Episode 14: “Just Make It Personal" w/ Rakiya and Ahmed Mohamed

Poet in Bangkok

In Episode 14, Colin interviews two young Ethiopian-Somali American poets, Rakiya and Ahmed Mohamed. The interview was recorded at Forage Market in Lewiston, Maine, shortly after President Trump’s Executive Order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries including Somalia. The siblings—one in high school, the other in college—recount their experiences emigrating from Ethiopia and building a life in America. They reflect on how the poetic, playful nature of the Somali language and their discovery of Def Jam Poetry and Spoken Word inspired them each to write. Ahmed recounts the experience of performing at Spoken Word competitions in New York City, and Rakiya reflects on reconciling the many facets of her identity. And they reflect on how they understand the intersecting facets of their Black, Muslim, Immigrant and American selves under a Trump presidency. The hosts discuss comparisons between Thailand and the USA, and the anxiety of repatriation. Colin describes chatting with his daughter about love and hate, and Donald struggles against strange rhetoric as his Martian Aphasia returns. Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/). Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.