Why I chose to rewrite Somali lullabies

Socially, Somali women are perceived as fresh meat "cad bisil," which means they are weak physically and mentally, and less intelligent than men. Therefore, they cannot lead, and they have to stay home. There is a proverb which says "women should stay home or in graves" "gabdhi guri ha ku jiro ama god." It shows how Somali literature is full of misogynistic voices, and for me, I have no other choice but critical analysis. That is what all of my work is about—I want to redefine the role of Somali women. In this article, I am reflecting on the harmful aspects of Somali lullabies, particularly for girls, and as a poet and a writer, I bring forth my own compositions as a way to outgrow harmful tradition. As Giulia Stefania (2024) put it, "in Somali culture, poetry has always played a central role and it has always been part of people's lives. Because of its variety in form, theme, and social background, it can cover different aspects of life and be associated with many possible situations, such as work, love, dance, simple entertainment, and of course, childhood." Therefore, when we are talking about inequality, marginalized womanhood, and injustice in our society, we have to discuss how Somali literature describes what womanhood is. I start here: Somali lullabies.