Mudanayaal iyo Marwooyin, NFD belongs not to madax canbuulo Or the madax korankor NFD belongs somalis. I know some true shiftas have been thwarted by the doofareey doofaars who are slaughtering somaliweyn by siding with madaxkorankor...but the fight for freedom goes on. Soomaliya ha noolaato NFD ha xuroowdo Gumeeysiga gaasiran allah ka gubo. Naasir, thanks for the article..any idea how I can access it bro?

After years of studying (various fields of western sciences), I have decided to be a donkey farmer. As I wrote in another thread, I find the donkey a fascinating animal that has a role to play in keeping somalis and other africans survive in harsh environments. I want to embark on animal husbandary; donkey farming (create a nurturing environment, breed it and sell it); camel herding (commercialise camel produce); have a ranch for sheep/goats that could be exported, and a farm to produce maize, millet, sorghum and other crops. Insha allah, my ranch would also have a maize mill. All the above dreams would be realized on garamgaramland come 2006. I have other plans; for example to market Sambouzas and Xalwa (just as they do in western countries with cheese). If you want to invest in this daring endeavor (the yields are socially, culturally and economic wise rewarding), please PM me. An important dream (perhaps lead to a career in future) is to learn the meaning of the quran in somali and to be able to recite as they do in garamgaramland (special sound, distinct etc). I have asked a somali macalim here to help me and next week insha allah, I would start saying alif waxmaleh, ba hoskaale). No books, here the focus is on the loox and the qad.

Mutakalim "Can you think of but one act that is not selfish?" It depends on one defines "selfishness" and in what kind of context. How about the bond that exists between mom and offspring? I don't think that is a selfish act.

Jamaal, 11... Actually, I am editing it and insha allah waan kuu soo dirayaa markii aan dhameeyo (after 6th of december)

Homoeconomicus- the notion that human beings are driven by greed. Mutakalim, I agree 100% relationships between human beings have selfish bonds.

Jamaal11, Join this discussion on how to capitalise on entrepreneurship in failed states and leave your 50 cents bro. http://rru.worldbank.org/Discussions/topics/topic56.aspx

Quantum Leap Much ado about nothing(anything) was a play by William Shakespeare. It was made into a movie. The somali version of this play is taking place in Doofarey, Nairobi where warlords are meeting to get a slice of NOTHING The somali version of this play is "AF WAA KOO MAAY LIKI AAME"

Brother Nuur, For a somali, religion comes a poor second to tribalism . But saying that in itself is tantamount to sin. It is the old saying "Ilaaheeyn qab ortaadana raac". I have seen good forumers who would defend islam...but when it comes to somali politics, they wear the shirts of sheydhan. Bro, ,maxaa laga sameeyaa ummaddaan wada siyaasiiyiinta noqotay? This BBC-da maxaay sheegtay nation? This ilaheey waan ka cabsanayaa, laakin qabiilku qalbigaan ku sitaa nation? This cawralaa dhalatey nation? This nation of double standards where its citizens are in the front raw of mosques but after prayers they worship a god called tribalism?

Cawralo, for every of those 83 armed conflicts, there are thousands that did not evolve the sword but pure pursuation. Most of the above battles are the arabic speaking countries and their neighbours. How did Islam spread to Africa and Asia? I would say it was spread by traders rather than swords.

Assalamu calaykum, Nuur, recently , I attended a conference in Gothenburg, Sweden on enhancing islam among somalis. This conference is held once every year (as far as I recall , it is usually held in Stockholm). Many wadaads are invited from across the globe to leave their laba kumi iyo taano. After the conference ended, there was a heated discussion between some of the wadaads, the organisers and some attendees. A man in his thirties, begun to criticise the wadaads for downplaying the issue of integration of somalis in the west; the social/moral decay of somalis and their obsession with pointing the finger at Gaalos for the failure of somalia and the muslim world. This guy said he attended nearly 10 conferences and the theme for almost all of them was outsourcing the true nature of islamic problems to non-muslims (he wrote an article on somaliweyn.com). He asserted, the wadaads come to sweden to preach about things/issues/events that are known to muslims. An example, he took was the previous battles the muslims won with elogue. He argued that while these battles are very important to remember, muslims are faced with neo-challenges including tackling social issues. From a somali perspective, this guy, argued that somalis are percieved in the west as parasites; family disunity, people use the name of islam to poach, gain, lie etc.. and here comes the bomb: According to him, the sheikhs (wadaads) don't want to tackle /discuss the moral decay of the somali community because they themselves are involved. This he says begun in somalia, where every warlord prays in a mosque where there is a learned wadaad. Out of fear, they don't dare to tell the warlord to cease with abuses; Most of the wadaad he says are on the payrolls of somalis who are morally decayed in the west. No wadaad asks the origins of donations. When preaching/telling muslim somalis, these wadaads are confident a gaalo attack would save them from scrutiny. They claim there is an unseen enemy called GAALO. They recite successful battles fought during our prophet SAW, They talk about the islamic empires that were something without telling the people about the problems facing muslims. This guy was immediately called "Gaal" Bidcist and many other names. The way , I see it brother Nuur, is this: Not many of our wadaads have enough knowledge of islam and society. Many of them have read the quran and have mastered hadiths. They lack the pedagogics to analyse the situation; knowledge about muslims in the diaspora.

