Senegalese Entrepreneur on Faith, Identity, and Democratizing Homeownership
– In celebration of World Hijab Day, Hadja Khadija Daraameh, Senegalese entrepreneur and founder of Baraka Imo, reflects on her relationship with the hijab, describing it as an identity, a protection, and an act of faith.
Daraameh’s decision to wear the hijab came in 2014, during a World Hijab Day observance. She chose to don the head covering on her graduation day, viewing it as an act of gratitude to God. “I said to myself that Allah honored me before men, the only way to thank him was to wear the hijab that day,” she explained. Since then, she describes it as one of the best decisions of her life, a decision she has never regretted.
“This piece of fabric is an identity card,” Daraameh stated. “If Islam were a country, the hijab would be a flag for women. A flag that we wear on our heads every day. As soon as you see it, you understand who we are, you understand our religious choice. With that, you must represent your religion with dignity.” She acknowledges that this visibility brings increased expectations for women who choose to wear the hijab.
The hijab, she says, has brought discipline into her life. “I know that I am an ambassador of Islam and I must behave as such. It’s a piece of fabric that elevates me, that protects me, that honors me. It clearly identifies me in a positive way and earns me a lot of respect, consideration and sometimes even admiration.” She views it as “an act of devotion, an act of submission, an act of acceptance of the divine decree upon me.”
Daraameh recounts largely positive experiences while wearing the hijab. She describes instances of people standing to offer her a seat in public spaces and even observing a person with erratic behavior immediately composing themselves upon seeing her. “People speak to you differently, with much more respect. That’s always what comes back,” she noted.
Beyond her faith, Daraameh is an entrepreneur in the real estate sector. Her professional journey began with a degree in business administration from a local school in Senegal, followed by work in marketing. She entered the real estate field in 2018, discovering a new vocation: helping Senegalese people become homeowners and making land access more democratic.
Baraka Imo was established in 2021, following the passing of her father. Daraameh wanted to create an agency that reflected her personal, moral, and religious values. Recognizing the fear surrounding real estate scams, she aimed to build a transparent organization offering accessible products and payment options. The agency’s target demographic is Senegalese people with modest incomes, seeking to achieve homeownership without financial hardship.
Daraameh doesn’t perceive the real estate industry as a male-dominated field. She notes that a majority of her clients are women, whom she describes as rigorous and disciplined. “We always have double proof to provide and that pushes us to give the best of ourselves,” she said. She believes being a woman has been an asset in her professional life.
She identifies a lack of seriousness among some service providers and administrative delays as challenges she has faced. However, she attributes her success in managing these difficulties to transparent communication and the trust of her clients.
Looking ahead, Baraka Imo’s priority is to expand its reach within Senegal, moving beyond Dakar to cities like Touba, Saint-Louis, Casamance, and the eastern regions. Daraameh envisions a future where land access is accessible to all Senegalese citizens, both those residing in the country and those in the diaspora.
On the occasion of World Hijab Day, Daraameh encourages other women to consider wearing the hijab. “I encourage my sisters. Those who haven’t done it yet to wear it, those who wear it to keep it. It’s not easy, but it’s a protection, an act of devotion. A woman can wear a hijab, raise a family, work, start a business, lead a company. Everything is grace in the hijab. I really encourage them and I can assure them that they will not regret it.”
