#maanta mag

[maantamag-blog]

Editor's Note: There have been a lot of changes recently in our personal lives and because we're not paid to do this, the blog has not been high on our list of priorities. We want Maanta Mag to exist as a platform more than as a zine. The more we do this, the more we realize that this is a curatorial project more than an editorial project. Without money, the Somali community doesn't have the resources to support a project like this to its fully intended vision. Additionally, many young Somali writers and artists can't practice their art as often as they'd like because it doesn't feed them or get them a grade and we get that. Today, we'll finally announce our 6Points Artist. Stay tuned for more updates over the weekend. Thank you for supporting Maanta Mag.

[arbitrarynewsandreview-blog]

Hey! My "official review" of Maanta Mag is that it is AWESOME. This is part of their "about:"

"Maanta Mag welcomes all Somalis. It doesn’t matter if you’re a queer biracial non-practicing Muslim. It doesn’t matter if you’re a niqabi. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Khatumologist. This space is equally yours and we will devote as much— if not more— space to people who deviate from the norms foisted on every Somali. This means we’re feminist, queer-friendly and interested in smashing the dominant narratives of what it means to be Somali!"

You should reallllly follow this blog. I can feel that it's going to be full of great things!

[maantamag-blog]

Maanta Mag vlogger and singer Sulekha Ali has some choice words for Somali people who expect handouts. But don't worry, she still wants us to help each other. She's just striving for intentional efforts, grassroots initiatives and pushing each other up the corporate ladder instead of trying to pull each other down. This is her first vlog for Maanta Mag. She'll be contributing whenever inspiration strikes every week. If you're looking for motivation, wisdom, advice and positivity, then pay attention. You'll find all of that in her videos and more.

[maantamag-blog]

Letter from Maanta Mag Editor-in-Chief Layla

Dear Maanta Mag family,

Our first week was a success! We published an arresting piece of fiction by a new writer. We posted art by Lafoole. Salma's column, "Disownment," debuted. We promoted Cold Specks' new music, as well as a Canadian film about a Somali family. We learned that Tumblr is a highly visual medium, which means our most popular posts were photographs, specifically visually striking photographs from Vintage Somalia and Riya Jama. We republished a beautiful remembrance of Saado Ali Warsame. The lovely and talented Amaal Said followed us on Tumblr and Twitter. (So did CBC journo Idil Mussa, Somali Sideways co-founder Mohamed Mohmud, Toronto's Ward 1 activist Idil Burale, Human Narratives' Hana Riaz and many others. But who's counting?) Nomad Amsterdam, our BFF, gave us a shout-out on his wildly informative Tumblr and asked his followers to follow us. That's the kind of thing BFFs do for each other, so Nomad Amsterdam, if you're reading this, let us know when and how we can pay it forward/scratch your back/etc.

Don't forget there's still time to endlessly reblog our giveaway post to enter yourself in a contest to win an iTunes gift card. If you win, we hope you'll use the iTunes gift card to purchase Neuroplasticity, Cold Specks new album that's in stores August 25th (Canada) and 26th (America). We need to actively support Somali artists by backing them through social media and with our money. Cold Specks, especially, because she's the first Somali female singer to break into the mainstream and she's in a risky business that only cares about albums and concert tickets sold. We need to encourage ourselves and others be the type of people who are willing to spend $50 buying up the last physical copies of an album by a compelling, good artist Somali artist. This doesn't just apply to singers. Buy prints and request commissioned work by Somali illustrators. Make sure every Somali artist gets their fair shot at a chance to create positive representation of Somalis. Be a propagandist for your people in every way possible. Give shout-outs, give your time and money. Give your love. Give your support. Somali creatives are already sidelined in a xenophobic society that doesn't take very kindly to immigrants. We're already too different and too 'other' to be seen as Mainstream. All of this compounded with the reality that the West doesn't take care of its white artists, either, is sad. In a society that doesn't give a damn about you, the most revolutionary thing to is give a damn about yourself. Giving a damn about yourself extends to your people, FYI.

Maanta Mag family, it's been an amazing and inspiring week, and the crazy part is there's more to come. Lots more. We have vlogs. We have poetry. We have interviews with popular Somali artists in the works. We have pieces on topics ranging from homophobia to self-love. Everything you wouldn't expect from a mainstream Somali publication-- or any mainstream publication, for that matter-- it'll probably happen within these pages. Be patient with us as we continue to define Maanta Mag and smooth out the kinks. If you have feedback, ideas, suggestions, whatever, don't hesitate to hit us up. "We" are me (EIC), Aisha Jama (Managing Editor) and S., our Editorial Assistant. (Stay tuned for our intro post!)

Love,

Layla

P.S. We've selected our 6Points Artist and we can't wait to announce who they are in September. 

P.P.S. If you want us to list you as a BFF, send us an ask with your name, age and why you think you could benefit from that kind of visibility. Do you dance? Do you write? What's your thing? Tell us.