Nuur, This issue is a tempting one. I don't think any human being is 100% free from this temptation. In most of the cases, the person who does it does not understand the sinful dimension. I think this is sheytan territory and one would need a strong faith (iman), be on the lookout for eve. loopholes and more importantly to think everytime about life hereafter. suurat al Hujurat, ayat 11-12, "O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used by one) after he has believed: and those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong." " O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it...but fear Allah: for Allah is oft-Returning, Most Merciful."

Raula, Jambo, congrats to Zha Blong Xiong. He is an inspiration.

Macalimu, Qabyaaladu waa cudur ku dhaca dadka aan iyagu isku kalsooneeyn. Waxaa nasiib darro inaay agaasimaan qabyaalada, durbanada u tumaan dadka isku magacaabo mutacalim, wadaad iyo dadka dhallinyarta ah. Waranlaha qabyaalada wuxuu u isticmaala si uu amni u helo, laakin wadaadka, waxgaradka iyo dhallinyartu waxaay u isticmaalaan si bas. Anigu qabiilka laigu sheego inaan ka dhashey waxaan bartay anigoo nin weyn ah- yaraanteeyda waxaan qof waliba oo iga weyn ugu yeeri jirey adeer/abti iwm. Kaddib markii la ii sheegay inaan ka dhashay reer qansac, waxaan baarey inaay arrintu runtahay iyo in kale. Tani cilmi baaris dheer uma aaysan baahaneeyn ee waxaan durbadiiba ogaadey in aay tahay sheeko baaraleey. Waa sida sheeko xariirka caruurta lagu seexo; SAGA. Muddo laga joogo 10 sanno ayaa waxaa ila soo xiriirey qaar isku sheegnay inaan isku qolo nahay. Markii hore, waxaa laigu soo galay; inadeer..markii dambena xaalka ayaa is bedeley oo wuxuu isu bedeley mid qaaraan. Nin aaysan geelenaba isla daaqin, ,mid aaysan dameeraheena isku meel biyo ka cabin etc ayaa waxuu ii soo direy taar markaasu yiri; meel hebel baa dadkeena lagu laaynayaa ee lacag baa laisku baahanyahay. Waxaan ku iri, jaalow, anigu meeshaad sheegesid geelenuba ma dego. dadka aad sheegeysid isku qolaad tihiin, weligeey maba arag. Marka khalad ayaan u arkaa inaan lacag bixiyo., Muddo sannad ah, waxaa suuqa lai geliyey inaan qaraabo goys ah, qaaran diidna ah. markaan magaalada ku arko kuwa laigu yiri waxbaan isunahay, mar waliba sida xaawaley hinaasan ayaa sanka ii taageen. Maalin maalmaha ka mid ah, ayaa mid aan aad isku dhownahay siin ii soo direy. Waxuu i weydiyey sababta aan "reerka" mid ugu noqon waaye; waxaan ugu jawaabey; Akhi, markaan cilmi baaris ku sameeyey waxaa ii cadaatey inaan isku qolo, isku qabiil midna ahayn; Haddii aan ahaan jirey reer qurac, laga bilaabo maanta waan ka baxay. Mahad alle ayaa iska leh, waxaan ogaadey in soomali laga maarmo. Waxaan go'aan ku gaaro inaan ummaddaasi soomaliyeed inta aay cudurka aay ka bogsoonaadaan aanan wax xiriir ah la yeelanin. Waxaan arkaa in laga maarmo soomalidda xagga guurka, bulshada iyo saaxibitnamadaba. Adduunka ilaaheey wuxuu keenay dad kala jinsi ah oo fiican. Naag soomaaliyeed haddaay qabyaalad la timaado, xuurul ceynta aduunka ayaa badan. Intaan naag soomaliyeed qabiil ku guursan lahaa waxaa laii qaataa inaan guur la'aan ahaado, amaba aan mid gaalo ah oo niyadeeda uusan qabiilka ku faafin noolosheyda la wadaago. Arrinta qabyaalada aniga waxaan eed gaar ah saarayaa wadaad ku sheega, afminshaarka oo markii qabiilka la yiraahdana safka hore ugu jira, markii islaanimo la yiraahdana nacnacleeyo. Kan la baxo mutacalinna iska daa oo waa kan calanka qabyaalada sida. Marka sxb; Gabadha kuula timid qabyaaladda marka horeba kuuma aaysan qalmin

