Meet Soumai

Soumai is a New Neighbors community member from Burkina Faso. She speaks several languages including French, English and her Fulani tribal language, Fula. She came to America with her daughter, and she spoke to NNP about her experience resettling in the US. 

What would you like to share from your experience and why you left Burkina Faso? 

In my country, I used to do a few different jobs. But I wasn't happy after what they did to me. In my culture, they do female circumcision. I had it, and I suffered a lot for that. I have my daughter, and she's a girl too. I didn't want the same thing to happen to her. I cannot change what happened to me, but I can change it for her. That's why I came here. 

What do you remember from your first days in New York? 

I came here on September 26. On September 27, I saw a hair braiding shop. I asked my brother, "Can we go inside and ask the lady if she wants some help? Someone who can clean the floor for her or finish the ends for her?"

My brother said, "You came here yesterday and you’re already going to work?" And I said, "Yes! Let's go!" 

We asked the store owner if she wanted someone, and she said yes.

The next day I followed my brother's wife; she showed me how to take the train. But the braiding technique in Africa is different. So she told me, "I have to train you because you braid good, but it's different."

What are your dreams in the United States?

I want to open a big hair salon. I pray next year we have another meeting, and I can tell you I have 40 or 50 people working.

Today I'm the one who comes to you and asks for help. But in five or ten years, I want to be a partner with you and help other people.

“I want to make America proud of me. Make them happy to receive other people like me.”

Who is your biggest inspiration?

When I remember my mom's story, I cry. I'm telling you, she's my hero. Can you imagine a woman who can take care of 13 kids, pay for their school, give them food to eat, do everything, and the man does nothing, and she never complains?

When I got a work permit in the US, I started as a home health aide. When I finally started making money I could send back to take care of her, she passed away. That made me feel so bad. All the time I remember my mom's story, but I tell myself I have to keep going. Everything God does in this life is good.

Now, I take care of my daughter by myself. I tell her: you don't have a dad. I'm your mom and your dad. Anything you want, I'm working hard to buy for you.

Did you learn to braid hair with your mom?

Yes. But in Africa, they don't do it for money. There’s one person in the family who knows how to do hair, and that person does it for everybody. 

What have you learned from your mom that you’ve passed along to your daughter? 

All the time I tell her my story. I tell her my mom's story. I tell her, You have to work hard like your mom and your grandma. Don't play with your homework. You have to listen to the teacher. You have to show them you came to this country to look for the best. You didn't come here to look for trouble. And last week, my daughter’s teacher called me to tell me she got the best grade in science. 

What are you most proud of?

I am happy that I brought my daughter here, but I am not proud of myself yet, because I have not reached my goal. I will be proud when I have a big business, and can hire people, be able to help other people. That day, I will be able to say I am proud of myself.

“If you work hard, everything in this life is step by step. People are helping you today. Tomorrow, you, too, you have to help people.”

We’re in the month of Ramadan right now. How do you celebrate?

I fast for Ramadan sometimes. But I'm more spiritual than religious. Sometimes, even if it's not Ramadan, if I want something, I fast and I talk to God.

In Burkina Faso, Ramadan is different. People have more time. You cook and give food to your neighbors. It's different from here, because here you don't even know your neighbor. Now I have my daughter, and I celebrate with her.

What would you say to another woman starting her life in the US?

Don't give up. Work very hard. There is no such thing as a small job. Work is work. Don't say, "Oh, I don't do that job," or, "That is cleaning." A job is a job. Money is money. 

When I came, I did hair braiding in the morning, and at night, I went to a restaurant and cleaned and slept there. I had my toothpaste and my toothbrush in my bag. In the morning, I went to the shop at 6 a.m. to help clean.

If you have a husband, or you don't have a husband—it doesn't matter. You were born you. You're the one who's going to take care of yourself. Your destiny is in your hands. 

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