LOL at these airheaded faaraxs. Thanks for sharing Somalicentric. My kind of women, bless them.

Best cheese cake, ever.

Did your status as a British citizen help at all? This is a family that had never left Africa and don't have siblings / grandparents here. They have a child that needs medical treatment. I was under the impression that being Somali it would be difficult for them to apply for visit visa.

JB, doesn't know any one that I know. Apart from afar qof that is.

Sketic, love that Muhammed Ali qoute. May Allah give Leila, the strength and iman to wear the hijab one day. Chimera, You've come a long way since your obsession with Yasmine .. LOL. MashaAllah. I don't think it's creepy, it also makes me proud to see young, talented and confident hijabis (and bearded brothers too), especially when their conduct compliments the dress code. Islam is beautiful.

Juxa, Does medical 'tourism' exist in the UK? Would it be possible for a wealthy Somali to come here for medical treatment. They don't want to settle, just a quick in and out job. Self financing, off course. I didn't think it was possible, laakin dadba ka waalaya.

Alhamdulilah, congrats. I'd start saving for a nice holiday.

GaroweGal;823228 wrote: Last time I checked the Somali people were classified as black people that inhabit the Horn of Africa, however it appears your anti-Somali agenda has no bounds. This just confirms some rumours I heard few years back regarding the women from the break away region of Northern Somalia, whereby I was told that their ladies do like to lighten/whiten their skin in order to erase or eradicate their Somaliness and Africaness "Horey baan u maqli jirey hablaha waqooyi ku nool baraago laysku cadeeyo ayay galaan har iyo habeenba" I also heard the Somali saying " doqon iyo habeenbaa isla madoow" originates from the secessionist region of Northern Somalia. It is no wonder that I haven't seen many ladies from this part of Somalia who have the natural Somali skin tone. Heedhe, why are you always on Landers? Obsessed much?

D/p

As the sister poet said: fanaan xiisa badanoo xarakeeya luuqo ku xeel dheer qaraacoo xili kasta diyaaroo xubi iyo jacaylka iyo xasuustii fogaatoo xoorkii idiin shuba marka ay xumaatoo taladu ay xayirantee xagal daaca keentee fanaankaa u xaytoo ka dilaacsha xuubkee In other words, our singers / composers entertain, remind, celebrate and advocate on behalf of the community.

LOL. Love these cyber warriors. He and others have real people advocating on their behalf on the ground.

Chimera;815046 wrote: Blessed its not just my cousin, there are many sisters I have seen that seem to have conflicting feelings about the way they want to dress, which is why sometimes you will see a dress-style that's completely contradictory i.e tight jeans and a hijab. Peer-pressure is not a joke, and our sisters (and brothers) aren't immune from that pressure, they want to look cool and fit in because there is not a strong Somali media in place to block the negative local influences of their adopted country. However when I look at the Indian community, the women and men there are very influenced by popular media from India, which blocks the local influences. I don't know how to explain it, but call it a cultural back-bone. For example look at the Sikh community, all of the men wear turbans and the women wear Salweer Kamees because deep down they feel a strong connection with their ancestors, with their culture and with their homeland. I disagree, went to Uni with many Asians and that just couldn't be far from the truth, don't forget that in most Asian households, one parent is usually born and bread in India, whereas inagu dadkeena weynu ka khashaafnaa. I do wish that our media networks, can you even call them that? Started to focus on issues that face the community through relatable and dramatic programmes but I don't know how this will help with the hijab struggle? I think lessons in tawheed and tazkiyah are more useful, perhaps if there were programmes by young Somali people practicing the deen like in Iqra television in Egypt. As for hijab, I think wearing hijab is much easier for young Somali girls these, it's so fashionable now and that has it's own repercussions. I remember being the only teen in my family to wear it and know all about the pressure, especially on the aroos night but there comes a time when every Muslim needs to take a deeper look and question why they do certain things. The deen is not easy, nor is it a national exercise. Practicing Islam requires a commitment to connect our souls to the Almighty.

Thnaks for sharing these articles and must say that I loved reading The Alchemy of Happiness by AlGhazzali or anything by AlGhazali, really speaks to the soul. Need to read it again, InshaAllah. On vitamin D deficiency, he suggests that sunblock should be avoided but then you're dealing with the potential of skin cancer caused by sun damage. hmmm. Speaking of happiness, the sun instantly cheers me up..

Shocked because it talks Japanese or that she didn't crash it?. Hopefully, she'll never crash into anything qumayahow. Yeh, I got the memo about xaxxab iyo ehem in H-Town. :D Glad, you had fun anyway.

Hello stranger@ Ibts. *hugs and macmac* How are you? How does one manage to be such a workaholic even in Africa. Telephonkana marmar waa laqabtaa dee. LOL. Ng, that was a waste of time. I take it you didn't venture out of H-town.

^It's the lack of qaad, dear. We have to talk to the wadaads next time he wants to visit. I'm sure they can make an allowance for mitigating circumstances.

حمدلله علا سلامتك ، Ayeeyo. How were the Londoners we've lost to the 'cause', didn't they try to make you move there too? Adigoo ceesan la hadlayaan ku riyooday, bal ka warran.

Aww. So lovely. I do annual portraits for mine. It seems like they grow up that fast, subhanAllah.

^Adna badhkeed ka soo carawday?

LOL. All Burcawi ladies are fierce. We lived in lovely Iftin near Shacabka.

Carafaat;822008 wrote: I am ethnic Burcaawi as well. Which Xaafad are you from. LOL@ ethnic Burcawi, bet you've never lived there.

^nah, we're cool. I just love Burco too much. LOL.

Chimera, I think we're saying the same thing about Somali women. As for Saudi it's 1 nation out of 50 Muslim countries which have cultures from every corner of the globe. I've lived in Saudi and it's neighbouring countries and the contrast is outstanding, lazy journalists don't bother to even check the basic facts, it gets on my last nerves. They do the same when telling the African story, Africa is precieved to be a poor continent living off handouts, yet 6 of the worlds fastest growing economies are in Africa. I do agree that it's upto us to change the narrative and I appreaciate all the positive that work you do, walaalo.

Ayoub, Flogging a dead horse is a pointless excericise. Accept that your friend is rather special.

^Well said, Malika. I just have a feeling the most people (who haven't had child protection training) are not aware of the notion of 'sexualising childhood' and the dangers of putting things out there for the wrong people. That being said, there seems to be a misconception that an image put on FB is belongs to the public who can copy it and post it where they like. I've come across so many public pages where the owner (in particular females) are constantly asking people not to copy their photos. If put my children's pictures on FB for my family and friends, I understand that some for whom it's not intended can see these images but I expect people to have the courtesy not to copy a strangers photo, no matter how cute and adorable the child is.