How safe is it in that region now?

nvm I need a nap lol

Safferz;944758 wrote: I logged in, but unfortunately I only have electronic access to articles from the journal from 1995 onwards (this article is from 1987). But if you guys are really interested in reading it, I can put in a scan request at the library and they will scan the hard copy and email it to me in a day or two Here it is: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3nbt8g9f0qk2hgb/blood%20groups%20in%20somali%20pop.pdf

Alpha Blondy;945325 wrote: Saffz, besides american newspapers and their stance....... what do you think of las geel? and why hasn't it been granted this UN seal of approval/status yet? also and more importantly, why aren't you support cultural heritage programmes in SL? Who said I don't support cultural heritage programs in SL? I was just remarking on how clever the PR firm is to take this angle to publicize SL's diplomatic situation. I don't know the process of attaining UNESCO world heritage site status, so I can't comment on why Laas Geel and other sites haven't been declared world heritage sites but I'd imagine if the SL government really cared about protecting these sites they would include it in their dialogues with Somalia (since they can sign the UNESCO treaty). What I don't like is the politicization of history and Somali cultural heritage as a diplomatic tool.

Nin-Yaaban;945181 wrote: Well it's certainly not read by policy makers, i could tell you that much. That's also not true.

Nin-Yaaban;945162 wrote: Ummm, the Washington Times isn't read by anyone (well, except for the weirdos). You probably mean the Washington Post (WaPo) which is completely different from the Times. I know both papers, and that's not true. It's a conservative paper and doesn't have as wide circulation as the Washington Post, but it has a loyal readership and appeals to certain types.

lol it looks like the PR firm the Somaliland government recently signed a contract with is doing their job. A well placed article (The Washington Times is read by all the policy folks) and taking the heritage site preservation angle to bring up the recognition question is clever work.

Naxar Nugaaleed;945146 wrote: Safferz they're Hindi words via arabic shaah/shaahi/chai lol Some words certainly are, but I'm not so sure about these ones... for instance, we know that soap (at least the what we know as soap today) has its origins in the Middle East, so it makes sense that the word sabuun is Arabic. I also don't agree that Arabic is not foreign to us, and the Arabic imprint on our language is much less than most people think. The African language with the most Arabic vocabulary is Swahili, and even then the words of Arabic origin only make up something like 20% of the Swahili lexicon. SomaliPhilosopher;945129 wrote: There are many Somali equivalent to these words, though the imported words have become the de facto norm for such terms A society's vocabulary is always limited to its social horizon and historical experience, so the vast majority of the foreign words in the Somali language (like any other language) will be words that describe concepts, objects, etc that are new to us and incorporated into our society as a result of cross-cultural contact. For example many words relating to literacy are Arabic, because our first encounter with writing was with Islam -- qalin, waraaq, kitaab, etc.

Naxar Nugaaleed;945142 wrote: more hindi: Sabuun sanduuq sambusa kursi babuur(sounds indian) All of those except sambuusa are Arabic

SomaliPhilosopher;945135 wrote: Safferz/Wadani-you guys familiar with hindu/urdu? When did Somalis have contact with the hindus? I've never studied the language, but I'm familiar with them as borrowed words. Somalia has always had Indians - southern Somalia is part of the Swahili coast, with centuries of trade and cultural exchange in the Indian ocean trade networks - but most of these Hindi and Urdu words came with the British, since Indians made up many of the officers/soldiers in the British Empire (called "askaris," another word we borrowed from the British who borrowed it from the original Arabic) and many also arrived as traders, shopkeepers and merchants with the colonial state. Hargeisa still has an area called the "Indian line" (colonial cities always had a segregated geography, reflecting the British distinction between whites, Asians (usually Indian) and Africans/natives). A long time ago my mom told me a song kids in Hargeisa used to yell at Indians on the street -- "Hindi baa baa/Bariis kaagii//Ma bislaaninay/Baada joogso/Ku baarooro"

A few Hindi and Urdu words off the top of my head - surwaal (pants), sargaal (officer), gaadhi (car), laangadhe (crippled person)

I don't think I've ever posted in this thread Happy May Day (International Workers' Day) everyone... here's an interesting political poster from 1981 Somalia for the occasion, featuring Marx, Engels, Lenin and... Siad Barre:

Great video work. Is this going to be a full length documentary?

