"I Break Down Every Time I Remember That Day — And I'm a Grown Woman" - Gwalah Early on FGM EP 18

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]I love the part of an activist. Tell me more about that.

[00:00:02]>> Yeah, you know I am against the FGM.

[00:00:05]Yes, I am against that thing and you know we need to educate people you know mad FGM and all that and I know what I've gone through when I went when they did we they did FGM to me or when we were growing up we knew like FGM it was a must you know like any if you have not gone through FGM that's haram was a time I had traveled to the refugee side of Kenya and I had met a family member and when I did meet her up until today. It's so sad because the child is like less than 10 years.

[00:00:38]>> Imagine.

[00:00:39]>> She's I get frustrated because we were just having a random conversation and she was like the day they did it for me.

[00:00:45]You remember they took me somewhere there.

[00:00:54]Assalamu alaykum and welcome back to another episode of Islamically correct where we have honest conversation about faith, finance and life. I am your host Maya Ali and in every episode we sit down with Muslim entrepreneurs, professional and doers to hear their money story. Before we get into today's money story, please don't forget subscribe, like and share. And if you're listening to us on Spotify or wherever you get your audio, please don't forget to follow us there. And if you may want to come on the podcast or you may know someone, please don't forget to fill the Google form that we have on the description and we love to have you on the podcast. Today's money story is we are joined by a very lovely lady called Radia Ali also known as Guala Ali. She's a content creator, a screenwriter, an actor and also an activist. Welcome to Islamically correct.

[00:01:45]>> Thank you. Thank you for having me.

[00:01:46]>> I love the part of an activist. Tell me more about that.

[00:01:49]>> Yeah, you know I am against the FGM.

[00:01:52]>> Yes, I am against that thing and you know we need to educate people. You know, mother FGM and all that. So, and I have girls, >> okay?

[00:02:00]>> And I know what I've gone through when I went when they did we they did FGM to me. So, I am really really against that thing. And I want to educate people out there mothers to stop see you know there is a lot of misconception and all that.

[00:02:17]>> Yeah. Oh, the unfortunate I would love to know that story. But something I saw on Tik Tok this week is very very very unfortunate that this comedian he I think he's in the UK or something he was making uh fun of uh so he was saying if you're feeling sorry you feel sorry for uh Somali lesbian women because why I don't want to say this but this is what he said because >> the genital has been cut off so what are you looking for that's what he say and it was so >> so inconsiderate for him to say such a thing because He doesn't know what people go through and it is just so disgusting for me to hear that.

[00:02:54]>> Yeah. You know, let me tell you to make fun of someone who went through trauma when they're 10 year old or 5 year old or 3 years old. That is not something that a decision I have made or someone else have made. That is something that you just wake up and they lie to you.

[00:03:08]Hey, we're having someone coming over and then all of a sudden things start happening and then that trauma and that scar will y let me tell you. And when people come to the internet and start talking like that, making fun of trauma and for me I believe FGM is trauma and that's abuse to young children >> because I cannot say a woman a woman is someone who is mature and someone who can make decision but when someone is 5 years old 10 years old that is someone who doesn't understand anything >> they just wake up eat and sleep they don't understand >> they cannot even get what's the things that are happening in the house they don't they just kids >> and when someone goes on the internet and start making fun of us >> that is very that is very very considerate >> yeah that is >> that is someone who is uneducated I would say that >> yeah very uneducated 100% I would like to know that story of you getting uh how how was it and how has FGM affected your life >> wow FGM is just sad for me I would say I it's it has affected us obviously because you know We get infections and all that a lot of time and not even what we went because we know there is a suna FGM and there is the other one for me I was lucky I went through suna but I still have that trauma >> you know I just remember what happened to me it was so so bad for me I just felt like my mom betrayed me >> yeah because she lied to me that time but now she did not know because we all when we were growing up we knew like FGM it was a must you know like any if you have not gone through FGM that's haram and when I grew up I grew up and then I started being around other Muslim people other Muslim communities like not Somali community like my friends I just found out these people have not gone through FGM >> and they're like that is bad and it's not a must in Islam so that's how I I came to know and even my mom mashallah she came to know it's bad and all that so she stopped. So my kids have not gone through FGM. My nieces who are like 20 22 years they have not gone through FGM.

[00:05:26]So for me I I'm against that.

[00:05:28]>> Yeah.

[00:05:28]>> Yeah. Because it's the traditions you know the tradition.

[00:05:31]>> Yeah.

