Hodan Nalayeh’s life story is one of passion, inspiration, and ultimately of tragedy. As a young, idealistic Somali-Canadian, Hodan was determined to change the stereotypes of her birth country, defy the odds, and smash stereotypes. Hodan had always dreamed of having her own television show to change the narrative of the Somali community that is often portrayed in the media. But after countless rejections, she decided to take matters into her own hands and created Integration TV, the first English-language online platform, and began sharing positive stories about a community that is so often maligned.

Hodan quickly became a household name. And yet, she still felt like something was missing. In 2013, she reached out to Dwayne ‘Dukez’ Holness, a local videographer in Toronto and tireless community advocate and storyteller. They instantly connected, and Dwayne agreed to film Hodan's emotional trip back to Somalia, even though it has been 25 years since she fled her home with her family. Together they started a four-year journey back and forth, as Hodan rediscovered and reconnected with the people in both Somalia and the Somali diasporas around the world. Her reporting caught the attention of BBC Africa and quickly Hodan gained a following as a popular on-air host.There was only one filming trip when Dwayne couldn't join Hodan. On that trip, in June, 2019, Hodan was killed in a hotel bombing along with her new husband. She was pregnant at the time. Hodan's Story is Dwayne's moving and intimate tribute to the work and life of his friend and collaborator. While this film is ultimately about Hodan’s life, it covers so much more. Her death is a tragedy, and a devastating loss. But this is not a tragic story.