I’ve always believed that stories are like vinyl records—each scratch, each groove, holds a piece of someone’s soul. Growing up between cultures, I learned early that not all stories get to spin on the turntable. Some are tucked away in the quiet corners of diaspora neighborhoods, whispered in languages that don’t always make it to the headlines. That’s why I wrote Libaax: Grow Your Roots Where You Land. It’s not just a book; it’s a mixtape of immigrant lives, pulsing with the rhythm of resilience, heartbreak, and stubborn joy. My name is Cedric Muhikira, and this is the story of how I set out to amplify voices that too often fade into the noise.
Cedric Mu’s Roots in Libaax
I was a kid who straddled worlds—born in one place, raised in another, always carrying the weight of being almost understood. My family’s journey, like so many others, was a patchwork of displacement, adaptation, and quiet triumphs. I saw it in the way my neighbors in Detroit, a city as gritty and soulful as the people who call it home, rebuilt their lives from scraps of memory and hope. I heard it in late-night conversations with first-generation youth, their voices thick with dreams and doubts. Those moments stuck with me, like a melody you can’t shake. They became the heartbeat of Libaax.
Ayaan’s Path in Libaax
The book follows Ayaan, a Somali immigrant who lands in Detroit with a civil engineering degree and a suitcase full of memories. He’s scrubbing dishes and spinning records, trying to find his footing in a world that feels both too big and too small. When a last-minute DJ gig thrusts him into the city’s underground music scene, Ayaan transforms. He becomes DJ Ayaan, blending Somali qaraami melodies with trap beats, carving out a space where he can be both himself and something new. His story isn’t just about survival—it’s about the poetry of becoming, the way immigrants remix their identities to fit unfamiliar terrain.
Writing Libaax – Cedric Mu’s Craft
Writing Libaax was like building a bridge between worlds. I wanted to capture the in-between moments—the ache of loneliness in a crowded room, the thrill of a fleeting connection, the way a single song can pull you back to a home you’ll never see again. Ayaan’s journey mirrors the lives of so many I’ve known: young men and women who dream big, stumble hard, and keep dancing anyway. I remember sitting in my dimly lit apartment, blasting qaraami and trap mixes, trying to write Ayaan’s first DJ gig. It was electric—every word had to hum with the energy of a packed club, the scent of sweat and spice, the flicker of lights on vinyl. That chapter felt like crafting a mixtape, each sentence a beat that had to land just right.
Cedric Mu’s Honest Libaax
The challenge was staying honest. Immigration stories are often flattened into clichés—tragedy or triumph, nothing in between. I didn’t want to romanticize the struggle or polish it into something it’s not. Ayaan’s life is messy, raw, and real. He’s not a hero or a victim; he’s a man who rides his motorcycle, Libaax, through Detroit’s streets, painting sagas on the asphalt. As I wrote, I kept thinking about a line from the book: “He wasn’t the guy who fumbled slang or froze at Kroger’s endless aisles. On Libaax, he was elemental—a streak of fire painting sagas on the asphalt.” That’s Ayaan claiming his space, his rhythm, his story.
Libaax – Cedric Mu’s Audience
Libaax is for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite belong—immigrants, dreamers, artists, outsiders. It’s for readers who crave lyrical prose and emotional depth, who want to see the world through eyes that have known both fragility and ferocity. The book weaves themes of displacement, identity, and the power of music as resistance. It’s about chosen family—friends like Ahmed, a reformed pirate with a sharp wit, and Maria, a law student with a fierce heart—who anchor Ayaan when the ground feels unsteady. It’s about masculinity, too, and the quiet courage it takes to be vulnerable in a world that expects you to be unbreakable.
Cedric Mu’s Goal for Libaax
I hope Libaax does more than entertain. I want it to spark conversations, to challenge the way we talk about immigration. Immigrants aren’t statistics or stereotypes; they’re people with stories as vivid and varied as the cityscapes they navigate. I want readers to walk away with empathy, curiosity, and maybe a little more courage to listen to the voices around them. For immigrants and their children, I hope they see themselves in Ayaan’s journey—his flaws, his fire, his refusal to be silenced.
Join Cedric Mu’s Libaax Events
This book is just the beginning. I’m already planning digital readings on Zoom, book club visits, and a signing at a Detroit indie bookstore this fall. These events aren’t just about Libaax—they’re about building community, sharing stories, and celebrating the resilience of immigrants everywhere. You can find Libaax on Amazon or learn more at cedricmuhikira.com, where I’ll share updates on readings and events. Come join me. Let’s spin these stories together, like a record that never stops playing.