Somali Folk Tales

 
In 2006, the Minnesota Humanities Center launched the Somali Bilingual Book Project. The project's goals were to promote and preserve heritage languages and increase English literacy skills of refugee and immigrant families.   The project culminated with the publication of four traditional Somali folktales. in both English and Somali, as well as a dual-language audio recording.  
 
     LISTEN ALONG WHILE YOU READ
     Click on the book title directly below to 
     hear the book read by the author.
 
            
 
WATCH THE VIDEO AND BUY THE BOOKS
Great News!  These one-of-a-kind Somali folk tales are now back in print! Click on the book below to purchase the book from lulu.com.  $2 from every purchase goes directly back to the Humanities Center to support great work.
 
 
 
 
Said Salah Ahmed, Kelly Dupre
This traditional Somali folktale tells an animal fable about the misuse of power. The animals all work together to kill a camel, but then the lion comes and demands that they give him a share. Although he did none of the work, he ends up with most of the camel, prompting the other animals to say, "The lion's share is not fair."
 
 
 
The Lion’s Share/Qayb Libaax Reading Guide by Said Salah Ahmed, illustrated by Kelly Dupre
       Book and reading guide also available in Somali.
 
 
 
Marian A. Hassan, Betsy Bowen
In this hair-raising cautionary tale from Somalia, the Hargega Valley is plagued by the monstrous Dhegdheer, a witch who gobbles up anyone unlucky enough to cross her path. A widow and her young son try to escape her. Will they be Dhegdheer's next meal or will their virtue save them and help bring an end to Dhegdheer's reign of terror? 
 
 
 
 
   Dhegdheer: A Scary Somali Folktale Reading Guide by Marian A. Hassan, illustrated by Betsy Bowen
       Book and reading guide also available in Somali.
 
 
 
 
Kathleen Moriarty, Jamal Adam, Amin Amir
When a wise Somali leader asks the men in his province to bring him the part of a sheep that best symbolizes what can divide men or unite them as one, most present him with prime cuts of meat. But one very poor man's daughter has a different idea. In this clever folktale, a father reluctantly follows his daughter's advice and has astonishing results.
 
 
   Wiil Waal, A Somali Folktale Reading Guide by Kathleen Moriarty, illustrated by Amin Amir                
       Book and reading guide also available in Somali.
 
 
 
Kelly Dupre, Amin Amir
The figure of Igal Shidad is a staple in Somali folklore.  Like many Somali people, he and his family were nomadic herders of camel and sheep.  Thousands of funny stories were told of Igal because even though he was a wise man, he was also known as a coward.  Igal's unreasonable fears caused him much trouble, but with cleverness and faith, he always managed to find solutions to his problems.  In this story, Igal walks the drought-stricken Somali landscape, searching for a better home for his family and animals, asking for Allah's guidance along the way.  As he confronts obstacles, both real and imagined, he discovers that his prayers can be answered without him even realizing.
 
 
  The Travels of Igal Shidaad Reading Guide by Amin Amir, illustrated by Said Salah Ahmed                 
     Book and reading guide also available in Somali.