By Prof Said S. Samatar This is the story of my recent dramatic, almost mystical conversion to the noble Geri-Koombo clan-family. What bizarre private agencies of enlightenment and pleasant beneficence that drove me into abandoning my Leelkase kin and embracing the Geri will take a psychiatrist to divine. But before dwelling on my impulsive, inexplicable...
By Said M-Shidad Hussein On the Records Textual Accounts It seems that some scholars have not paid adequate attention to the fact that Pliny, a Roman author (d. 79 CE), and others, state that the Egyptians had contacted and influenced Somalia. There are at least two kinds of information in this regard. Firstly, he attests...
By Faisal A. Roble Preamble In part one of this series, Prelude to a Revolutionary Generation, I discussed factors that partly contributed to the political consciousness of the youth of Jigjiga. I also ruminated about the influence of dissident poets and Musicians from Somalia. Remarkable about this crop of dissidents (Abdi Adan Qays, Hadrawi, Said...
Prof . Lidwien Kapteijns Introduction When large-scale violence occurs in Africa, initial analyses rarely go beyond characterizations of it (and, by implication, characterizations of the nature of the groups involved) as “ethnic” or “tribal.” Over time, more nuanced, historically based, and carefully contextualized analyses emerge. These often try to understand the complexities of, and changes...
By Ismail Ali Ismail ( Geeldoon) I learned with sorrow about the end of the life of Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Adan, the day it was announced in Hageisa, November 26, 2013. There is a time when life comes to an end for us individuals – and for all else as matter of fact. Truly, ‘All...
By Yassir Karooka Anti-black racism remains prevalent in the world today. Many societies in the West that have a history of racism have managed to make noteworthy progress in combating racism and racial discrimination, at least by legal means if not by being able to sway the hearts and minds of people en masse. The...
Editor’s note: WardheerNews gravely mourns the loss of the late Ahmed Mohamed “Qaybe” on November 26, 2013. Mr. Qaybe was one of Somalia’s giants in the world of diplomacy and statesmanship. In recognition of his leadership, ability and talent in the field of legislative process, WardheerNews ran an editorial piece in April, 2005. At a time...
By Prof. Said S. Samatar Introduction This piece appeared in Research in African Literatures exactly three decades ago. Since then mighty changes have occurred in Somalia in particular, and in the world at large generally. Alas, Abdisalaam Haaji Aadan, the witty burlesquer in the piece, is dead, so is the Somali state, so is the Soviet Union;...