Transcending national borders in Nuruddin Farah's maps

Abstract EN

  Maps celebrates the coming of age of Askar Cali-Xamari, the Somali protagonist, who discovers his identity amidst the turmoil of the Ogaden warbetween Somalia and Ethiopia.

Askar goes through three stages throughout the course of the novel.

The first stage is the one in which Askar identifies himself with the woman world of Misra.

In this stage, there exists the strikingly emotional and bodily closeness between Misra and Askar.

Misra does not represent an Ethiopian figure; instead, she represents a multicultural figure.

The second stage starts with Askar's circumcision, his ritual transference to the world of manhood.

This stage represents a corporeal barrier between Askar and Misra.

Askar is detached and weaned from his mother-figure Misra because he is able to find a substitute in Somalia, his mother country.

In this stage, Askar is entrapped within the borders drawn on maps, not being aware that even maps can be manipulated by means of political and military agendas.

The third stage includes Askar's journey to Mogadiscio.

Askar's uncle, Hilal, refers to the fact that Ethiopia is generic because of its mélange of tribes, but Somalia is specific because of its common language.

For Askar, this argument destroys the Somali claim to particularity.

Askar becomes aware of the structured nature of borders.

He is eventually able to adopt a multicultural identity.