As news of Hodan Nalayeh’s death began to spread, Muslim women across the world began to share their grief, from mentees, advisors, friends and supporters who had met or interacted with Hodan. Every single account expressed the beauty of her character and positivity, with many commenting that she was often seen smiling. A positive light, a journalist who told a positive story of Somalia that didn’t widely exist. Hodan had shared with CNN that her role was appointed by Allah and she would show the world Somalia in it’s entirety. She was also praised for helping Somali diaspora re-connect with Somalia positively.

“I did not need anyone to hire me when Allah hired me for the job.” 

– Hodan Nalayeh

https://twitter.com/balanbaalis_/status/1149806180765769729

She was born in Somalia and spent most of her life in Toronto, Canada, but returned to Somalia with a conscious mission. She wanted to inspire the global Somali population and others with uplifting stories, she did. She encouraged people to see the abundance in the land, from the waterways: sea and rivers and the farmland and would share her own journey to connecting with the land, social media was her medium and she shared videos and images through both Instagram and Twiter, she also launched Integration TV.

It was an incredible day to witness #Somalia’s beauty on the island of #Ilisi 🐠 #Kismayo #Somalia #MySomalia pic.twitter.com/KRr0AgGgtK

— Hodan Nalayeh (@HodanTV) July 11, 2019

Somalia is a mess to some, but on my morning walk, I see hope.
Somali people are lost to some, but I see people who make the best of life.
Somali children grow up so fast, but I see they are never too old to build sandcastles at 6am. #Thursdaythoughts #Kismayo #Somalia pic.twitter.com/ZLCHPr2c6Z

— Hodan Nalayeh (@HodanTV) March 7, 2019

Nalayeh, 43 was murdered in a terrorist attack with 26 others, her husband. Farid Jama Sulaiman was with her at the time, along people of various backgrounds, some Kenyan, Tanzanian, American and British. A handful of gunmen are said to have stormed Asasey Hotel after a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a vehicle outside the hotel in Kismayo. She had recently shared her appreciation of the fishing in the area. (see above)

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
It is with great sorrow & regret we confirm the unexpected & tragic loss of Hodan Nalayeh & her husband Farid Jama Suleiman.Please keep Hodan & Farid in your duas. I's the wish of our family that you honor our privacy at this time of mourning. pic.twitter.com/d2FEtzjOQN

— Integration TV (@IntegrationTV) July 13, 2019

Tributes continue to be shared across Twitter and Instagram as well as the surfacing of her work.

https://twitter.com/AarMaanta/status/1150366966936477703

“Hodan noticed the people bathing in the ocean, the orchards in the courtyards, and the radiance of the setting sun, and she knew those were stories, too.”
-A tribute to the brilliant, fearless and incredible Hodan Nalayeh- the storyteller of Somalia:
https://t.co/r7V4N2iwHK

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) July 13, 2019

Hodan Nalayeh was a voice to many. Always happy, smiling, documenting. She was the Somalia that many had longed for: a resilient person full of energy who can do anything. She gave up everything for Somalia, but Somalia took her life in the cruelest way. https://t.co/noZzQ1EF1H

— Mukhtar M. Ibrahim (@mukhtaryare) July 14, 2019

https://twitter.com/balanbaalis_/status/1149806180765769729

https://twitter.com/AbiraHussein/status/1149950756189024261

https://twitter.com/Ayymina_/status/1149747722058158081

https://twitter.com/HodanTV/status/1149151010247651333

https://twitter.com/iamhvda/status/1149751602225586176

https://twitter.com/MumtazYahye/status/1149757901688516608

Inna lilahi wa inna illahi rajioon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByZmRX_hcP6/