[00:05:31]>> Girls have to go through FGM so that >> you know so it's all in the mind. We just need to raise our children very well and teach them what is bad, what is good.

[00:05:47]>> You know, us as Somali community, we afraid to talk about the relationship part. You know, like for me, I always tell my kid like sometimes you can grow up and you start developing feelings. Now you are young. When that when you are 20, 25, that is okay. But now you are young.

[00:06:05]>> EC feelings.

[00:06:08]>> You see boys right now, they're the same. They're not the same boys when you are 20. You are kids. So feelings >> time will come when it's okay to catch those feelings and be in a relationship with someone who loves you and who will marry you. Yeah. So it's good for us to open up and be friendly because for me I opened up the hard way. There's a time I went to the doctor with my daughter and then we went for for counseling and then the this doctor just asked my daughter boyfriend and then I was like and she I don't know she was not hearing well and she said yeah and I jumped >> and hey everyone was like yo what's wrong with you you know and that was wrong that was wrong for me >> you know because we need to make These kids understand.

[00:07:01]We can talk to them and understand. But for us, our parents have never talked to us. E when you say something or they see you, even a guy saying hi to you. You get beaten by your brother, your mother, everyone beats you for just walking around and just someone looking at you, >> you know.

[00:07:18]>> Yeah. It's so unfortunate.

[00:07:19]>> Yeah, that is very wrong. So, we need to educate our children. And also, we need to say no to FGM. For me, FGMZ >> 100%. Yeah. Um, alhamdulillah, for us, we never went went through that. It's it's for me it's so difficult to understand that because there was a time I had traveled to the refugee side of Kenya and I had met a family member and when I did meet her up until today, it's so sad because the child is like less than 10 years.

[00:07:50]>> Imagine. She's I get frustrated because we were just having a random conversation and she was like the day they did it for me you remember they took me somewhere there and you know they don't do it around the whole time like noon they do it early in the morning because the sun is not too harsh that means you will not bleed too much let me tell you they come and then they tell you we have a visitor and then a random mama comes and they just hold you in a position you get I don't want to >> I'm Sorry.

[00:08:23]Help me, man. Some tissue. Yeah.

[00:08:31]I'm sorry.

[00:08:33]That is that is abuse for me.

[00:08:36]>> It is. Oh my god. It's very very bad for me. I've I I think I've never talked in details.

[00:08:42]>> Yeah. But I've I've I have a a movie script where I've written the details about it and it's just very sad.

[00:08:52]>> Yeah.

[00:08:54]>> By the way, and for anyone to come and say like it is okay or for you to make fun of me because that is very bad. I'll say it's it's very bad. It's we need to stop because we are children. We we are just kids.

[00:09:16]>> We're very innocent and then someone just comes and grabs you.

[00:09:22]It's very bad. It's they grab you and you're put in a position where you cannot fight like grown women.

[00:09:34]They hold you in a position where someone holds your hands and put your legs apart and they do things to you and then it's so bad. It's so bad. It is so bad. And for me, I would say we need to stop. Yeah, we need to stop because that's that is something we live with because I was just a kid. I was just a child. I I had no power over that. I could not make decision if I want to do it, if I don't want to do it.

[00:10:02]I didn't know what was happening and the pain the pain where I would say that but they have never I've never talked in detail about it only in my in my in my movie scripture I I just think I want to turn it into a book because I we need to stop it >> because now imagine in my age right now I'm old I have kids and every time I remember that scenario I break down I'm scared Because this this is a child from 4 to 10 years old.

[00:10:39]So it's like you're getting attacked.

[00:10:43]And the sad thing is you don't know that the day this will happen. You know it's normal for them. And those women who do those things to us, oh some of them they don't have one leg, some of them they don't have one eye.

[00:10:58]>> Oh it's just like a scary movie. So for me I would say we really really really need to stop. We really really need to stop. We need to stop cuz people will not understand because I talk about it even in my family and people don't understand it.

[00:11:13]Why are you saying it? Why are you doing it? Girls need to go through this. They don't understand because me I live with that trauma. If they're okay with that trauma me I'm not okay with that trauma.

[00:11:24]You know, some people they go through that and they let their kids go through the same thing just for them to just we need to stop because a child is not supposed to go through that. I was not supposed to go through that.

[00:11:46]I just felt so bad by the way and I lost a lot of blood and I fainted that time.

[00:11:52]My mom was very scared. Imagine if I died.

