By Asha Abdalla Editor’s note’s : This is an excerpt from an upcoming book titled Somalia failing due to bad leadership by Asha Ahmed Abdalla, a political activist and former parliamentarian and Assistant Minister. ______ Somalia is a victim of different politically motivated foreign meddlers and interest groups whose long-term agenda is preferentially aimed at...
November 6, 2026
Category: Book Shelf
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Somalia’s nascent love affair with books is blossoming as safety returns to the country
A selection of Somali-language books for sale at the Hargeysa International Book Fair. (Nyabola, H. Nanjala) WRITTEN BY Abdi Latif Dahir In the craggy hills of Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway region of Somaliland, organizers and participants this morning (July 23) flooded the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Hargeysa International Book Fair....
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FROM THIRD WORLD TO FIRST, THE SINGAPORE STORY – 1965-2000: A BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by Ismail Ali Ismail (Geeldoon) Author: Lee Kuan Yew. Book: From third world to the first, the Singapore story : 1965 – 2000. Paperback: 752 pages. Publisher: HarperCollins, New York, NY 10007,Year published, 2000. Price at Amazon: $20.65 (Hard Cover). This book is worth reading, particularly by those aspiring to lead and develop third...
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Writing about Somali Civil War Violence: Sources, Silences, and Challenges
Writing about Somali Civil War Violence: Sources, Silences, and Challenges Lecture/Discussion withLidwien Kapteijns Professor of History, Wellesley College Date: Saturday, April 23rd Time: 6:00 pm Location: African Development Center, 1931 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55454 Contact info: Ahmed Yusuf 612-205- 6136 or Yalax: 952- 607- 0450 Email: yusuf006@umn.edu, lkapteij@wellesley.edu
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A Review of English-Maay Dictionary
Reviewed by Liban Ahmad Book: English-Maay Dictionary Authors: Mohamed Haji Mukhtar and Omar Moalim Ahmed Paperback: 213 pages Publication date: July 2007 The Somali Maay is one of the major dialects spoken in Somalia. Unlike the Maxaa dialect, which was chosen to become the standard dialect in Somalia in 1972, Maay dialect speakers have never enjoyed the privilege of seeing their dialect...
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Sofia Samatar on the many influences on her fantasy novel, ‘The Winged Histories
Sofia Samatar, author of “The Winged Histories” from Small Beer Press. (Peter Duffy / Small Beer Press) By Lilliam Rivera Sofia Samatar was born to a Somali father and Swiss German Mennonite mother in a small town in northern Indiana. Passionate about languages, Samatar moved to South Sudan and later to Egypt during her twenties to...
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Gorfeyn Buug: “Afar Waraabe: Sheekooyin Soomaaliyeed oo Hidde Ah”
Diyaariyei: Maxamed Xasan “Alto” Fallanqayn iyo Wareysi kooban Habeeyey oo Tarjumay: Georgi Kapchits Daabacday: Kooxda Madbacadda URSS; Daabacaadda koowaad La Daabacay: Oktoobar 2015; Gal Jilicsan; 416 bog Buuggan “Afar Waraabe: Sheekooyin Soomaaliyeed oo Hidde Ah”, waxaa habeeyey oo tarjumay qoraaga weyn, kaydiyaha iyo ururiyaha sheekooyinka iyo maahmaahooyinka Soomaaliyeed, Dr Georgi Kapchits oo u dhashay dalka...
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A Memoir of the Somali Civil War: A Book Review
Reviewed by Liban Ahmad Book: Out of Mogadishu Author: Yusuf Mohamed Haid Paperback: 166 pages During the first two weeks of 1991 Somalis eagerly awaited the overthrow of the military dictatorship of Mohamed Siyad Barre. Throughout 1990, Mogadishu was notorious for night-time robberies and assassinations. I remember former BBC Somali Service stringer in Mogadishu, Saeed...
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The Struggle of Ravens: How Did the Arabs Mock Blacks? “Halgankii Tukeyaasha: Carabtu Sidee u Jileen Madawga?” A Book Review
A book review by Abdimajid Nur Osman Book: “Halgankii Tukeyaasha: Carabtu Sidee u Jileen Madawga?” The Struggle of Ravens: How Did the Arabs Mock Blacks? Author: Cabdisaciid Cabdi Ismaaciil Publisher: Abdisaid Publication; First Edition edition (November 11, 2015 Paperback: 296 pages As a Somali, conveying a message to a predominantly Somali audience, I would prefer...
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Musa, A Novel by Abdi Latif Ega
By Abdi Latif Ega Greetings everyone! I am Abdi Latif Ega, author of Guban – a novel exploring the lives of a plethora of characters from all walks of life in postcolonial Somalia, as she revolves around its region, continent and world. I am currently in the process of writing my second novel, Musa. The...