Plot:

• Khalid’s friend wants to marry Sarah, however, he is of a different culture. Initially Balqies and our mother do not approve, but they eventually warm up to this idea, and Balqies sheds light on how we must challenge this harmful status quo in our community.

Roles:

• Brother
  • Khalid
• Sister 1
  • Sarah
• Sister 2
  • Shukri
• Sister 3
  • Balqies
• Hooyo
  • Hayat

Marriage Conversation

Script:

Hayat (Hooyo) Waan jeclahay in aan halkan wada joogno qoys ahaan, iyo in caruurtaydu ay halkan wada joogaan.

Translation: I love that we are all here together as a family, and that my kids are all here with me.

Sarah: Haa, aad bay u fiican tahay hooyo!

Translation: Yes, it is very nice mom!

Hooyo: Wax cusub ma jiraan? Sidee yahay qof walba xaalkiisu?

Translation: Is there anything new/any updates? How is everyone doing?

Balqies: Haa hooyo, waxaan filayaa in Sarah ay leedahay wax ay noo sheegto.

Balqies: Yes mother, I think Sarah has something to share with us

Shukri: Oh runtii? Waa maxay?

Shukri: Oh really? What is it?

Khalid: Haa Sarah, waa maxay?

Khalid: Yeah sarah what is it?

Sarah: Aniga iyo nin ayaa is barannay. Hooyo, muddo dheer ayaan ka fikirayay, waxaana jeclaan lahaa inaan ku baro. Runtii waa qof wanaagsan.

Sarah: A young man and I have been getting to know each other. Mom, I’ve been giving this a lot of thought, and I decided that I would like to introduce him to you. He’s genuinely a wonderful person.

Hooyo: Ninkani maa Somali baa?

Translation: Is this man Somali?

Sarah: Maya, ma aha, laakiin waa nin aad u fiican.

Sarah: No, he’s not, but he’s a very good man.

Balqies: Sarah, waad ogtahay in soomaalinimadaadu aad muhiim u tahay. Waa muhiim inaad guursato qof kula dhaqan ah.

Balqies: Sarah, you know prioritizing your Somali culture is very important. It is crucial that you marry someone who shares the same culture as you.

Hooyo: Haa, Balqies run bay sheegaysaa! Sarah waad ku qaldantahay inaad igala hadasho nin aan Somali ahayn. Ceeb ha noo keenin.

Translation: Yes, Balqies is telling the truth! Sarah, you are wrong for even talking to me about a man who is not Somali. Don’t bring shame to us!

Shukri: Hooyo iyo Balqies, waan fahmay welwelkiina, waxaanan filayaa in dhaqankeena uu isna muhiim yahay. Laakiin waxaan sidoo kale aaminsanahay in jacaylku aanu ku koobnayn dhaqanka. Waa inaan tixgelinnaa dabeecadda qofka, iyo haddii uu noqon karo nin Ilaahi ka cabsada, iyo aabbe carruurtiisa jecel.

Shukri:  Mom and Balqies, I understand your concerns, and I think our culture is important to prioritize and value too. But I also believe that love can transcend the boundaries of culture. We should consider the person's character, and if he can be a righteous husband for Sarah, and a loving father to his kids.

Khalid: Ninka waan la kulmay mar ka hor, waana ogahay inuu Ilaah ka cabsado. Waa qof wanaagsan, Sarah iyo Shukri waa sax. Runtii waxaan aaminsanahay inuu ku fiicnaan lahaa inuu ku biiro qoyskayaga. Cunsurinimadu weligeed sax maaha. hooyo iyo balqies fadlan la kulan isaga hal mar. Haddaad u malaynayso inuu qof xun yahay, haddana aan wada hadalno.

Translation: I've actually met him, and I know he is a good, righteous man. He's a great person, Sarah and Shukri are right in their approaches. I genuinely believe he would be a good addition to our family. Discrimination is never right. Hooyo and Balqies, please meet him once at least. If you think he's a bad candidate for marriage, then we can reconsider.

Shukri: Haa, qof dhaqan leh laakiin aan qalbi wanaagsan lahayn ma noqon doono qof aan raali ka nahay. Qofka wuxuu uu damacsan yahay ayaa ka muhiimsan xitaa haddii uusan Soomaali ahayn.

