Hargeysa International Book Fair (HIBF) dedicates an evening each year to focus and celebrate the diverse contributions made by women in Somaliland. This year HIBF brought together an inspirational group of women including a specialist doctor, a high ranking female police officer, a Vice Minister, chaired by a civil society activist!
Of course where you have a gathering of Somali women, dancing is never far, so we also had Somali Music and entertainment performed by female artists and sitaat (some questionable dancing, swaying and praising of the prophet in old folklore).
Entertainment and dancing aside, the serious segment of the evening critically explored the transformational role of women in politics, health and security in Somaliland. The contribution of women to Somaliland’s social and economic development has been immense, the speakers shared with us, their challenges, their joy, their triumph, but most of all, they shared with us their goals; loud and clear each one said “I am not done yet”.
What I detest most about usual “women events” is the rhetoric of we must be “given” or we are entitled to, please give us, please see us, why is everyone against us etc! I hate those events- it makes me want choke in my own vomit to keep my inner ghetto from shouting out “aint no one gonna give you “”””” if you have not worked your a*ss off for it” While in Somaliland I have attended a handful of these “women” orientated events and at some point I decided that they make me loose the will to live!
I was holding my breath as this “women event” started because, I know Women in Somaliland are searching for role models, they want to be inspired, to see that it can be done, and there are options and possibilities. I know that like me, they leave the usual themed “women events” feeling angry but mostly feeling defeated and depressed about how it’s impossible to make any difference, weighed down by all the issues, problems and obstacles so carefully listed by speakers, and repeatedly hearing that you can’t, we can’t!
While the challenges facing women in Somaliland professionally, in public space, or even access servicing are many and no one denies their existences. There is a lack of passion about alternative means and ways for women to get involved, for women to transcend beyond “waiting” to be given something!
So, finally I was privileged enough to witness a discussion with endless possibilities, inspiring the audience with potential options and I saw young girls skip out of the door thinking and saying out loud “I can and I will do ….”
It was refreshing to see successful women, two of them local- having never been Diaspora of any kind, sharing their achievements and journey; And a journey it was, for they have clawed (both literally and metaphorically) to the top of their profession and still full of passion, vision and the drive to be even more successful.
Hon. Nimco Qowdhan, Vice Minister of Health shared with us, her entrance into politics and the issues, and challenges that she had to overcome to get to the house of parliament and then move on to become a Vice Minister. In particularly I would like to highlight that Hon. Nimco battled and beat her fellow clansmen who was supporting a MAN against her to fill the government post! In the end, the best for the job won! Her contribution to the Ministry of Health and the services she oversees across Somaliland illustrate how right she is and was for her role. Her passion and plans to expanded services to the most needed in our community, foremost mentally ill patients and maternity services illustrated to me that for weakest in our society, they had champion and an advocate in their corner.
Dr Khadra Ibrahim gave us an insight into the path that led to her becoming a specialist in Obstetrics & Gynaecologist; motivated by the horror and hopelessness of seeing a young 25year old die at Hargeisa Group Hospital after an agonising wait for a doctor who never showed but was suppose to operate and save the mother and her unborn child; She realised on that day, that had she been able to do the procedure herself instead of begging and waiting on another doctor she could’ve potentially saved that women and her unborn child. She returned to Italy to do her specialisation and some 8years later with her studies behind her and much experience under her belt, she returned to Hargeisa Group Hospital in 2011. She is also a department head at the Minister of Health for mother and children services and improving MCH clinics across Somaliland. She is passionate about health, family planning and supporting women issues including rape victims and access to health. Her challenges of long hours, lack of financings, chasing scholarships were overcome with dedication and drive which is finally paying off and she is fulfilling her dream of assisting and saving lives of mothers and their unborn children.
The final guest speaker, Hibo Salah, Regional Women’s Police Commander and the highest ranking female officer in country narrated the fascinating and gruesome tale of her journey; she signed up to join the Somaliland Police cadets (after three rejections by the head of personnel department who thought she was too young and too frail looking). Her persistence paid off and she was allowed to enter a competitive examination process that saw her to become one of 15 officers (and the only female) picked to go on a 3year scholarship to the Ethiopian Police Academy. She described with details the moments that nearly broke her and how the same moments motivated her (including the first morning when she and her male colleagues were woken up at 4am to run 20km and back without stopping, and the shock of seeing 53year old female Ethiopian officers doing it with such easy!).
Hibo has truly been part of an institutional change at the Somaliland Police, she has recently been award the same rank as the Personnel Commander who rejected her three times 7years ago! Testimony to her hard work, persistence and dedication, and only at the age of 26years old, she is succeeding in a traditionally male dominated sector and she has her sights set even higher.
The ladies joked and charmed the audience including many young boys who were stunned into silence in the back as each woman described and took us through her journey. They appealed to women to join all and every sector, for there are many roles women can and should be involved in. They highlighted and dissected many of the challenges that faced them and how with humour and resilience they eventually overcame them all. The speakers addressed both the collective and individual journeys of women in their profession and considered the lessons that can be learned from their experience. Their intervention highlighted that women have the keys to unlock the numerous social, political and security challenges affecting them and that our biggest obstacles, at least in this society is lack of determination, drive and our inability to support and encourage each other.
The evening covered inspirational examples of women who have tirelessly worked to make women’s contribution visible, challenged negative perceptions of female professionals and improved the wellbeing of their communities. All these women shared something in common, they didn’t care about what society expected or wanted them to be or do- they did what they wanted to, they met their goals and they had the drive to see it through. Pressure makes you perform and perform they did! One of my favourite quotes of the night summed up the evening: “Dont wait for some else to do it, so you can follow them- be the first and lead the way for others to follow.”
On a last note, I would like to wish the young girl who stood up at the end and declared her passion and vision to become a pilot all the best of luck! I hope you follow your dream- and to the speakers, I hope you reach and fulfil all your goals and dreams.
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