[00:11:55]>> Yeah.

[00:11:56]>> And you know what in Nairobi?

[00:12:01]So FGM doesn't happen in the village. It doesn't happen in Mandera, Tukana, Western in this Nairobi in these buildings you find it. It also happened in Afanikapa.

[00:12:16]So I think we need to go deep and educate our mothers like we need to stop.

[00:12:23]We need to stop.

[00:12:26]We need to just stop because if it is sooner, sooner is not a must. You know that.

[00:12:32]>> Yeah. And I don't believe like the way they do it is supposed to be done even if something is sooner is not a must.

[00:12:38]>> Yeah. It's not a must.

[00:12:39]>> FGM is sooner. Marrying for wife is sooner. That's an option. Cind. So, we need to let's stop. I would say let's stop because this drama will forever it's a scar in forever.

[00:12:54]>> Yeah.

[00:12:55]>> I'm really sorry that you had to go through that. What I want to understand is how do you heal from that? Even though those women would never come and say, "I'm sorry I destroyed your life.

[00:13:06]I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm sorry you lost a lot of blood." How are you like taking your health and mental health as an individual? I would say it's not their fault because me growing up I knew that it's in Islam someone to go through FGM because the tradition people like to mix tradition with din you know that so for me growing up I knew like you need to go through FGM like you can never speak against it >> because growing up if you try and speak against it you'll be like people can even cast you aside you talk like this but me I will say it and I'm going to say it again and again and again because I'm not ashamed because people are ashamed to say they've gone through FGM >> people are so ashamed people are scared let's we have to talk about it >> we have to sit and talk about it and all of us we open our hearts so that at least and I would say I am not as in like or anyone that because they they didn't know better.

[00:14:15]>> They did not know.

[00:14:17]>> Yeah.

[00:14:17]>> Yeah.

[00:14:18]>> But now we know.

[00:14:21]>> Yeah. So we stop.

[00:14:22]>> Yeah. 100%. I'm glad you um actively advocating for that. And I pray more women who has have gone through it come out and speak about it and also share the side effects because sometimes it's a theory that it's like a far theory that people hear about it so we don't know what it is. And when I was telling you that child, that was the first time I had really interacted with a small child. So the pain of it is that she doesn't know what she's telling me. It's me who can comprehend what she's saying.

[00:14:53]She's just saying it's like another story. So I feel like it's normal.

[00:14:57]>> Yeah. It's normal for her.

[00:14:58]>> Yeah. And then when you grow up, it hits you.

[00:15:01]>> Yeah.

[00:15:01]>> It's because it's so weird. When I was sitting with my best friend who is a Muslim also but has not gone through FGM and other friends who have not gone through FGM they're like what you see normal >> you come to sit with people and then you find out >> yeah high five but I'll say alhamdulillah so >> I will fight I will fight I need to fight more and talk more about it and you know educate our mothers because yeah they don't know what they're doing.

[00:15:31]Yeah, definitely. You are a very I don't like to use the word strong, but you're very resilient and may Allah make it easy for you and may Allah increase your strength in activating for being an activist for it. So, let's get into your money story. Let's start from your childhood, the kind of family you come from and how money looks like in your family.

[00:15:52]>> Well, as we were alhamdulillah comfortable, my father used to work at Kenyan Defense Force. He was a military.

[00:15:59]>> Yeah, we were we were okay. Yeah.

[00:16:01]Alhamdulillah. And my mom was mah very educated. Yeah. So my dad >> was a class five lever. I would you know but my mom was mah hands on. Yeah. So I would say alhamdulillah. My mom was the house manager let's say. So my dad used to go and make money and bring money home. I remember there time my dad used to say you know so my mom used to manage the house and the finances and I think that the same thing I do right now I'm the one who manage the finances in my house even when my husband gets money he comes and tell me so I make sure that we are good >> yeah no that's good because there's a Tik Tok I heard that a man said that give women money and they will manage it for you properly. So that's something that I've also learned. Is there something that your mother has taught you about money that you still carry up until today?

[00:17:01]>> Yeah, she has. She was one of most successful business woman. Mah because my mom is from Somalia. Okay.

[00:17:08]>> Yeah. I believe Somali women are very different from Kenya women. Yeah. And you know how she used to save money and make sure we have school, we the food, she thinks about the future, not now because men don't think about the future, by the way.

