The Lion's Binding Oath and Other Stories

June 15, 2018

Escaping from Somalia and life as a herder, Yusuf found his way to Minneapolis in the late 1980s. His experiences in his home country and the United States have shaped his remarkable insight into people, their land, and the other creatures there, as evidenced by his nonfiction Somalis in Minnesota and this latest collection. Each short story displays a crucial encounter, whether in the field, the market, or the home, but what is never lost is the sense of community. For instance, in the title story, when two women fight, the community comes to the rescue; one woman even covers one of the combatants when her dress is torn, revealing her breasts. Also on display is the beauty of familial relationships as children return to their homes after being away for some time or a mother embraces a son who could have been hurt while herding. Yusuf draws us in with descriptions that bring beauty to minute details such as ants convening on a twig. VERDICT In tone recalling Maya Angelou's Gather Together in My Name, this work will appeal to readers of literary and African fiction.--Ashanti White, Fayetteville, NC

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