Assalamu calaykum, I don't think many somalis who live in urbanised areas have the luxary of choice. Moving out is not easy when you have a low income; When you are a refugee who lived there less than 10 years; When there is a cultural gap between the somali parents and their offsprings and when somalis are confronted with racism from virually every race. The irony is that many cities in the US are more dangerous than Mogadishu. I travelled extensively in the US last year, and death by unlawful killing is a common occurance. Coming from the relatively peaceful countryside in Sweden, I was in a state of fear; constantly reminded of the value of life and the destitution in America. However, many of the problems of inner cities in the US and UK are not only confined to somalis. They could be sourced to poverty and economic disparities. Drugs and the free flow of weapons are some other culprits, not to mention the dog-eat-dog mentality.

Sakina, There is no switzerland in somalia. All over somalia, people have a tough life to lead. Beyond the many beautiful photographs of "paradises" there are hundreds of "hell". My problems with the photographs is this: Why are people interested on only posting negative images of our people; our cities; our nation? Walaal, economic disparities is a common feature of life in cities. Poverty, injustice and death is a natural feature of developing nations. I don't think Mogadishu holds the record as the city with the largest share of poor people. According to several key indicators, Somalia in general and Mogadishu in particular has witnessed an increase in standard of living. Entrepreneurship is flourishing. But these can't be maintained without the rule of law. and this the problem of mOgadishu.

Sam, I retract my earlier statement after discovering the photos you posted were from the BBC. But, seriously sxb, don't you think Xamar cade gets an unfair bashing as the nexus of evil?

ASC, There is nothing wrong with Imitation, benchmarking of business ideas etc. Much of today's successful firms have in the past benefitted from copying. Entrepreneurship among the somali community (particularly in the diaspora) is one that aims at making ends meet. It is not a capitalistic based entreneurship in which the owner of a business thinks along the lines of futuristic profits; growth; development etc. Rather, for many somalis, in the absence of work , starting a small business becomes a norm- the panultimate goal of independence. A crucial aspect of the somali businesses in the diaspora is that which relates to identifying and targeting customers and forsees them with their needs. In many cities across the globe, the somali business owner targets somali customers (not a bad thing, given the homogenous tastes and preferences), but the problem is that this market becomes saturated due to the many producers. The life expectency of somali businesses is short as many of them find there is no enough markets. There are no exit mechanisms to ensure stablisation. Instead, the entry mechanisms are facilitated and before, you know it, a new joint/business is started. This vicious cycle curtails the ability of long-term committed entrepreneurs. Somali small businesses suffer from the various liabilities associated with all small businesses including source of finance; market info etc. An important dimension, often neglected by somalis is the lack of accountability. Many businesses are run as family units; the sales from the firm and other sources of the family income are not differentiated. This causes a lack of transparency for the owner. he/she simply does not know whether his business is profitable. Ome more thing; somali businesses should learn to pay taxes. There are alot of benefits that the business owner can draw from. Waan sii wadi doona

Jalaqsan, waan ku salaamay. Arrintaani ma aha mid "off topic" ah, ee waxaan kaa codsanayaa inaad doodaan u rartid "camel milk debate". This is an area, which I want to discuss to the bone. Waqtigaan xaadirka ah waqtiga ayaa igu yar, hase yeeshe waan ka qeyb qaadan doonaa doodaan,

Jamaal1, Ciid mubarak, Eeg boggagan: http://www.somalishir.org/economy/economy_of_somalia.htm http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/africa/publications/africa_notes/1999/december.pdf

Samurai , sxb you are MEAN on Mogadishu. There are thousands of pictures of Xamar out there that show people's daily lives. Believe me there is a part of Mogadishu that rarely comes to some computer screens. I wonder why Mogadishu is targeted as a city of death/destitution,/destruction while villages and towns elsewhere are glorified on various websites? I like the camels romouring freely on the runways..I am a geeljire

Baashi, I second you sxb! Brother Nuur, Waxaan dhoowrnaba waa inaad meesha nuurisaa.

CIID MUBARAK TO YOU BROTHER; TO ALL THE MUSLIMS WHO VISIT SOL; TO ALL THE MUSLIMS ACROSS THE GLOBE. MAY ALLAH LEAD US TO THE STRAIGHT PATH. MAY HE BRING PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO SOMALIS AND SOMALIA:

Alla yaa raxma raaxiim. He was a symbol for a just struggle.

Jumatatu, Sijali . Btw: is the bandira you are waving NFD? It looks like Siera Leone one .

Juma, LOL@ lalamika. I was shivering because I thought the next question you pose would be : mzee lete kipande? (KITAAMBALISHO in mlendo). Anyway guys, CIID MUBARAK and May Allah bestow his bounty of mercy on us and the many muslims, walendos, garamgarams and others.