This archive report was first published on 27 July 2019.
Launched in Nairobi this month, The Youth of God (Mawezi House Publishers, 2019) is a novel by Hassan Ghedi Santur that delves into the complex issue of radicalisation. The story revolves around the lives of two families, with the school and the Somali community in the neighbourhood in the background.
The protagonist, Nuur, is a Canadian-Somali teenager who grows up in Canada. His life is intertwined with that of his teacher, Ilmi, who becomes a significant influence in his life. However, Nuur's seemingly predictable and uneventful life is turned upside down when he is bullied at school and eventually becomes indoctrinated into believing that his most significant task on earth is to serve God by going back to Somalia to fight against the perceived 'infidel' invaders.
The novel raises important questions about the circumstances that lead young people to join radical groups. How could Nuur be dismissed so easily from the school for a misdemeanour? How could Nuur's father be so irresponsible as to reject and chase away his son? How could Nuur's mother choose the propriety of 'respecting' a husband against defending a child against a foolish adult?
These are questions that The Youth of God throws at the reader, inviting them to look closely at the circumstances that alienate young people from their families and communities, enabling recruiters like Imam Yusuf to offer 'easy and sensible' solutions to the youth.
