May 20 – Samia is a girl from Mogadishu. She loves to run, and every day she shares her dreams with Ali, her best friend, confidante and first, passionate coach. While Somalia becomes more politically and religiously stiff, while weapons become the instrument of oppression, Samia looks beyond, and her skinny and fast legs become the symbol of redemption for Somali women. She works out in the long nights at the stadium, to hide from the accusing eyes of the fundamentalists, and at seventeen she qualifies for the Beijing Olympics. She arrives last, but also becomes a symbol for Muslim women around the world. Samia is the main character of the book “Non dirmi che hai paura” (Feltrinelli 2014, 236 p.) by Giuseppe Catozzella. For the light spot it placed on Africa and Somalia, the writer was appointed UN Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR. The author will present the book in Vienna on Wednesday, June 10 at the Library Hartliebs (Porzellangasse 36), which promoted the meeting in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute. The meeting – in Italian and German – will be moderated by Silvia Chiarini, who along with Catozzella, will present the German version of the book. “Non dirmi che hai paura” is an Italian bestseller, published around the world; now in its fifth reprint, the book has sold over 30,000 copies in Italy, and will soon become a feature film. (Red)
