by Beth Staats
Quick Summary
Republished as events unfold in Minnesota, this month’s Ebooks Minnesota highlight, “Daughters of Arraweelo: Stories of Somali Women,” is a powerful collection that helps Minnesotans understand the lived experiences of their Somali neighbors and see how immigration policies impact families, identity, and community well-being.
Daughters of Arraweelo presents, in their own words, the stories of 14 Somali women and how they made their marks on Minnesota. Civil war broke out in Somalia in 1991 and since then, thousands of families have fled the country in search of asylum around the world. Overcoming tremendous obstacles, these women have worked to build new communities as activists, business owners, teachers, and lawyers. Their stories resonate even more strongly amid current conversations about immigration and community safety.
The collection also fosters empathy by humanizing the people behind the headlines, presenting mothers, students, refugees, and community leaders whose lives are often reduced to policy debates. Their narratives highlight the deep roots of Somali communities in Minnesota, showing that those affected by immigration enforcement are long-standing neighbors woven into the fabric of the state. The women’s accounts of trauma, displacement, and resilience help readers understand how enforcement actions can destabilize families who have already rebuilt so much. By portraying Somali women as leaders, creators, and agents of change, the book counters stereotypes and invites readers to reflect on what safety, belonging, and justice truly mean for Minnesota communities.
Arraweelo, a legendary queen of Somalia, was a powerful and eccentric ruler whose name is sometimes used as a teasing label for assertive Somali girls. The author, Ayaan Adan, a user experience designer, author, and community organizer based in Minneapolis, chose to document these oral histories after realizing how often Somali women are viewed in the U.S. solely through a lens of trauma. “This isn’t supposed to be a representation of the Somali story, but a collection of Somali women who share their experiences and show the richness of our stories,” said Adan.
