WHY SOMALIS HATE THEMSELVES: Somali’s Obsession with Garlanding and Indian Sari
According to the Wikipedia definition, ‘garland’ is a decorative wreath or cord, used at festive occasions, which can be hung round a person’s neck, or on inanimate objects like Christmas trees. There is no place in the world, other than Indian Subcontinent with practiced garland traditions. If you have been to an Indian […]
Somalia’s Taboo Breaker First Woman Foreign Minister
By Bashir Goth No matter what one thinks, or in what color one tries to see the appointment of Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam as the first woman Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Somalia and indeed in the Horn of Africa and the Arab World, it is the historical significance of a woman […]
The first female Deputy Prime Minister is a step in the right direction.
By Omar Ibrahim Hussein (PhD) A new Federal government was formed which included the first female Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. This move angered some and pleased others. But the day rightly belonged to those who supported Fozia’s nomination and rightly there was a lot of jubilation on that momentous day. A mother […]
GAARRIYE HADDUU TEGAY, MA GOBLAMAY AFKEENII
With the death of Mohammed Hashi Damac (Gaarriye), the Somali people have lost a great poet and a literary custodian. Apart from the many masterpieces and deeply intellectual poetry that he left behind, Gaarriye will be remembered in particular by his monumental efforts in founding and teaching the metrical structure of Somali poetry. He is […]
This President will succeed as the number say it so:
By Omar Ibrahim Hussein (PhD). I personally don’t know the newly elected President of Somalia other than what I read in the media. But the reports of the people who know him better give an encouraging picture about him. We were all worried about votes being bought and sold in Mogadishu to an alarming rate. […]
A dialogue with a cat Kulmiye’s Rule; an assessment
By Dr. Omar Ibrahim Hussein I had a good conversation with a cat before the national elections. It was an exciting period where the fever of change was sweeping Hargeisa. A period of euphoria with high expectations, “Even if you rape me; I am Kulmiye” was the buzz word then. The deserving Mujahid at […]
Dialogue between Silanyo and Rayale:
By Omar Ibrahim Hussein President Silanyo; the current President and Ex-president Mr. Rayale were avid political enemies but some sort of rapprochement between them has taken place. When Mr. Silanyo was an opposition leader he opposed the government chapter and verse. Now that the shoe is in the other foot, Silanyo sees opposition to his […]
Hitting fire with a stone.
“Dab iyo Dhagax Lays-kuma dhuftee Kala dhowraay: Kala dheer Labaduye Kala dhowraay.” Education and Politics: A classmate of mine asked me a difficult question in my intermediate school. “Am I not the best in our class? The most intelligent (farid in Somali) and if anybody is asked who is the best in our class, […]
FGM a killer Ritual:
By Omar Ibrahim Hussein (PhD) Congratulations to Puntland government and its people who have taken the courageous decision to ban the cruel ritual popularly known as “Female Genital Mutilation” from its territory. The same goes to the provisional constitution which bans and states, “Circumcision of girls is a cruel and degrading customary practice, and is […]
MAMA Africa
Oh Mama Africa, why do you forsake me? Years ago I escaped from the wrath of war, Not blaming you, but still under your eyeful watch. Open wounds and wasted souls that I saw Relentless fear persuaded me to flee. Not knowing where to go, I hastened to follow the crowd. Dodging bullets and bazookas, […]
Mo Farah wins Olympic 10,000m gold for Great Britain
By Tom FordyceChief sports writer at the Olympic Park Mo Farah stormed to Olympic 10,000m gold to seal an extraordinary night for British athletics in the Olympic stadium. In the same hour that Jessica Ennis won heptathlon gold and Greg Rutherford snatched long jump victory, Farah buried his illustrious rivals with a blistering final lap. […]
There shall be a Road where there is no road.
By Dr Omar Ibrahim Hussein My name is Boramaa and I am a city in the middle of nowhere; I’m lost between many mountains that surround me; No road goes out and no road comes in; That keeps me in isolation from the rest of my country; In the good old days as I […]
The Watched Citizen
That fateful day of September 11 was an American tragedy: Watching twin towers crumble and descent into ashes, Witnessing innocent souls vanish into the flame and smoke, As their saving heroes rush into looming hell with no chance of return Citizens of all colors, religions and non-believers wept together in grief We hugged each other […]
Witness to Crime, The History of Somali Cultural Violence
Somali cultural violence came to world attention in the early 1990s when General Mohamed Siyad Barre’s regime was overthrown and Somalis started slaughtering each other. As I was in the United States while Somalis were doing this butchering, I remember some of my colleagues and co-workers asking me, “Why are you guys killing each other? […]