[00:17:25]>> They get money and let's go out and use all the money, but now if my husband tells me, we've gotten this money, let's go to Greenspan and eat pizza. I'm going to be like, no, you're not eating pizza. We're going to cook at home >> to Tashiba and then we'll save for tomorrow.

[00:17:43]>> Yeah. So for my mom, she always made sure that she had money. My mom had two bank account. She had poster and she had KCB. So when she did business, she had one account for the business money and another account for she had money by the way. Mashallah.

[00:18:00]>> Mah.

[00:18:00]>> Yeah. She I I remember when my dad passed away. So we moved to Mandera and my mom invested the money very very well. Let me tell you when my mom had invested the money she was hands on business. She used to keep her money separate. This is for my kids future and this is for us. Yeah.

[00:18:26]>> Okay. That's nice. Uh what how was life in Mandera?

[00:18:30]>> Wow. Imagine from Nairobi to Mandera in the 2000.

[00:18:35]>> Mandera was at that time I don't think technology there was no electricity there was no electricity and all that but my mom used to work hard. Yeah. She had a business at Suena Mandera. She used to sell food stuff and all that.

[00:18:49]She used to sell lemonade >> because we were living at custom area that is between Mandera and Somalia. So there were soldiers and all that those people who were guarding the >> the border >> the border. So she used to sell them lemonade because it was very hot. She used to make good money and then she will leave there and go back to suha I mean sandera and sell food. Yeah. So she really tried. But let me tell you, Mandera ho ho ho ho. If you're from Nairobi, you go there, it's hot. It's just different. Yeah.

[00:19:28]It's just different from Nairobi.

[00:19:30]Nairobi, you have freedom. We wear the way we want. We do this. But if you go there, people have culture, you know, Dean and all that. You cannot just dress the way you want in Mandera. You cannot just do. I don't know if now because that was very long time. I don't know about now but that time and I ran away because I couldn't stay there.

[00:19:55]So you ran away coming back without your family.

[00:19:58]>> Well my mom passed away. I was in Mandera girls high school secondary school and then I told my uncle I'm coming for holiday and then that time you know my father was so But that time we were used to watching TV, radio and all that.

[00:20:33]So how many siblings do you have by the time you were running away?

[00:20:37]>> We we were five.

[00:20:39]>> What happened to them?

[00:20:40]>> They are older than me. We had I had two brothers. Um so my sister and my brother passed away.

[00:20:47]>> So my sister was living in Nairobi. She was married. My brother was living with my uncle and me and my two other siblings. They were staying with my grandmother.

[00:20:55]>> Yeah. I was I was I was 15 15 16 years.

[00:21:00]Yeah.

[00:21:02]Who paid for the for the plane?

[00:21:05]>> It was free because >> Okay. Okay.

[00:21:09]>> It was free. There's those big big planes.

[00:21:15]It has a name. I don't remember. They so big. I think you go for free.

[00:21:26]>> Nice. They didn't tell you you are underage. We are not taking you.

[00:21:29]>> No, no, no. I had a I had a school ID.

[00:21:33]>> Okay.

[00:21:33]>> Yeah. And I was with my grandmother.

[00:21:36]>> Oh, okay.

[00:21:36]>> Yeah.

[00:21:38]and my uncle.

[00:21:41]So he just called and then Okay, nice. What happens after high school?

[00:21:47]>> So after high school, I got a job.

[00:21:49]>> I was working at anime.

[00:21:54]Oh my god.

[00:21:56]You're a genie. You don't know. So is aim that you put card and then you call 10 and then like a landline you know land line the one that you have to pick like this.

[00:22:09]>> Yes. But now that has a line. So I was working for another mama who had a shop in mosque. So mo's a shop here I think I think forex. Yeah. So for so I I used to work there for uh Swahili mom a mother from Mombasa and she used to pay me 5,000 shillings and that was good money at that point. Oh that was good money and so we used to sell credit cards.

[00:22:46]>> Yeah the one you scratch.

[00:22:48]>> Yes.

[00:22:49]So we used to use and she used to make money. She used to make a dayb and now I'm an orphan. I don't have money as in like you know you depend on family to give you shoes to give you by the way it's so hard. So for me I just needed to work so that I can afford to to take myself shopping. You know I was young. I was 18 years. Yeah.

[00:23:22]>> Yeah. So, it was very fun. The 5,000 was a lot. That was a lot of money for me.

[00:23:27]>> What were you doing with it?

[00:23:29]>> I used to go shopping, buy clothes, you know, buy makeup. I used just to go shopping. Yeah. And give my auntie some money. I used to give out. I was very I'm I'm very generous >> shopper.

