The Interview

Interview between Dualeh Elmi Nur and Kim Streets 19th February 2002

Dualeh Elmi Nur was born and raised in an area around Hargeisa City, Somalia. He worked as a History and Geography teacher. In the 1980s, at the height of a violent Civil War, Mr. Nur joined the many thousands of Somali people who were granted asylum in Britain. At first he lived in London, then in early 1991, he moved to Sheffield, ‘it looked like the place where I had grown up – it is like Hargeisa – it has good scenery. People come to this country and they don’t know what they want or how to do it – but Sheffield is a place they can cope with in every aspect compared to London or Birmingham. A new person arrives in Sheffield, he can cope with this life, but in London it would be difficult. It is a metropolitan city, a massive population. It was a great shock – you don’t know the whole system. If you’re lucky you will have someone to show you, and to tell you what to do – but if you haven’t got that it is very hard, you haven’t got the English language and it is a very different way of life. And the feelings that you have are hard to explain. So mainly, the life was a vicious circle – though we had more freedom compared with asylum seekers today’. Mr. Nur now teaches English as a second language at Pye Bank Trinity Junior School.

What is your idea of happiness?
It is peace. If you can feel peace you can be happy.

When and where were you happiest?
My childhood was the best time - my happiest day was that day.

What is your favourite fantasy?
To be able to go on holiday somewhere – to Portugal or South Africa – they are hot places.

What is your strongest memory?
When I came to London the cold was a shock to me. I came from weather that was hot, into winter. 

What do you dislike about yourself?
I don’t know what to say. Being late – getting into work late – because it shows your laziness.

What do you dislike about others?
When they shout negatively or they argue. I like people to smile and be happy.

What makes you sad?
Losing my friends in Somalia.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My Mum, because she was the person who brought me up, and I like her. 

Which living person do you most admire?
Mahatma Ghandi – because he worked for peaceful change within his own country.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Please.

What is your greatest regret?
Losing our people in Somalia, they were very sad days for me. The government was ousted in 1991, and the new military junta indiscriminately bombed and fired civilians in the Northern Region, (former British Somaliland). Unfortunately only a small number of nations were aware of these civilian massacres because of poor publicity and less media coverage in the country. As a result large numbers of the population fled into neighbouring countries; Ethiopia, Djibouti and Yemen. We must say that these were the lucky ones.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Employment – more work – having more education. I would like to see all the people working in places that suit everybody. 

If you could change one thing about Burngreave, what would it be?
To have a more decent area: more employment, more local shops, to have a supermarket. It should have more offices for people to work, and to find information about work and training. It is a nice place and quiet at the moment, though so many places are empty. It is a multi-cultural area. I am friends with people from different backgrounds, ethnicity, cultures and languages, Yemenis, Irish, Somalis, Afro-Caribbeans and Pakistanis.

What keeps you awake at night?
The rain.

How would you like to die?
In a peaceful way.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Patience.

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