The Root: Show III — Taking Up Space is the final chapter in a three-part series. This episode features writer Najma Heybe and creative producer Asma Kabader as they reflect on their journey through Sheffield City Archives, where they began developing their short story for Dig Where You Stand and the feature film A Story Left Behind.

Inspired by the biography of Halima- a Somali woman the episode follows Najma and Asma as they work to piece together Halima’s life, navigating the tensions between what was recorded and what was left unsaid.

This show explores the power of community archiving and the tradition of Somali oral storytelling, and what these practices mean for the Somali diaspora today. Interwoven with music that shaped the creative process, the show speaks to the universal importance of preserving cultural memory for future generations.