Abdi Sheik Abdi

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Abdi A. Sheik-Abdi was born in Somalia and currently resides in the United States of America. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Literature and African Studies from the State University of New York and a doctorate in African History from Boston University. He taught both in Somalia and the U.S. and is the author of numerous short stories, two novels, a collection of fables, as well as articles and essays. He has two daughters: Ugaso and Ayan. Ayan was born with autism. Ugaso is currently enrolled at the U of M, plays the tuba and violin and draws anime and manga.

[edit] Bibliography

• The Luncheon, a short story, in: Black World, 24(8), pp. 56-66, 1975
• Rotten Bananas, in: The Greenfield Review, pp. 182-187, 1979
• Arrawelo: The Castrator of Men, a Somali fable.
• Divine Madness: Mohammed Abdulle Hassan (1856-1920), Zed Books Ltd., London, 1993

A book about Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (the Dervish), the man who led the Somali resistance in the early twentieth century, known by his followers as Sayyid (master), by the colonial literature as Mad Mullah. This book, which took Abdi more than ten years to complete, examines - in a social and historical perspective - the rise of Mohammed Abdullah Hassan and his movement. It consists of an introduction and six chapters. As Euro-colonialists were usually of another faith, the Somalis felt that the colonialists were trying to Christianise their children. The resistance led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan was in response to this belief.

• Tales of Punt, 1993

Tales of Punt is a collection of eight Somalia folk tales retold by the author. This book gives insight into the cultural beliefs of many Somalis.

• When a Hyena Laughs: A Somali Novel, 1994

When the Hyena Laughs is a novel about a young boy growing up in Somalia in the early 19th century. It depicts the goings on of daily life. As the young boy grows, so does his fascination and desire to go to the city.