Growing Up African in Australia (1788)

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'I was born in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.' 'My dad was a freedom fighter, waging war for an independent state: South Sudan.' 'We lived in a small country town, in the deep south of Western Australia.' 'I never knew black people could be Muslim until I met my North African friends.' 'My mum and my dad courted illegally under the Apartheid regime.' 'My first impression of Australia was a housing commission in the north of Tasmania.' 'Somalis use this term, "Dhaqan Celis". "Dhaqan" means culture and "Celis" means return.' Learning to kick a football in a suburban schoolyard. Finding your feet as a young black dancer. Discovering your grandfather's poetry. Meeting Nelson Mandela at your local church. Facing racism from those who should protect you. Dreading a visit to the hairdresser. House- hopping across the suburbs. Being too black. Not being black enough. Singing to find your soul, and then losing yourself again. Welcome to African