In Somalia, a Female Artist Creates an Image of Peace
2021-11-01
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1The east African country of Somalia is slowly leaving behind years of war and Islamic extremism.
2The arts community is just now beginning to find its voice in society - a victim among many of those difficult years.
3In Mogadishu, the capital, a 21-year-old female painter continues to face a lot of criticism and opposition.
4Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin lives and works in the remains of her uncle's building.
5It was partially destroyed during Mogadishu's years of war.
6Despite her surroundings, and other difficulties, such as finding paints and other tools, she is content.
7"I love my work and believe that I can contribute to the rebuilding and pacifying of my country," she said.
8Sana is just one of two female artists in the country known to Abdi Mohamed Shu'ayb, a professor of arts at Somali National University.
9Shu'ayb said Sana is unusual "because her artworks capture contemporary life in a positive way and seek to build reconciliation," he said, calling her a national hero.
10Sana is also an engineering student. She began to draw at the age of 8, following her uncle, Abdikarim Osman Addow, a well-known artist.
11She would draw on the walls of the house, "drawing my vision of the world," Sana said, laughing.
12She received art lessons and put together a book of drawings of common objects, such as a shoe or a container of water.
13But as her work brought her more attention over the years, problems followed.
14Some Muslims believe that Islam bars all representations of people.
15Others believe a woman should not have a profession.
16"I fear for myself sometimes," she said, and recalled a problem she faced during a recent art show at the City University of Mogadishu.
17A male student began shouting "This is wrong!" and university officials tried to calm him, explaining that art is an important part of the world.
18Many people in Somalia don't understand the arts, Sana said.
19At art shows, she tries to make people understand that art is useful and "a weapon that can be used for many things."
20A teacher once demanded she prove her skill by asking questions and requiring answers in the form of a drawing, she said.
21"Everything that's made is first drawn," Sana said. "Our paintings talk to the people."
22Her work at times explores current issues in Somalia.
23It includes a painting of a soldier looking at the ruins of the country's first parliament building.
24It shows the political conflict between the federal government and opposition, she said, as national elections are delayed.
25Another painting examines abuses against young women.
26And another shows a woman in a dress popular in Somalia years before another form of Islam took hold.
27After that, women were urged to wear the hijab, a head covering.
28Sana tries to make her work beautiful because she believes her people need beauty.
29"We have passed through 30 years of destruction, and the people only see bad things, having in their mind blood and destruction and explosions," she said.
30Sana said she hopes to show her artwork more widely, beyond Somalia and neighboring Kenya.
31Sana named several Somali artists whose work she admires, but they are all men.
32I'm Susan Shand.
1The east African country of Somalia is slowly leaving behind years of war and Islamic extremism. 2The arts community is just now beginning to find its voice in society - a victim among many of those difficult years. 3In Mogadishu, the capital, a 21-year-old female painter continues to face a lot of criticism and opposition. 4Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin lives and works in the remains of her uncle's building. It was partially destroyed during Mogadishu's years of war. Despite her surroundings, and other difficulties, such as finding paints and other tools, she is content. 5"I love my work and believe that I can contribute to the rebuilding and pacifying of my country," she said. 6Sana is just one of two female artists in the country known to Abdi Mohamed Shu'ayb, a professor of arts at Somali National University. 7Shu'ayb said Sana is unusual "because her artworks capture contemporary life in a positive way and seek to build reconciliation," he said, calling her a national hero. 8Sana is also an engineering student. She began to draw at the age of 8, following her uncle, Abdikarim Osman Addow, a well-known artist. 9She would draw on the walls of the house, "drawing my vision of the world," Sana said, laughing. 10She received art lessons and put together a book of drawings of common objects, such as a shoe or a container of water. 11But as her work brought her more attention over the years, problems followed. 12Some Muslims believe that Islam bars all representations of people. Others believe a woman should not have a profession. 13"I fear for myself sometimes," she said, and recalled a problem she faced during a recent art show at the City University of Mogadishu. 14A male student began shouting "This is wrong!" and university officials tried to calm him, explaining that art is an important part of the world. 15Many people in Somalia don't understand the arts, Sana said. At art shows, she tries to make people understand that art is useful and "a weapon that can be used for many things." 16A teacher once demanded she prove her skill by asking questions and requiring answers in the form of a drawing, she said. 17"Everything that's made is first drawn," Sana said. "Our paintings talk to the people." 18Her work at times explores current issues in Somalia. It includes a painting of a soldier looking at the ruins of the country's first parliament building. It shows the political conflict between the federal government and opposition, she said, as national elections are delayed. 19Another painting examines abuses against young women. And another shows a woman in a dress popular in Somalia years before another form of Islam took hold. After that, women were urged to wear the hijab, a head covering. 20Sana tries to make her work beautiful because she believes her people need beauty. 21"We have passed through 30 years of destruction, and the people only see bad things, having in their mind blood and destruction and explosions," she said. 22Sana said she hopes to show her artwork more widely, beyond Somalia and neighboring Kenya. 23Sana named several Somali artists whose work she admires, but they are all men. 24I'm Susan Shand. 25The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 26__________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28uncle - n. the brother of your father or mother or the husband of your aunt 29contribute - v. to help to cause something to happen 30pacify - v. to cause (someone who is angry or upset) to become calm or quiet 31contemporary - adj. happening or beginning now or in recent times 32reconciliation - n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement 33draw - v. to make a picture by using writing tools on a surface 34vision - n. something that you imagine : a picture that you see in your mind 35We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.