[00:23:40]>> Yeah. I'm a very generous person.

[00:23:43]>> Nice.

[00:23:44]>> Then after that, do you get another job?

[00:23:45]And how long do you stay there?

[00:23:46]>> I stayed there for some time and then I got another job in Luli Avenue. So I was working for for this guy. He owns he I think he owns this clearing and foring shipping company called Samia Africa something like that.

[00:24:02]Yeah he was called he was a very good boss by the way.

[00:24:06]>> So I went there so I was paid 10 10,000.

[00:24:09]So 7,000 plus 3,000 fair. So daily you have to be given 100 bob.

[00:24:13]>> Who's giving you?

[00:24:14]>> Yeah you given there by the workplace.

[00:24:25]So I was living in Langata.

[00:24:27]>> So the other money shopping of course I just love fashion. I just love to dress up and all that. Anyone who knows me knows I when it comes to kudonga I go hard. So you know I just wanted to get things that I could not get. like I don't have a mother, I don't have a father. You know when you don't have parents, you work hard so that you can provide >> for yourself things that your parent cannot provide for yourself. Yeah.

[00:24:55]Basically able to >> do you get to move out of your relatives house?

[00:24:59]>> Yes. I the minute I got a good job, hey, I left.

[00:25:02]>> I left. I left because I would say it's hard living in a relative house because you will not understand because you already have that mentality of being an orphan >> and you know that everything that you are given the love that you're given is not is temporary already you have that mindset you know so sometimes because they have their own kids >> they have their own life so sometimes when you and you take your siblings because I was living in my my family my cousin's house and my uncle's house with my brothers.

[00:25:36]So because then they have kids >> and then you find like you live in someone's house by the way relative >> you will you cannot understand them.

[00:25:55]You can never understand when you are young living in a relative's house.

[00:25:59]Sometimes you feel like But when you grow older, you come to find out that not every relative wants you. M so if you find one relative that takes care of you and your family will appreciate by the way people don't understand they pay your school your school fee they give you food and then one day one time you will realize that So I got a good job. I took my brothers Nalipa Shoule. I took care of them.

[00:26:47]>> They have never lacked. Never.

[00:26:51]I I just made sure that Yeah. Because I know I know that feeling. So in a position where they feel like I wish my mom was around. Oh, I wish. You understand? Yeah. I tried my I really tried my best.

[00:27:12]>> Nice. After Sasa, you left those businesses, the online businesses came in and now what other job did you take on?

[00:27:21]>> So, I left Luthuli and then I decided, you know what? Let me take a break. That was the worst decision I did.

[00:27:28]>> Let me tell you, that was worse because when you're a go-getter, someone who works works works. Even if you are even if you're married today because I was married and I had my husband and I know my husband can take care of me you know even if you're married and you make your own money and you decide you know what let me stop that is the worst decision you can make because your money is good your money makes it's like a free will that fuels your mental mental health your body you have your own money you can do anything you have power when you have your own money >> no matter how small it is so me I stopped working and then I decided let just stay home kido. And then I decided, let me be a makeup artist. So I went to a makeup school.

[00:28:11]I went to a makeup school and then I decided let me just do online and do Tik Tok and all that. It was not easy for me because I was not getting clients. And when I used to get clients, clients complain, I would, let me tell you me, I would never never be a makeup artist to clients. Ah yeah yeah yeah I can't. You cannot convince me and call me a I want to come do me a makeup. Ah, no, no, no.

[00:28:37]I can't because you get a client, they want to pay 300 shillings for a face that is worth 2,500 because the setting spray cost 2,500. The powder 3,000. The foundation 3,000. And those are called um those are called the cheap ones because yes, drugstore one. And the most expensive one they go for 6,0007,000 and then they come and say they don't even appreciate us. Being a makeup artist is hard. I really feel for makeup artist cuz me I would never.

[00:29:15]So I tried doing makeup. I was getting clients clients clients for 300 500 700 with lashes 1,000.

[00:29:24]you know, I was I was I was someone who used to make 150,000 a month and now I'm someone who's making 700 a week. So, I got depressed so bad. And another thing is the people who you are around because you need to be around women who tell you to do things. Go work, go make money. You know, not being around I'm sorry to say this and I know I'm going to get cancelled for this, but let me say the worst friends you can keep around are the housewives.

