I still remember the first time I heard qaraami music, its mournful strings weaving through the humid air of a Detroit summer. I was a kid, straddling two worlds—one foot in the stories my family carried from across oceans, the other in the cracked sidewalks of a city that felt both foreign and fiercely alive. That moment, standing in a cousin’s cramped living room, the radio crackling with Somali melodies, planted a seed. Years later, that seed became Libaax: Grow Your Roots Where You Land, my debut book—a love letter to the immigrant experience, to the people who remake themselves in unfamiliar soil, and to the stubborn beauty of their resilience.
Cedric Mu’s Voice for the Silenced
Writing Libaax wasn’t just about telling a story; it was about giving voice to the silences I’d lived and witnessed. I’m Cedric Muhikira, a storyteller shaped by migration, by the in-betweenness of carrying multiple homes in your bones. Growing up, I saw how immigrant lives were often reduced to headlines or stereotypes—either tales of triumph or tragedy, rarely the messy, vibrant truth in between. I wanted to change that. I wanted to write a story that felt like the late-night conversations with friends who’d fled war, who’d washed dishes while dreaming of degrees, who’d found joy in the smallest victories.
Ayaan’s Journey in Libaax
Libaax follows Ayaan, a Somali immigrant who lands in Detroit with a civil engineering degree and a suitcase full of memories. He’s not the hero of a glossy success story, nor is he a victim. He’s a man scrubbing dishes, spinning records, and riding his motorcycle—named Libaax, Somali for lion—through a city that’s as gritty and soulful as he is. When a last-minute DJ gig thrusts him into Detroit’s underground music scene, Ayaan begins to weave Somali qaraami melodies with trap beats, crafting a sound that’s both rebellion and remembrance. His journey is one of displacement, identity, and transformation, anchored by friendships with people like Ahmed, a reformed pirate with a quick laugh, and Maria, a law student who sees the world with unflinching clarity. There’s also Isabeli, a bartender whose fire sparks something in Ayaan he didn’t know he’d buried.
The Rhythm of Immigration in Mu’s Work
The book’s heart lies in its refusal to simplify. Immigration isn’t a straight line; it’s a rhythm—uneven, pulsing with grief, joy, and everything in between. I wrote Libaax to capture that rhythm, to show how people like Ayaan remix their cultures, rebuild their joy, and carve out space in places that don’t always welcome them. One of my favorite lines from the book sums it up: “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 story, his way.
Inspiration Behind Cedric Mu’s Libaax
The inspiration for Libaax came from the people I’ve known—first-generation youth, former refugees, dreamers who’ve stumbled and kept moving. Detroit, with its raw energy and history of reinvention, became the perfect canvas. I spent countless nights listening to their stories, their laughter, their silences. I wanted to honor the complexity of their truths—not just the pain of displacement, but the poetry of seeking home, the defiance of creating something new. Writing Ayaan’s first DJ gig was a moment that felt alive: I’d blast qaraami and trap mixes, trying to capture the sensory collision of vinyl, sweat, and strobe lights. It was like building a mixtape, each word a beat, each scene a track.
Staying True in Libaax’s Narrative
The challenge was staying honest. Migration isn’t a monolith—it’s not all trauma or triumph. It’s the ache of a language you can’t quite wield, the thrill of a stranger’s kindness, the weight of a memory you can’t share. I wanted Libaax to feel raw, lyrical, unapologetic. It’s for readers who crave stories that don’t shy away from the hard stuff but also celebrate the beauty of becoming. Young adults, educators, anyone drawn to immigrant narratives or urban fiction—this book is for you. It’s for those who want to see the world through Ayaan’s eyes, to feel the pulse of his music, to understand the ferocity and fragility of starting over.
Cedric Mu’s Hope for Libaax
Libaax does more than entertain. I want it to spark curiosity, to challenge the way we talk about immigration. I want readers to see immigrants as fully human—funny, flawed, luminous. For those who’ve lived these journeys, I hope they see themselves reflected. For others, I hope they walk away with deeper empathy, with questions that linger. This book is my bridge, built from words and woven with the voices of a community that deserves to be heard.
Connect with Cedric Mu and Libaax
You can find Libaax: Grow Your Roots Where You Land on Amazon or learn more at cedricmuhikira.com. I’m also excited to connect with readers through digital Zoom readings, book club visits, and a book signing at a Detroit independent bookstore this fall. Follow me on social media for updates on these events, where we’ll dive into conversations about migration, identity, and the power of storytelling. This is just the beginning—I’m already dreaming up the next story, the next rhythm, the next voice waiting to be amplified.