Translation: Yes, someone who shares our culture but does not have a good heart for example, would not be someone we would approve of either. The person's intentions are more important even if they aren't Somali.

Sarah: Aad baad u mahadsantahay Khalid iyo Shukri. Hooyo iyo Balqies, maxaa fikradiina ah hadda?

Translation: Thank you so much, Khalid and Shukri. Hooyo and Balqies, what are your thoughts now?

Balqies: Kuwani waa tixgalin wanaagsan, waxaan u maleynayaa inaan ku khaldanay inaan hoos u dhigno ninka maadaama uusan soomaali ahayn. Waxay ila tahay inaan la kulano isaga, aad baan uga xumahay sida aanu markii hore u dhaqanay. Hooyo, maxay kula tahay?

Translation: These are good considerations, I think we were initially wrong to be condescending, and look down upon him solely because he is not Somali. I think we should meet him, and I am very sorry for how we behaved at first. Mom, what do you think?

Hooyo: Haddii uu Khalid garanayo, oo uu aaminsan yahay inuu yahay qof wanaagsan, anigu waxaan ku raacsanahay Balqiis oo waxay ila tahay inaan la kulanno isaga.

Translation: If Khalid personally knows him, and believes he's a good person, then I agree with Balqies and think we should meet him

Khalid: Hooyo iyo Balqies, aad baad u mahadsan tihiin labadiinuba. Farxadda Sarah waa waxa noogu muhiimsan.

Translation: Mom and Balqies, thank you both so much for understanding. Sarah’s happiness is what is most important to us now.

Sarah: Haa, waad mahadsan tihiin dhammaan. Taageeradaada macno weyn ayay ii leedahay!

Translation: Yes, thank you all very much. Your support means a lot to me!

Balqies: Sheekadaan waxay i fahansiisay in ay muhiim tahay qoys ahaan iyo Soomaali ahaan in aan ka tagno oo aan joojino cuqdadaha qaar ee dhaqankeena ku soo jiray mudo dheer.

Translation: This conversation has made me realize that it's essential for us, as a Somali family, to challenge some of the prejudices that have been ingrained in our culture for so long.

Shukri: Haa Balqies! Waan kugu raacsanahay in aan fahanno in dhaqankan cunsuriyadda ah ee mararka qaar dhaqankeena dhex mara uu baahan yahay in la joojiyo. Waa in aan qadarinnaa  jacaylka, meel kasta oo uu ka yimaaddo, haddii ay tahay ixtiraam iyo naxariis.

Translation: Yes Balqies! I totally agree with you that we should acknowledge that this kind of racist behavior that sometimes permeates our culture needs to stop. We should appreciate love, no matter where it comes from, as long as it's built upon respect and kindness.

Khalid: Balqiis iyo Shukri waa runtiin. Dhaqankeenu waa kan ugu wanaagsan, laakiin waa inuusan qof farxadiisa joojin. Jacaylku waa inuu dadka mideeyo  maaha inuu kala qaybiyo.

Translation: Balqies and Shukri, you are right. Our culture is beautiful, but it shouldn't be a barrier to happiness. Love should unite, not divide.

Hooyo: Wow! Carruurtaydu aad bay u caqli badan yihiin! Aad baan nuugu faraxsanahay, waxaanan ku raacsanahay in aan joojino cunsuriyadda dhaqankeena. Dhalinyaradu waxay noqon doonaan kuwa joojinaya. Saarah, gabadhaydiiyey, hadduu noloshaada ka farxiyo, markaas waannu kugu faraxsanahay. Ducadeena ayaad leedahay. Fadlan bari casho u keen

Translation: Wow! My kids are so wise. I am so proud of you all, and I agree that we need to challenge the prejudices in our culture. I have faith that your generation will be the ones to stop it for good. Sarah, my daughter, if he brings joy to your life, then we're happy for you. You have our blessing. Please bring him over for dinner tomorrow, that way we can meet him.

Sarah: Mahadsanid hooyo, waan la socodsiin doonaa isaga.Wada hadal sidan oo kale ah ayaa loo baahan yahay, waxaanan qaatay ducadaada. Dhammaantiin waan idiin mahadcelinayaa!

Translation: Thank you mother, I will let him know. Conversations like this are needed, and I deeply appreciate having your blessing. I am beyond grateful for you all!