[00:30:01]>> Mama. M >> so I was around this bunch of women who used to show off because their husband used to buy them 1 kg of meat and buy them new bed sheet and you know they just discourage you and then you start being I don't know but you need to be around people who tell you wake up let's go make money let's go do this business let's go this let's go you need to be with around people who encourage you to do better women who encourage you to be better not women who try to show you that your husband is not doing anything for you.

[00:30:32]My husband is doing better than you. My husband loves me. I give birth to 10 kids. Oh, you you have only one. Oh, you can't. That is the worst thing. I think that depressed me a lot. And I remember my husband telling me I remember the time I used to wake up at 1 and then I I met this lady and she was like And then they were like because I'm not used to that lifestyle, my friend. I'm used to wake up, go work, make money, come back, you know. We enjoy the money. I enjoy my husband's money. I enjoy my money. I do things. I can call and order anything. If I want a new table that cost 100k, I buy for myself. I don't have to ask money for my husband. And now you're around people who who are happy to get 1 kilogram of meat. Seriously. So it was so bad. So I had to find another way to make money.

[00:31:35]>> So I opened a milkshake business.

[00:31:38]Oh my god.

[00:31:42]That that that was bad. And you know what happened when I was opening a ice cream and a milkshake business? It was July. It was so cold.

[00:31:53]Imagine >> I think that was the heavens telling me you need to stop. So I opened a business that I have no idea how to run it.

[00:32:02]>> I was good in doing selling phones but I did not know anything about milkshake. I did not know anything. I had to learn the hard way and I went it was a big loss for me. So I got the money from someone. I had to pay the money.

[00:32:24]>> How much was it?

[00:32:25]>> I I took 300K >> and the money didn't the business did not return a scent. And when I closed down the the the shop, I was very happy.

[00:32:34]I slept well because now I have a business that is running that is not making money. Now I have to go and look for money to pay the rent. and you have a business but now you you looking for another money to make sure that the business is running because the business is not making you money.

[00:32:54]Imagine from making good money to making nothing. I was so depressed by the way I was that was the worst time of my life.

[00:33:03]>> But I say alhamdulillah to all those journey because it has shaped me to be who I am today.

[00:33:10]That journey has appreciate life that sometimes you can be high, sometimes you can be low. It is okay to be on the low side as long as you have no sickness. You know that has shaped me that I am okay if today I have money. If today I don't have money, if my account has 1 million, alhamdulillah, if my account has 1,500, alhamdulillah, I really I don't regret all that.

[00:33:42]>> I just appreciate. And I also want to be around people who encourage me a lot. I want to be around women who are very encouraging and >> ambitious.

[00:33:53]>> Very ambitious. And they are not scared to tell you take risk. You want to do that business, do it.

[00:33:58]>> Yes. I don't want to be around people who just want to be happy for 1 kilogram of meat.

[00:34:04]>> Yeah, >> makes sense.

[00:34:05]>> Yeah.

[00:34:06]>> How do you pay the debt?

[00:34:07]>> Well, my husband paid it.

[00:34:11]>> He paid it. Yeah.

[00:34:12]>> How do you convince him? Amma, you don't need to convince.

[00:34:15]>> You know, when you have a man who loves you unconditional, >> when a man loves you, hey, he will do crazy things for you. Let me tell you, he paid all the money for me.

[00:34:23]>> Yeah.

[00:34:25]>> Yeah. He's a good and he understand.

[00:34:27]He's more mature. He's an amazing partner. And when you are an you are in a relationship with a man, you have to know that this person is going to be there for me even when I fail, >> you know, because I'm failing and he's like, "Okay, I'll get you more money.

[00:34:44]I'll do this for you." And he he wants me to be happy all the time. By the way, shout out to my husband who's an amazing mashallah.

[00:34:52]He always supports and tells me, "Go do it. Do it. you need to be someone to be with someone who is always there for you in good times and in bad times.

[00:35:02]>> Yeah.

[00:35:03]Um what happens after you close that business? How do you get into content creation?

[00:35:09]>> Well, my content creation was a mistake.

[00:35:12]>> First, I started cooking on YouTube. I used to get 20 20 20 zero views >> in 6 months. Oh, it was so bad. And then I started cooking on Tik Tok. And then I started doing makeup. It was not going anywhere. The Hi guys, welcome to my channel. Today we're going to do makeup.

[00:35:32]Oh my god, it was so Oh, I don't want to remember me saying I don't want to remember those things. And then I start cooking.