Coofle;944906 wrote: Since I am talented in writing somali poetry, I tried English poetry too....I posted few on poetry website and got some good and bad reviews...loolz...But frankly speaking english poetry is boring and easy. No way Coofle, English poetry can be just as structurally complex and full of symbolism and depth. Maybe what you're thinking of are simple rhymes like "roses are red/violets are blue"

Coofle;944890 wrote: By the way I always thought you are XY rather than XX...your posts gave the impression of masculinity ..no offense meant. None taken, but it did give me a laugh.

Insanity.

Alpha Blondy;944821 wrote: ^ you werent there, dee... lol I've never tried it but I don't think I would be very good at writing poetry. But I've always wanted to write a novel

Tallaabo;944842 wrote: But Nuune don't you think the Habashi army will behave very well towards the people since their dirty work is being done by the Liyu police? That's the point in having an ethnic police force dee. But the important thing is to understand that these are not Somalis really, but an extension of Ethiopian state power with a Somali face. And thanks Tallaabo for your concern, but I will be fine I have local connections/affiliations everywhere I'm going, and I will use common sense and caution when I am alone.

Che -Guevara;944810 wrote: And guys, Safferz is indeed a guy:D haha Che, you weren't supposed to expose me like that Alpha Blondy;944817 wrote: forget it, inaar. its futile. you needn't bother, ruunti. even Saffz has refused to ''meet up''. it's not nice....but i'll sleep it off.....and tomorrow is another day, you know. p.s - Saffz, i wouldn't ''meet up'' with you, inaar, if you were the last woman on earth with the last remaining drops for a refreshing whiff of No.5....ee sida uula soco, adigo mudane, inaar. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL p.s.s - saffz, would probably bore to death. she seems very talkative and stuff........ yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn:D..... Awww Alpha's feelings are hurt I just have a lot to do in Ethiopia and I'm not sure how it would work, but if I can squeeze in a trip to Hargeisa this time (I'm thinking about going to the book fair), you owe me coffee.

Chimera;944799 wrote: Past conquests, mon amie.

Ohh I see what you mean now, you're responding to what I wrote in the pic lol So no more flirting with Chimera :rolleyes:

Xaaji Xunjuf;944789 wrote: Bring just money and make sure u have family members there jigjiga is nice and a car and i think you will do fine dont take strangers in your car in jigjiga if those guys who wear blue uniform stop you be nice , do not be rude , if you going to dhagaxbuur and other regions , if you are a woman make sure u take men because there is lost of human trafficking and Somalis are involved to and make u take a spare tire with you because its no mans land.Its recently allowed to take pics , but do not just take pictures if the blue uniforms there ask them for permission or they will give a big fine. Strictly do not talk about politics say nothing bad about the DDS admin in jigjiga to any one. furthermore just enjoy your trip try to eat hilib geel and enjoy the weather and the beautiful nature. Thanks Xaaji! Also really helpful. Chimera;944786 wrote: I would Safferz. Wha :confused:

nuune;944787 wrote: I don't think Alpha can read your handwriting yaa Safferz . Safferz , now you are all set I guess, if you are spending a lot of time in Dire Dawa/Harer do let me know so I can arrange a team to show you around if you need any tour. Alpha is not what many people think, if you ever wanted to meet him up then I can guarantee he is a genuine guy and not typical cayaal-suuq-khamarji-dibjir-aalokoliisti-tubaake cune. Thanks nuune -- I won't be in Harar and Dire Dawa very long this trip, but I may take you up on that offer next summer I will be there on a business visa, since I have institutional support to do preliminary fieldwork in eastern Ethiopia. It will be the first of many trips back and forth for me over the next few years. I was just teasing Alpha, I'm sure he's a nice fellow

Alpha Blondy;944779 wrote: off whether you're real or NOT. cos i reckon, you're a script shared communally between wadani and adams. Do I get my seal of verification?

She just won the Brunel University African Poetry Prize today, out of a field of 655 poets: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22358337