The Last Nomad

Coming of Age in the Somali Desert

By: Shugri Said Salh

Narrated by: Waceke Wambaa

A remarkable and inspiring true story that "stuns with raw beauty" about one woman's resilience, her courageous journey to America, and her family's lost way of life.

Winner of the 2022 Gold Nautilus Award, Multicultural & Indigenous Category

Born in Somalia, a spare daughter in a large family, Shugri Said Salh was sent at age six to live with her nomadic grandmother in the desert. The last of her family to learn this once-common way of life, Salh found herself chasing warthogs, climbing termite hills, herding goats, and moving constantly in search of water and grazing lands with her nomadic family. For Salh, though the desert was a harsh place threatened by drought, predators, and enemy clans, it also held beauty, innovation, centuries of tradition, and a way for a young Sufi girl to learn courage and independence from a fearless group of relatives. Salh grew to love the freedom of roaming with her animals and the powerful feeling of community found in nomadic rituals and the oral storytelling of her ancestors.

As she came of age, though, both she and her beloved Somalia were forced to confront change, violence, and instability. Salh writes with engaging frankness and a fierce feminism of trying to break free of the patriarchal beliefs of her culture, of her forced female genital mutilation, of the loss of her mother, and of her growing need for independence. Taken from the desert by her strict father and then displaced along with millions of others by the Somali Civil War, Salh fled first to a refugee camp on the Kenyan border and ultimately to North America to learn yet another way of life.

Readers will fall in love with Salh on the page as she tells her inspiring story about leaving Africa, learning English, finding love, and embracing a new horizon for herself and her family. Honest and tender, The Last Nomad is a riveting coming-of-age story of resilience, survival, and the shifting definitions of home.

Necessary Narrative

Shugri Sais Salh’s story is a necessary narrative. Her story takes the reader through her life, starting as a Somali girl in the city to a nomadic child living among camels, goats, and her beloved grandmother. Then, she transitions to a Somalian living in an English-run boarding school and finally a girl/woman who needs to escape from danger. I learned a lot about Somali culture and values through the story. I also appreciate Shukri’s openness into her life and struggles as a girl and ultimately woman growing up in Canada.

The entire book from beginning to and took my breath away.

Each phase of life was stunningly brought forward, and opened up a whole new world that most of us know nothing about. I absolutely love this book from beginning to end.

Great Book

The narrator brought this beautiful story and imagery to life. One is immersed in the struggles of a young girl growing in the Somali culture during political unrest. This story is a testament to human strength and resilience. The author radiates sunshine, peace, and love in real life.

I enjoyed this

I enjoyed this book. Gave me a very different perspective on a number of things and a reason to be even more grateful. The trials and tribulations Shugri and her family had to endure are numerous. I’m thankful to God for His providence and for her fortitude in sharing this with us.

First Hand History Lesson

It was nice to hear (although some accounts were tragic) first hand history of nomadic life and to learn some of the customs/history of the Somalia people. I am so glad she documented her history for the generations to come. Narration was on point.