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Summary
Summary
Religious and ethnic conflict may be the Horn of Africa's most enduring recent legacy. But beneath its recent history of war and displacement lies human stories--families, clans, lovers, neighbors, and friends, all bound together through common cultural, religious, and historical ties.
The Lion's Binding Oath, Ahmed Ismail Yusuf's collection of short stories, introduces readers to the people of Somalia and their struggles: their humanity, faith, identity, friendship, and family bonds, as whispers of war grow louder around them. Through stories that span the years before and during Somali's civil war, Yusuf weaves together Somalia's political, social, and religious conflicts with portrayals of the country's love of poetry, music, and soccer.
Yusuf's collection is a powerful examination of love and resilience in a country torn apart by war, and written with deep compassion for the lives of its characters.
Ahmed Ismail Yusuf has lived in Minneapolis since fleeing Somalia in the late 80s. He did not speak English when he arrived, he was a high-school dropout, and he was not sure what his actual age was. Today he has two college degrees and is the author of Somalis in Minnesota, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. In 2017, The History Theatre of St. Paul, Minnesota produced his short play, "A Crack in the Sky," a memoir about how Yusuf found inspiration in Maya Angelou and Muhammad Ali duringhis early days as an immigrant to the U.S.Author Notes
After fleeing Somalia, Ahmed Ismail Yusuf lived in several states but has lived in Minneapolis since 1997. He did not speak English when he arrived, he was a high-school dropout, and he was not sure what his actual age was. Today he has two college degrees and is the author of Somalis in Minnesota, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, and Gorgorkii Yimi, a collection of stories in Somali, published by Ponte Invisible. In February 2018, The History Theatre of St. Paul, Minnesota will produce his play, "A Crack in the Sky,"� a memoir about how Yusuf found inspiration in Maya Angelou and Malcolm X during his early days as an immigrant to the U.S. After fleeing Somalia, Ahmed Ismail Yusuf lived in several states but has lived in Minneapolis since 1997. He did not speak English when he arrived, he was a high-school dropout, and he was not sure what his actual age was. Today he has two college degrees and is the author of Somalis in Minnesota, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, and Gorgorkii Yimi, a collection of stories in Somali, published by Ponte Invisible. In February 2018, The History Theatre of St. Paul, Minnesota will produce his play, "A Crack in the Sky,"� a memoir about how Yusuf found inspiration in Maya Angelou and Malcolm X during his early days as an immigrant to the U.S.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
In this fine collection set before and during the civil war in Somalia, an adult woman, Mayxaano, features in five of these nine short stories. She's a teacher in a teen after-school program in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital and home to more than two million people, big enough to hide one independent, smart, and outspoken woman. Her students are soccer crazy. Though the oppression of a military state may have robbed them of childhood, their passion for the game provides an alternate liberation. A poetry teacher and an athlete, Mayxaano mentors a talented and popular player, Dalmar, another free spirit about whom she worries constantly. Mayxaano relaxes, though, when she falls in love with Bilaal, another teacher. Born of a low caste, she tells him that her life would be over if her identity were discovered. "You don't understand how a steady diet of daily humiliation can muscle you into submission," she explains. This mature debut is graphic-soldiers kill two young brothers for refusing to follow orders-as it reveals how children grow up around violence and war. They still play, learn, tell stories, and try to get along despite threats and the police presence in their everyday lives. VERDICT For readers interested in soccer and international affairs, this thin volume will enhance fiction collections.-Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School, Long Island City, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Yusuf (Somalis in Minnesota, 2013), who grew up as a nomad in Somalia and arrived in the U.S. without a high school diploma, uses Somalia's geographical landscape and culture to create an intricate braid of short stories about family, identity, escape, destruction, and return.In "The Mayxaano Chronicles," a young woman struggles to find her place in a society that sees no value in her existence despite the skills, intelligence, and activism she demonstrates. "The Vulture Has Landed" offers a harrowing narrative of a young married woman who, while raising her younger sister, also prepares her for the inevitable visit of soldiers bent on revenge. The dream of a new start for himself and his family is what keeps Aar, in "A Delicate Hope," from despairing over the disarray of life in Mogadishu. "The Lion's Binding Oath" presents a fantastical relationship between a boy and a lion. Hassan, a high school student separated from his family whilst they flee their home during the civil war, finds himself accompanied by a lion. Despite some interesting situations, excessive dialogue often bogs down the storylines. At times, the lead protagonists are scuppered by other characters and fail to fully inhabit their space. Although Yusuf's short stories offer various insights into Somalia, the reader is left wanting for greater nuance in order to come away with a more focused view of the country and its people. (Short stories. 16-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Escaping from Somalia and life as a herder, Yusuf found his way to Minneapolis in the late 1980s. His experiences in his home country and the United States have shaped his remarkable insight into people, their land, and the other creatures there, as evidenced by his nonfiction Somalis in Minnesota and this latest collection. Each short story displays a crucial encounter, whether in the field, the market, or the home, but what is never lost is the sense of community. For instance, in the title story, when two women fight, the community comes to the rescue; one woman even covers one of the combatants when her dress is torn, revealing her breasts. Also on display is the beauty of familial relationships as children return to their homes after being away for some time or a mother embraces a son who could have been hurt while herding. Yusuf draws us in with descriptions that bring beauty to minute details such as ants convening on a twig. VERDICT In tone recalling Maya Angelou's Gather Together in My Name, this work will appeal to readers of literary and African fiction.-Ashanti White, Fayetteville, NC © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
