DescriptionThis interview consists of two audio recordings and transcripts. Mohamud Mohamud was interviewed on 9 June 2010 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod. Interview SummaryMohamud Mohamud was born on 12 November 1967 in Kismayo, one of the larger cities in Somalia. His country has a coastline on the Indian Ocean. His father was originally in retail but later worked with his wife in local markets. There were 7 children in Mohamud’s family housed in board and mud homes with dirt floors. Mohamud and his wife now have a large family of their own, at the time of this interview they had 8 children.
Mohamud went to school from the age of 7 until he was 20 and then worked 2 years as an untrained teacher at a technical school. Education ceased at the start of the Somali Civil War in 1989.
Mohamud tells in detail in this interview of the reasons and sadness of that time and why his country was at war. Although the population were generally Muslim, it was not a religious war but rather a tribal war. Civil War took over and military rule followed. Mohamud and his family escaped to a refugee camp at Dadup in Kenya where they remained for 16 years.
In the camp Mohamud was able to teach and do social work to help support his growing family. His native language is Somali and in Kenya he became fluent in English as well as Arabic. The camps were very primitive and there was a frightening lack of food and water. There was also a lack of safety however they were allowed freedom of religion.
The family decided to migrate and Australia was their choice. They had instructions before they departed about what to expect here and also basic information about the culture. His wife was also a teacher so she and the whole family were allowed to migrate.
They departed Nairobi and arrived in Sydney 12 hours later after a stopover at Hong Kong. On arriving in Sydney they were taken to Fairfield and subsequently to a home in Cabramatta.
In Australia Mohamud has been able to study and went to TAFE where he concentrated on mental health. His wife also attended TAFE and enrolled in Computer skills.
