Rahma Rodah

Rahma Mohamed, known by her pen name Rahma Rodaah, is an award winning author TEDx Speaker, Home Educator and Publishing Coach. She was born and raised in Hargeisa, Somaliland and at the age of eight, her family immigrated to Canada, settling in Montreal, Quebec. As the only Black Muslim girl in her class and facing a language barrier, she experienced bullying. Despite these challenges, she mastered both French and English, becoming the first in her family to graduate from university.

Motivated by the lack of positive representation of Black Muslims in literature, Rahma began self-publishing children's books to encourage youth to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate diversity. Reflecting on her own struggles growing up in a foreign country, she became determined to offer books centered on characters who are Muslim and of African descent. She firmly believes that children need to see themselves in the books they read to enhance their self-confidence and bolster their sense of pride.

Currently residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Rahma is a mother of four children, whom she homeschools. She juggles the joys of motherhood with her writing and offers coaching to budding authors. She also hosts workshops to encourage children to write and share their stories. She is currently working on publishing more books as well as translating her current works to have them available to more children around the world.  

Her recent books include Dear Black Child and Dear Muslim Child. https://rahmarodaah.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYETqzU_U50

What are the most meaningful aspects of this person's work and life? 

Rahma addresses the lack of representation of Black Muslim characters in children's books. Her stories aim to promote diversity, inclusivity, and the celebration of uniqueness, ensuring that children from underserved communities can see themselves reflected positively in literature. As a mother of four who homeschools her children, Rahma embodies dedication to both family and career. She manages to pursue her passion for writing while prioritizing the upbringing and education of her children, setting an example of resilience and commitment.

How has this individual overcome the challenges they face? 

Moving from Somaliland to Canada at a young age, Rahma faced language barriers, cultural differences, and the challenges of being the only Black Muslim girl in her class. Despite these difficulties, she adapted by learning both French and English, ultimately excelling academically and becoming the first in her family to graduate from university.

How has this individual empowered you and/or our communities? 

Through her children's books, Rahma has given Black Muslim children, and others from under-represented communities, a chance to see themselves positively reflected in literature. This representation nurtures self-esteem, instills pride, and helps counter the erasure or misrepresentation of diverse identities.

Her books empower young readers to navigate their own struggles with identity, belonging, and self-acceptance. This empowerment extends to parents, educators, and community members who use her stories as tools to foster open conversations about diversity and inclusion.

Name a Black Muslim woman who has been an inspiration to you and why.

I look up to Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow as a fellow Black Muslim author like myself. She writes picture books with Black Muslim characters in a way that evokes emotions and instills pride in our identity.