Author Wendy Holden in conversation with Edna Adan Ismail about their book A Woman of Firsts

This is the audio only of a video presentation that aired at the end of 2020 featuring Edna Adam Ismail, the 'Muslim Mother Teresa' whose life of selfless devotion is soon to be a film. Her autobiography,  A Woman of Firsts, published by Harper Collins, broke new ground. Here is some more information about it----

Imprisonment. Mutilation. Persecution. Edna Adan Ismail endured it all – for the women of Africa. 

Edna saw first-hand how poor healthcare, lack of education and ancient superstitions had devastating effects on Somaliland’s people, especially its women. When she suffered the trauma of FGM herself as a young girl, Edna’s determination was set. 

The first midwife to practise in Somaliland, Edna became a formidable teacher and campaigner for women’s health. As her country was swept up in its bloody fight for independence, Edna rose to become its First Lady and first female cabinet minister.

She built her own hospital, brick by brick, training future generations in what has been hailed as one of the Horn of Africa’s finest university hospitals.

This is Edna’s truly remarkable story.