[00:35:39]And then one day, my brother and my you know how mothers are, we just like to speak our mind.

[00:35:56]So and then remembering how our mothers used to speak and all that. So my brother who died along and my niece they were like video crazy and then we started just like that one video and everyone loved it.

[00:36:16]Everyone loved it. And for me, starting it, I was just doing for fun. And now I'm a whole brand. Now mine, >> I'm not playing.

[00:36:26]>> I don't play with my brand. Now it's a full-time job.

[00:36:29]>> Before it was not a full-time job because I wasn't getting paid anything.

[00:36:36]So I was just standing there.

[00:36:39]I've learned a lot of thing. A lot of things. the posting time because I remember I used to do videos and then I used to post.

[00:36:49]I had good good scripts by the way. I had very very good scripts and then that time and three.

[00:37:14]We do videos, videos. People liked it.

[00:37:15]Everyone was praising us because I was with my niece >> and then >> now we are here now.

[00:37:24]>> Okay. Mashallah. Do you remember the time when you went viral and everybody started to know you and >> Yes, I did. I did a video where I was I I love Vibes Cartel. I don't know if you know Vibes Cartel.

[00:37:38]>> I've seen him. Yeah.

[00:37:39]>> Yeah. Because Vibes Cartel I grew up listening to Vibes Vibes Cartel. So and then >> at that time he was not he was arrested.

[00:37:48]>> So we did a video where my niece was wearing uh a Kofia that had marijuana leaves.

[00:37:56]>> So that video I think I was posted in Nairobi Gossip if I'm not wrong. So she came home and opened the door and I told her people went crazy.

[00:38:15]>> Yes.

[00:38:18]And then just like that because you know Somali mom they know things. They know marijuana.

[00:38:24]>> Yes. They know when you dress like this, they just try and make fun of you. At the same time, they they're like scalling you. You're not supposed to do this. You're not supposed to do this. But it's so funny. I don't think we can take our mothers very serious. Yeah. So, that was the video that made me today.

[00:38:44]>> Yeah.

[00:38:45]>> Nice. Do you remember the first brand deal you have ever gotten?

[00:38:48]>> Brand deal? Okay. I had small businesses. Yeah.

[00:38:50]>> Reaching out. Yeah.

[00:38:51]>> Yeah. I had one one guy who paid me 7K for one video.

[00:38:55]>> Yeah, that was good money at that time because but the first brand deal brand brand I did was I think uh I did Abto.

[00:39:06]>> Yeah, I did Abto. Yeah, they paid me for for six to seven eight months. Yeah, I was working with them. They sell skin care and all that. Yeah, it was a good deal. At least I knew I had money. So zing was just small businesses. They pay you 10k, they pay you 7k. Yeah. And I wasn't I was I was so thirsty for money.

[00:39:31]Sometimes I get underpaid.

[00:39:34]And that is one thing I want to tell also content creator like be around people who tell you that you are being underpaid >> and these people have money. Most of the time when someone approaches you and tell you that yeah why I like this one can you come and do this for this and you are so thirsty with money I would say I have made mistakes that right now I can never make that mistake because a brand comes to you and tell you I'm going to pay you this much and the same brands pay big I not say bigger content creators because we are all big because if someone approaches you that means you are a big person >> yeah so they pay people who get who who are paid like 200, 100k a video and they want to pay you like 10k. That doesn't make sense.

[00:40:20]>> So, as a content creator, it's important to be around people who know the business side of content creation.

[00:40:26]People who know how to sign deals and how much you need to be paid.

[00:40:31]That has helped me a a lot being around people who make good money, >> you know, because I have dropped people because they refuse to add money and I was scared because I'm used to getting money, >> you know. It's been a long time ever since I felt that financial freedom and all that. But now this person told me that I'm a friend of mine and these people pay bigger brands than you. They cannot add you 20k now. And that month I swear stress I was so depressed and that month I got another deal which I got paid very very very well. And that taught me that it's okay to say no because at the end of the day I want to grow as a brand.

[00:41:19]>> I want to buy like cameras. I want to buy uh cameras. I want to buy equipments.

[00:41:26]>> I cannot be paid 10,000 for one video.

[00:41:29]Seriously, I want to grow. So I cannot take small small small money. So as a content creator, it is okay to say no.

[00:41:44]You respecting yourself, you're respecting broke for some time. I don't have money.

[00:41:53]>> Yeah. But it's okay because I I if I do a video for you, I guarantee you that if Guala talks about your brand, people will buy it.

