The Nomadic Empress:
Interview with Zakia
By Giulia Liberatore1
www.somalieye.co.uk
admin@somalieye.co.uk
Moments after sitting down with Zakia in a little cafe on Holloway Road, I knew it would be an exciting, enthusiastic encounter. Zakia had recently returned from Mombasa, where she participated as a poet in a conference dedicated to Somali civil society. Our conversation spanned a range of current affairs, from feminism and religion to politics and poetry.
Somali born Zakia left her country for Sweden aged only six years old.
After 11 years she moved to UK. With hard work and dedication, she completed an MA in International Relations at London Metropolitan University.
Zakia is a pious woman, active and ambitious, keen to pursue a political career. She struggles against the controversial notion that Muslim women should not work in politics. Zakia campaigns for women in leadership, because only from there, she believes, can change really occur. “Some think you must choose between this world or the hereafter, but where I’m from, you can have both. You actually need to have both!” She works with USY, a Somali youth group in Slough, and the executive committee of Haanoolato, a political and social movement advocating unity for Somalia.
Religion is not only a recurrent theme in Zakia’s poetry, but it’s also her source of inspiration. Poems simply come to her, she explains, “My poems are always about self-improvement, self-motivation.” After a visit to Africa, Zakia discovered her grandfather wrote poetry and learned about the strong tradition of poetry in Somali culture. She began reading Somali poetry, inspired by Saddex Cadow’s deceivingly romantic-political poem “Three enemies”. Hip-hop and RnB influence her style, so when Zakia reads her poems, they flow and rhyme like rap. Although she doesn’t enjoy performing, she realises the value of poetry in activism. Last January, Zakia’s poetry inspired young Somali women in Birmingham to contribute to their community.
The Nomadic Empress is her stage name and the title of a poem she performed at the Mombasa conference. The Empress is the ultimate moral, wise woman, who Zakia aspires to be. Legendary descendent of Arahwelo (Zakia’s nickname), shunned by her family, the ruthless Somali queen created, ruled and fought to defend her own community of women. Inspired by the Empress, Zakia remains an ardent campaigner, committed to various social issues; a patriot longing for peace in her home country and a pious, dedicated woman.
The following is a short extract from The Nomadic Empress
The Nomadic Empress
I am the Nomadic Empress
A Queen Sheba descendant
A modern-day Mary
Fighting corruption and injustice
I am a humble servant
of the only One who deserves it
the Creator of the Universe and everything in it
For pomp and glory I have no care
May not be rich, but in my heart
a real millionaire
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