The Politics of Identity and Belonging in Somali Literature – A Critical Analysis of Nurrudin Farah’s Maps

Soni Jebamalar S. Ph. D. Research Scholar, (Reg. No.: 21113154012016), Department of English, S. T. Hindu College, Nagercoil. (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli.)

Dr. Mangaiyarkarasi S. Associate Professor, Department of English, S. T. Hindu College, Nagercoil. (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli.)

Abstract
Nuruddin Farah’s Maps, the opening novel of his Blood in the Sun trilogy, delves into the complex interplay of identity, belonging, and nationalism against the backdrop of Somalia’s turbulent history and the Ogaden War. The narrative centers on Askar, an orphan raised by Misra, an Ethiopian woman, in a small Somali village. As Askar matures and relocates to Mogadishu, he wrestles with his sense of self, torn between joining the resistance movement against Ethiopia or pursuing an academic path. Misra, marginalized due to her Ethiopian background, embodies the struggles of acceptance and exclusion in a divided society. Through their evolving relationship, Farah examines the effects of colonialism, conflict, and cultural disintegration on both individual and collective identity. The novel critiques the artificiality of imposed borders and the challenges of reconstructing a nation fragmented by war. Askar’s internal dilemma, whether to take up arms or seek knowledge, parallels Somalia’s broader struggle to redefine itself in the face of external and internal pressures. Farah highlights how the personal journeys of his characters expose the fragile foundations of national identity and the deep-rooted consequences of colonialism. By intertwining Askar’s personal journey with Somalia’s political and social upheavals, Maps highlights the inseparability of individual and national identity. The novel ultimately serves as a poignant exploration of how history, politics, and cultural heritage shape the quest for self-definition and belonging in a postcolonial world. Farah’s work underscores the resilience of individuals navigating fractured identities and the enduring human desire to find a place in a divided world.

Keywords: Identity, Belonging, Nationalism, Postcolonialism, Ogaden War.