[00:42:04]>> And that video can you can get 1 million views, you can get 500 views, 100K views, >> why don't you just pay me nicely?

[00:42:13]>> I'm happy you are happy. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:42:16]>> 100%.

[00:42:16]>> Yeah. It's just like that.

[00:42:17]>> No, I totally agree with you. Especially for content creators. Something else I say is that if I put you on my YouTube channel, you're going to be there for the rest of this YouTube channel, you're always going to be getting recurring customers to your business. Why don't you pay me well and we are done? And sometimes you find them they compare you with someone because I've seen I've been in a situation where I have refused to work with brand and then I see they work with someone and that someone is taking and it's okay because if I do a video for a month and you pay me like >> 300k it will make a difference in my life. It will make me grow. It will encourage me to do more videos on honor because if content creating is not paying I will have to get a job.

[00:43:10]You see so we need to take our brand serious. We need to carry ourself high because these people need us.

[00:43:18]>> We are the people if we tell people we have a lot of people who follow us listen to us. So we have to make sure that >> makes sense.

[00:43:29]>> Yeah. Um before we close, I wanted to ask you what was your happiest and also saddest financial moment.

[00:43:36]>> Well, my happiest uh I would say is the first time I had my corporate deal. I was so so happy. I was so scared because I I the money I took over but I had no idea.

[00:43:48]>> And the saddest is when they refused to work with me because I told them to add me money.

[00:43:54]>> The same corporate.

[00:43:55]>> Yeah. And at that time I was going through a lot of financial I was getting paid but you know as a woman you get paid you buy curtain you get paid you buy a new bed you get paid you buy you canot we don't save money like that and then when that time came they were like oh we letting you go because we don't have money yeah they don't want to pay me the money I I was asking because the first contract I signed I did not know but it I am not blaming anyone because I'm the one who gave out the red card.

[00:44:33]>> Okay.

[00:44:35]>> So and I and for me if you have ever worked with Guala I'm the best. I work very hard. I take my my my job very serious and I really really like to work for people who would come back to me.

[00:44:51]So they refused and I was broke for that month.

[00:44:56]I was all broke.

[00:44:58]>> Now I have to ask my husband for money and I don't like I I any bambi.

[00:45:03]>> Yeah, >> he will give me money >> but I just want my money to do things buy things useless things.

[00:45:12]>> Yeah.

[00:45:13]>> Okay. Nice. Um what is one financial lesson you wish you learned earlier on?

[00:45:19]>> I would say saving and stop being too generous to people. Sometimes think about yourself.

[00:45:25]>> Yeah, think about yourself. I know us as Somalis, as most people, we like to give out a lot even when it is not necessary.

[00:45:32]You give out money when it's not necessary. And then when when things happen, you start and if it was in a fall, those people cannot do the same thing you do to them.

[00:45:45]>> Yeah. So, I think we need to save a lot of money and don't tell people what you make. Yeah. Don't be like telling people no.

[00:45:58]>> Yeah. Save your money. If you can't save your money, buy gold. No gold this time.

[00:46:02]Yeah. As we buy gold. Yeah. That is a way of saving money because save money.

[00:46:07]>> Yeah. Yeah. Especially for people who eat their money all the time. When you get certain amount of money, just go buy gold. It will be harder for you to go to sell it and then go use that. And even my best friend taught me one thing that you need to have an account where you cannot access >> where you don't have an ATM where you cannot you you just have an account where you just put money but if you want to withdraw money you have to go to the counter >> you can't go >> yeah makes sense okay thank you so much for joining us on Islamically correct I I really appreciate you being vulnerable and sharing your story with us and my prayer is that Allah heals you from the things that you never share with people and may Allah grant you the grace and barak and in your life and in your business as you grow older and you as you grow uh with your business. So thank you so much once again before we close you can tell people where they can find you on and any other advice you may want to give.

[00:47:04]>> Well you can find me guala ali everywhere Tik Tok IG Facebook yeah and I will tell people to just work hard. Yeah. I want to tell women to make your own money and don't be around women who >> make you feel less.

[00:47:21]>> Yes. Because they got they got a kilo of meat. That's all I can say.

[00:47:25]>> Nice. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome. Also, thank you so much to everybody that stayed up until the very end of the video. I really do appreciate you. Please don't forget to subscribe, like, and share. And if you're listening to us on Spotify or wherever you get your audio, please don't forget to follow us there. Until the next episode, much love, light and blessings. M