and water her camels.

Sumaya has arranged a marriage for her son Daud, now aged 17. His wife Zahra soon became pregnant few weeks after the wedding. At the end of her pregnancy, she delivered a baby boy Zakariye. Soon after the birth of his son, Daud joined clan mobilization force. He and his fellow clansmen went to attack another hostile clan in order to consolidate power for unfettered access to water and pasture. Along with others, Daud has fallen.
A close relative of Daud has inherited his camels and his widower. Sumaya now 67 was left out in the cold, betrayed by her In-laws. Constrained by cultural norms, she decided to run away and start a new life somewhere else.
Being a fighter, she never gave up as she settled in another region. She worked for other families earning one goat annually. After working for three years, she earned three goats, which reproduced into over a dozen goats. She then built herself a house in that region. Now with her sizeable goats, she stopped working for others as she tended to her herd.

After many years have gone by, Zakariye got information about the existence of his grandmother for the first time. No one ever told him that he had a grandmother. He gathered some information about her location and he decided to pay her a visit. They were both thrilled to meet and spent together for a year.
Zahra reported to the authorities that his grandmother abducted her son and She came with the police and took her son into her custody. Sumaya cried, Allow Cid un ii Bixi meaning God send me a helper. She had plenty of milk but she was lonely. She kept her prayers all the time, every day! Every hour! Every minute! It was like her song! Her tongue learned it and her mind memorized the glorious words that God has always the final power!

One fine morning, Ali a poor man begging for food knocked on her door. She fed him well. The Ali pleaded with her that he has no place to stay. She offered him a job to graze and look after her goats. After months of working as a laborer, he decided to propose to her. She said to him that she is too old to produce a baby and therefore there was no need to tie the knot. He persistently pursued her and she finally gave in.

Sumaya made the habit of drinking Colostrum or first milk from the newly delivered goats. Colostrum contains antibodies to protect the newborn against disease. In general, the protein concentration in colostrum is substantially higher than in milk. But without scientific knowledge, Sumaya still believed that Colostrum was a vital component of vitamins, proteins, and antibodies. Amazingly! She conceived at that age and she was blessed with three children.
She led a magnificent life with the support of her husband and children as she gracefully reached the age of 110 and died a happy and wealthy woman.

Note (This is a real story but the names of characters are fictional in order to protect the identity of the real characters)


Reference

Anisa Dirie- Story Writer

Mohamed Haji-Story Editor

Abdiyo Mohamed-Story teller 

The END