Muna Abdulle is a 17-year-old Somali high school student living in Calgary, Alberta. She is passionate about helping others and plans to study nursing in university, with hopes of becoming a doctor in the future. This is her first time sharing her creative work, and writing has become a way for her to express her thoughts and experiences. Through her art, Muna hopes to connect with others and share messages that are honest, personal, and empowering.
Foreign Faith
About the Artwork
I wrote Foreign Faith to express what it feels like to be visibly Muslim in a world that often misunderstands me. This poem was my way of turning frustration into something powerful. It’s important to me because it speaks for so many people who are judged before they’re known especially Black Muslim girls like me. I wanted to show that our faith isn’t something foreign or weak it’s strength, confidence, and something to be proud of. This piece is a reminder that we don’t need to change to fit in. We deserve to take up space exactly as we are.
Muna’s Why
This is my first time sharing my work, but I’ve always used writing as a way to express what I feel inside. I’m inspired by my identity as a Black Muslim girl and the things I go through the stares, the strength, the faith, and the love I carry. My art is about being seen and heard, even when the world tries to silence people like me. I make art because it helps me process who I am and hopefully gives someone else the courage to do the same.
Voice from the Artist
“Sharing my work helped me realize that I’m not the only one carrying these feelings. Art gave me a way to speak without having to explain everything — and that’s why it’s so powerful. It makes people feel seen.”
