Cambara, a Somali-American Woman, returns to war-torn Mogadiscio to mourn the death of her son. She builds a new life for herself in the most unlikely of circumstances.

"Forget Somalia. Consider it dead, buried. Think of it as if it no longer exists for you."

This was the advice of Nuruddin Farah's brother in 1976. Mohammed Siad Barre, dictator of Somalia, had just announced that Farah was no longer welcome in his native country because of his writings criticizing the government. (The Gospel According to Nuruddin Farah)

But Farah could not forget about Somalia. He has lived in exile for over 30 years in Nigeria, the Sudan, Gambia, and South Africa. During that time, he has written 10 books and reflected on his home country and received the Neustadt Prize for his work. The nature of a dictatorial society, life amidst poverty and civil war, and the roles of women are frequent themes of his work. His latest novel, Knots, is a complex variation on these themes. (Bardolph)

Knots Plot: Cambara's Move to Mogadiscio

Cambara, a willful and charismatic Somali-Canadian actress, returns to her native country to mourn the death of her young son and the failure of her marriage.

She has a history of being manipulated. Her mother, Arda, once convinced Cambara to marry her low-life cousin, Zaak, to secure his Canadian citizenship. After their divorce, Cambara fell in love with the charming Wardi, who cheated, verbally abused Cambara, and whose irresponsibility led to the drowning of their son.

In civil war-torn Mogadiscio, Cambara is determined to take control of her own life. Her goal is the recovery of her family property from a brutal warlord. She takes control of Zaak's house and his armed youths to scout out the property. She wears the full body covering but refuses to bow to other requirements of local women, such as operating with dependance on a male. Cambara carries a hidden knife and has cause to put her martial arts experience to use.

Knots Plot: Recovering the Property

Cambara begins to meet people who can help her. Kiin, a friend of a friend, gives Cambara a home base and accesses her underground connections in the Women's Network for Cambara's cause. Bile, an intellectual and depressive gentleman, saves Cambara from a dangerous street confrontation and pledges his aid. Seamus, an Irish-Somali, carves masks for the play she has promised for Kiin's Women's Network.

The family property is reclaimed when Cambara inserts herself into the life of the wife of the commanding warlord. Beaten, alone in the house, sexually abused, scared, and over 8 months pregnant, the warlord's wife welcomes Cambara's help. The Women's Network takes her to a doctor to give birth and become rehabilitated, thus freeing the property.

Knots Plot: Beginning a New Life

Cambara makes a new beginning. She reunites Gacal, a stranded Somali-American boy, and his mother. She takes in SilkHair, a Somali orphan. Both boys remind her of her own son.

Cambara begins a romantic relationship with Bile. Unlike her prior marriages, her relationship with Bile is based on mutual respect.

Cambara writes and directs her own play in the recovered family property. Her best friend and her mother both fly to Somalia to support her. Finally, Cambara feels that she has taken control and pointed her life in a positive direction.

Themes of Knots

Active Grief - Cambara cannot sit at home in Canada and grieve for her son. Instead, she moves to Somalia, where the lives of those around her are far more tragic than her own. By taking an active role in improving her own life and the lives of others, Cambara deals with her loss.

The Tragedy of Civil War and Clans - Mogadiscio has been so destroyed by war that Cambara does not recognize her native city or its inhabitants. Relationships and actions are largely influenced by the 'clan' that a person belongs to, and clan warfare often precludes working together for social change. Cambara, as an outsider, overcomes many of these boundaries and builds a network for herself that is not based on clan ties.

Motherhood - Cambara's care for others is often associated with the visceral memories of her motherhood, such as giving birth or changing diapers. Though she is no longer a mother to a living individual, she still self-identifies as mother and caregiver.

Bardolph, Jacqueline. "On Nuruddin Farah." Research in African Literature 31:1 (Spring, 2000), pp. 119-121.

Farah, Nuruddin. Knots. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59448924-2.

"The Gospel according to Nuruddin Farah." The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 34. (2001-2002), p. 41.