The Lion's Binding Oath Hassan was in a math class at Jamal Abdinasir Highschool in Mogadishu in 1990 when RPG firearms began tocrackle in the distance. Most of his classmates pretended toignore it but Hassan wondered whether a rebel army that hismother had been talking about had arrived from the north. Inminutes, the sound intensified and grew closer and closer. Suddenly from the next room came another teacher whowhispered something to his teacher. As though in agreement,Hassan's teacher nodded and watched the other leave,closing the door behind him. His teacher leaned back on theboard, paused, looked down, lifted his gaze and said, "Wearen't exactly sure what is going on out there but I suggestthat we call it a day. Go home, guys, and please be careful." Students rushed out of the class and onto the streets butHassan lingered a bit longer. He wondered what his teacherwas being told. And why didn't he share it with the class?Now that everybody was out though, Hassan decided to dothe same. About a mile from home, he watched smoke risehere and there from the northeast, drifting west. It occurred tohim that the RPG firearms were crackling louder, spreadingeast. He was running now as fast as he could but the distancebetween his school and house seemed to increase. Panting and out of breath, he made it to the gate of hishouse. Once inside, his mother and two of his sisters rushedto him. His two sisters cried tears of relief when they saw himsafe but his mother was stoically poised. She held his hand,pulled him to the side, and said, "Thank God, you camehome in one piece. I am not sure what is going on but wearen't going to be safe here, it sounds." "What are we going to do?" asked Hassan. "I am not sure about that either, but we need to stay together.Do you hear me?" "Yes, Hooyo." "You are the oldest and the only man in this house. I wantyou to know that your sisters need you more than ever." "I know, Hooyo, I know." Still holding on to his hand, the mother turned to her girlsand motioned them to a group-hug. Then she lifted her head,led them into the house and locked the door behind them. A throng of Somali refugees had walked hundreds ofmiles to reach sanctuary in camps just across the Kenyanborder. Within it, one particular mother with two adolescentdaughters drew the attention of the western humanitariansrushing about in frantic attempts to bring order and supplies tothe camps. The mother was crying inconsolably and refusingfood, medical treatment, and even water, despite her obviousdehydration. Sounds that would have been hard to comprehendin any language fell constantly from her mouth. After 20 years of a dictatorial regime's oppression, thecapital city of Somalia, Mogadishu, had exploded into a bloodycivil war, spitting mobs of violence onto the streets and ontoits citizens. Hassan's family and neighbors found themselvesfleeing the remnants of an army loyal to a dictator who was aboutto fall and the armed rebel fighters trying to oust him. Movingin concert, the refugees formed an ant-like line stretching deepinto the horizon. Every possible means of transportation wasused though the majority trusted nothing but their feet to carrythem to safety. Those who had cheated death now could notavert the hunger and exhaustion that was claiming them, asnights became indistinguishable from days. All the while rainpoured down on them. As the day drew to a close, a disoriented Hassan hadveered with exhaustion from the rest of the group and collapsedin sleep. Alas, he awoke in the middle of the night--alone,scared and starving. As he tried to find his way back, heaccidentally walked east, away from his fleeing countrymen,ever increasing the distance between them. Unbeknownst to him, the group had camped for the nighton the other side of the hilltop just above the tree line of thejungle that was hindering his hearing and view. In urgenthaste, Hassan tried to make sense out of this aimless worldthat seemed devoid of human decency. He could only hearthe alien chirping chants of unknown crickets, and howlingcoyotes in the distance, but not a single human hum. As hescanned the dense darkness, he could not make out a singlemark of civilization, not even a flickering light, a throttling engineor even a neighing mare. With no sense of direction, Hassan moved on, increasingthe miles between himself and the herd. Realizing that he wasnowhere near to humankind, he fell into despair. He yearnedto cry out, yet was fearful of attracting predators. Wearily heleaned back onto the trunk of a fig tree for both heat andsupport, falling asleep again. The next morning, he awoke,cold and shivering, to find that he was still alone in the middleof a jungle. All he could do was weep. And although Hassanseemed to be appropriately dressed for the lackluster EastAfrican weather (jeans, turtle neck shirt, tennis shoes andgarment to pull over himself), it had not been enough toprovide warmth and comfort during the night. When there were no more tears to be shed, Hassan satunder the tree and watched the tropical leaves dangle lazilywhile he waited for the worst. The bush was so thick that hecouldn't see farther than a few yards. If a leopard, lion or anyother predator made a move on him, Hassan would have beenpounced on like a wounded buffalo, with neither the space northe time to dodge it. Excerpted from The Lion's Binding Oath and Other Stories by Ahmed Ismail Yusuf All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
Table of Contents
| A Slow Moving Night | p. 1 |
| The Mayxaano Chronicles | |
| 1 A Man of Means | p. 19 |
| 2 Don't Lose | p. 37 |
| 3 A Thorn in the Sole | p. 49 |
| 4 A Whip of Words | p. 65 |
| 5 Dissonance | p. 95 |
| The Vulture Has Landed | p. 117 |
| A Delicate Hope | p. 137 |
| The Lion's Binding Oath | p. 163 |
