Remembering journalist Hodan Nalayeh killed in Kismayo terror attack

Somali-Canadian journalist Hodan Nalayeh who was killed in an Al-Shabaab attack in Kismayo, Somalia.

The death of prominent journalist Hodan Nalayeh has taken social media by storm.

My heartfelt condolences to family & friends to Hodan Nalayeh,a mother,a popular conference speaker and founder of an independent online outlet with millions of views @IntegrationTV,that focuses on social issues & uplifting stories. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un #Kismayo pic.twitter.com/bNlLlKtZgE — AMB.(Dr.) Amina C. Mohamed (@AMB_A_Mohammed) July 13, 2019

Hodan was killed on Friday in an Al-Shabaab attack outside Asasey Hotel in Kismayo, Somalia, together with her husband Farid Jama Suleiman.

The Somali-Canadian journalist dedicated her life to telling stories of a country and a people rarely depicted by the West.

Amidst an upsurge of civil war, poverty and military rule, stood a 43-year-old journalist who relentlessly shared the beauty of Somaliland with the world via her social media pages.

In one such post, she wrote, “It is an incredible day to witness #Somalia’s beauty.”

In 2014, Hodan launched Integration TV, an online platform aimed at positive stories of the Somali community in Canada and the diaspora.

She wanted to tell positive stories about her people and ‘change the narrative.’

In 2018, the mother of two moved back to Somalia where she continued to highlight stories about a people so often overlooked in news outlets after decades of war.

Recent episodes had focused on Somalia's female entrepreneurs. She also used her social media pages to highlight local life and culture.

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Hodan was scheduled to speak at the African Women in Media Conference this month taking place at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

In an earlier interview with Founder of African Women in Media, Yemisi Akinbobola, Hodan posed, “Why do we always have to tell the poverty stories from Africa? We need to celebrate our successes like any other country so that we can empower young people.”

We're deeply sad to hear about the passing of journalist @HodanTV who was scheduled to speak at our conference. She was a remarkable journalist and the continent has lost a jewel. Rest in peace, Hodan. pic.twitter.com/WuhvvoCTsM — African Women Media (@RealAWiM) July 12, 2019

The death toll from the Kismayo hotel attack in Somalia has since risen to 26, with three Kenyans, one Briton, two Americans and three Tanzanians among those killed.