Books The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert by Shugri Said Salh (Author)

Shugri Said Salh is a Somali author born in 1974 who spent her early years living as a nomad in the Somali desert. She was raised by her grandmother and grew up learning to navigate the harsh environment amid drought, predators, and clan conflicts while also embracing the rich traditions and spiritual unity of her nomadic community. Following the outbreak of the Somali Civil War, Salh fled to a refugee camp near the Kenyan border and later emigrated to North America in 1992.

She trained as a nurse in California and currently lives with her family in San Diego. Shugri has been storytelling since childhood, influenced by the oral traditions of her community, especially the stories and poems passed down through generations. Her memoir, "The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert" (published in 2021 by Algonquin Books), is a deeply personal and communal narrative that chronicles her survival, cultural heritage, and adaptation to new life in North America. The book has won awards such as the 2022 Gold Nautilus Award in the Multicultural and Indigenous category and was a finalist for several literary prizes.