The Alchemy of Fuchsine

The paths carved out by nomadic traders throughout the land of Somalia are ancient. Camel trains have long carried goods from market to market, nowadays, of course, new roads follow some of these ancient trade routes.

Sadly, the wisdom which so easily found such easy pathways throughout the land has faltered (as in so many other countries)in terms of the way women are treated.

In this short story a carpet seller observes the oppression and abuse many women in Somalia still to this day endure. His particular attention in the village of Wajid is fixated upon Salima; whom he watches as she grows from a small child into a beautiful young woman.

Throughout these long years the carpet seller observes her colour as he does battle with his own. Is Salima's colour the same as yours?

This short story id dedicated to the memory of Halima Ibrahim Abdurrahman, 20, who was killed in front of hundreds of people, mostly women and children, in the town of Wajid, 250 miles north-west of the capital, Mogadishu on the 17th November, 2009.