The Orchard of Lost Souls

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Firstly, I would like to thank my mother, Zahra Farah Kahin, from whose stories this book emanated, and my father, Jama Guure Mohamed, for his unwavering support. Dahabo Mire, Nadifo Cilmi Qassim, Fadumo Mohamed, Ayan Mahamoud, Jama Muuse Jama, Dr. Adan Abokor, Dr. Aden Ismail, Edna Adan, Fadumo Warsame, Assey Hassan, Ahmed Ibrahim Awale, Siciid Jamac, Hodan Mohamed, Amran Ali and Ikraam Jama have inspired and encouraged me to carry on with this book even when it was proving too difficult. Thank you to the Authors’ Foundation and to Robert Elliott, Scott Brown and to all my colleagues, friends and family for their patience. Clare Hey, Courtney Hodell, Ben Mason — mahadsanid.

These works proved invaluable to this novel:

Somalia — the Untold Story: War through the eyes of Somali women edited by Judith Gardner and Judy El Bushra

Somalia: A government at war with its own people by Africa Watch Committee

Environment in Crisis by Ahmed Ibrahim Awale

Sharks and Soldiers by Ahmed Omar Askar

The Mourning Tree by Mohamed Barud Ali

A Note on my Teacher’s Group by Jama Musse Jama

Daughters of Africa edited by Margaret Busby

Lyrics from ‘Shimbiryahow’ taken from the song by Hussein Aw Farah.