In Somalia, a Female Artist Creates an Image of Peace

In Somalia, a Female Artist Creates an Image of Peace

The east African country of Somalia is slowly leaving behind years of war and Islamic extremism.

The arts community is just now beginning to find its voice in society – a victim among many of those difficult years.

In Mogadishu, the capital, a 21-year-old female painter continues to face a lot of criticism and opposition¹.

Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin lives and works in the remains² of her uncle's building. It was partially³ destroyed during Mogadishu's years of war. Despite her surroundings, and other difficulties, such as finding paints and other tools, she is content.

"I love my work and believe that I can contribute to the rebuilding and pacifying⁵ of my country," she said.

Sana is just one of two female artists in the country known to Abdi Mohamed Shu'ayb, a professor of arts at Somali National University.

Shu'ayb said Sana is unusual "because her artworks capture contemporary life in a positive way and seek to build reconciliation⁶," he said, calling her a national hero.

Sana is also an engineering student. She began to draw at the age of 8, following her uncle, Abdikarim Osman Addow, a well-known artist.

She would draw on the walls of the house, "drawing my vision of the world," Sana said, laughing.

She received art lessons and put together a book of drawings of common objects, such as a shoe or a container of water.

But as her work brought her more attention over the years, problems followed.

Some Muslims believe that Islam bars all representations of people. Others believe a woman should not have a profession.

"I fear for myself sometimes," she said, and recalled a problem she faced during a recent art show at the City University of Mogadishu.

A male student began shouting "This is wrong!" and university officials tried to calm him, explaining that art is an important part of the world.

Many 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."

A teacher once demanded she prove her skill by asking questions and requiring answers in the form of a drawing, she said.

"Everything that's made is first drawn," Sana said. "Our paintings talk to the people."

Her 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.

Another 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.

Sana tries to make her work beautiful because she believes her people need beauty.

"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.

Sana said she hopes to show her artwork more widely, beyond Somalia and neighboring Kenya.

Sana named several Somali artists whose work she admires, but they are all men.

Words in This Story

uncle – n. the brother of your father or mother or the husband of your aunt

contribute – v. to help to cause something to happen

pacify⁴ – v. to cause (someone who is angry or upset) to become calm or quiet

contemporary – adj. happening or beginning now or in recent times

reconciliation – n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement

draw – v. to make a picture by using writing tools on a surface

vision – n. something that you imagine : a picture that you see in your mind

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

4 pacify   

vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰

参考例句：

• He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
• He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。

5 pacifying   

使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平

参考例句：

• The papers put the emphasis on pacifying rather than suppressing the protesters. 他们强调要安抚抗议者而不是动用武力镇压。
• Hawthorn products have the function of pacifying the stomach and spleen, and promoting digestion. 山楂制品，和中消食。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。