Being the only female journalist at Radio Baidoa in Somalia’s South West State, Maryan Zeylac’s voice stood out among the predominantly male environment. Her radio shows covered a range of topics including political developments, women’s affairs, and social issues.
With almost 20 years of experience in the male-dominated media industry, Ms. Zeylac did not just accept the status quo. She was born in Baidoa in 1987 and always dreamed of a career in the news media. After completing her education in Mogadishu, she started her cadetship at Baidoa Radio’s newsroom in 2005.
Ms. Zeylac’s journey in journalism was not easy, facing obstacles such as discrimination and lower salaries. She recalls how rare it was for a Somali woman to work as a journalist when she started in 2005.
Her awareness of the lack of women’s voices in the media led her to establish the Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) in 2006, aiming to advocate for more female journalists in her hometown. The organization has grown significantly since then, advocating for the rights and safety of female journalists in Somalia.
Despite facing threats from Al-Shabaab, Ms. Zeylac continued her work in Mogadishu before eventually relocating to the United Kingdom for safety reasons. She completed a bachelor’s degree in health and social care but continues to lead SOMWA through virtual means and visits to Somalia.
Over the past two decades, SOMWA has collaborated with various organizations, including the United Nations, to provide training workshops for female media workers in South West Somalia. Ms. Zeylac emphasizes the importance of increasing the representation of female journalists in the media industry.
While there have been improvements, Ms. Zeylac acknowledges the challenges young Somali women still face in pursuing a career in the media. She encourages them to equip themselves with knowledge, proactiveness, and perseverance, making sacrifices for the next generation.
Overall, the efforts of Ms. Zeylac and SOMWA have helped increase female representation in the media and advocate for the rights of women journalists in Somalia.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).