Dhegdheer: A Scary Somali Folktale
Retold by Marian A. Hassan
Illustrated by Betsy Bowen
This picture book was created by the Minnesota Humanities Commission through the Somali Bilingual Book Project. The folktale has been passed down through many generations and in this book is told in both English and Somali. Similar to the “boogeyman” Dhegdheer is used to “scare” kids into good behavior. Like a lot of folktales, there are different versions of the story. There is a cannibal name Dhegheer in the Hargega Valley in Somalia, and her ways have cursed the land into a desert. She is strong and quick with an ear that travelers far, far away. She uses these skills to trap travelers into staying with her. One night, a mother and son stop at Dhegdheer’s hut while she is sleeping. Dhegdheer’s daughter warns them that her mother will eat them if they wake her. As the story unfolds we learn about the power of good over evil and the importance of being a good person.
This book is great to use in a folktale unit or in a global studies class. When compared to other folktales, this resource would be a great way for students to recognize the power of stories and how historically folktales were used to elicit behaviors or ways of being. he artwork is dark and sets the scary tone. This story is great for upper elementary school, middle and high school students. Because of the cannibalism, I would be hesitant to share this story with a young audience.
This is a different version of Dhegdeer than the picture book.
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