rudy-Diiriye Posted July 8, 2007 only nation in africa, that speaks one language. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cige Posted July 8, 2007 Xaasidnimo Xumaan Xaaraan Xin Xaq-darro Xoog Xaalufin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fabregas Posted July 10, 2007 Laas Gaal Laas Gaal or Laas Geel (Somali Laas Geel) is a complex of caves and rock shelters in Somaliland famous for its recent discovery of cave paintings. The caves are located in a countryside outside Hargeisa. They contain some of the earliest known art in the Horn of Africa and the African continent in general, dating back to somewhere between 3,000 and 8,000–9,000 BCE. The Laas Geel site contains granite caves sheltering about ten rock alcoves decorated with Neolithic cave paintings. The caves are located outside Hargeisa, in an area encompassing a nomadic village, the Naasa Hablood hills. The site overlooks a wide district of countryside, where nomads graze their livestock and wild antelopes roam the vast landscape. The local nomads used the caves as a shelter when it rained and never paid much attention to the paintings. Recently, a troop of monkeys were based there, but have since been chased away. The site is now guarded by the local villagers and the Ministry of Tourism.[2] During November and December 2002, an archaeological survey was carried out by a French team in Somaliland. The reason for this was to search for rock shelters and caves containing stratified archaeological infills capable of documenting the period when production economy appeared in this part of the Horn of Africa (circa 5,000 and 2,000 BCE). During the course of the survey, the French archaeological team discovered the Laas Geel cave paintings, encompassing an area of ten rock alcoves (caves). The paintings, in an excellent state of preservation, show ancient humans of the area raising their hands and worshipping humpless cows with large lyre-shaped horns. [1] Furthermore, during November 2003, a mission was planned to go back to the Laas Geel cave paintings. The team undertook a detailed study of the paintings and their prehistoric context.[3 The cave paintings are thought to be one of the best preserved cave paintings in Africa. The paintings represent cows in ceremonial robes accompanied by stocky humans (believed to be inhabitants of the region). The necks of the cows are embellished with a kind of plastron, some of the cows are even wearing decorative robes. The paintings not only show cows, there are also an image of a domesticated dog, several paintings of canidae and even a giraffe. The paintings are excellently preserved; even under the scorching sun and the past wars that occurred in the region, the paintings have survived intact, and retain their clear outlines and strong colors. So far, there has been no worldwide publicity considering the Laas Geel cave paintings, hidden from the hustle and bustle of modern life. However, the caves are threatened by people coming to the caves and destroying the peace and serenity, although a reasonable amount of tourists and locals visit the caves. One famous journalist and author visited the caves with Somaliland's Minister for Culture and Tourism Osman Bile Ali. Simon Reeve went to the cave paintings as part of his television programme called Places That Don't Exist.[3]. He was amazed at the sheer preservation and vibrant colors of the paintings. He quoted: “ Laas Ga'al, it transpires, is probably the most significant Neolithic rock painting site in the whole of Africa and few people know that Somaliland is home to such treasures. ” Somaliland's Minister for Tourism Osman Bile Ali who showed Simon Reeve the site, described the Laas Geel cave paintings as beautiful.[4] The paintings are now part of the future tourist attractions of Somaliland and they are considered by the Somali people as a national treasure and a major tourist attraction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laas_Gaa'l Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fabregas Posted July 10, 2007 Site of the first aerial bombardment in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Anglo-Somali War 1901-1920 or "How to get rid of a rebel" During the last years (after the defeat of French and US forces in Indochina) there has been much interest shown to earlier battles between well equipped armies and resistance movements, fifth-columnists, rebels, etc. Mohamed Abdullah Hassan Although the British annihilation of the Somali leader, Mohamed Abdullah Hassan - in England normally known as "the mad Mullah" - took twenty years and was finally made utilizing an independent air force unit, this war is not well known to the public. And yet this is the story of one of the first examples of the utilization of modern arms against a powerful people's army, who had the nearly total control of an immense area with strong-points which could not be overrun without extremely severe losses, and with utilization of the sanctuary on the other side of international borders. The parallel with Vietnam is obvious. It was decided to dispatch a self contained RAF unit "Force Z" to Berbera under the command of Group Captain R. Gordon in the last half of 1919. The group had 12 DH9 aeroplanes out of which one was an ambulance plane, 36 officers (incl. 4 medical officers) and 189 other ranks (incl. 25 medical personnel) and had rations, fuel, spare parts, ammunition etc. to operate independently for 6 months 3). In November 1919 Gordon arrived at Berbera together with his aerodrome engineer and his supply-officer as an advance party. In order to keep the plans secret, they wore no RAF insignia, but came as the advance party for an oil-exploring company. They started up with preparing an aerodrome ("site for drilling equipment") at Berbera. Next an aerodrome was made near Burao, 140 km. from Berbera and 150 km. from Eli Dur Elan fort, where the Mullah was suspected to be. During December more than 20 tons of supplies as well as 2.000 camels were moved to the aerodrome at Burao - a 6 day's ride. On 30th December, the main force, with the aeroplanes, arrived by Royal Navy to Berbera. The same day the Governor, F. G. Archer, sent a flysheet to "the Dervishes of the Mullah Mohamed Ben Abdullah Hassan of ******" carried by British Officer "who like the birds in the air flies fast and far" granting safe conduct for the followers of the Mullah if they surrendered and offering a reward for the capture of the Mullah: 5.000 piaster, 500 to 1.100 for his brothers and 250 to 500 piaster for his sons and some of his leaders. On the 19th January, Force Z was ready in Burao and two days later it was ready for the first phase: to locate and bomb the Fort of Medish and Jid Ali. The first bomb hit next to Mohamed Abdullah, and his sister and the man standing next to him were killed Phase 2 - Combined Operations After 4 days of bombing and strafing where a great part of the camels and cattle were killed, it was decided to go on to the second phase, a combined operation with the Camel Corps. On the 27th, the camel corps was at Jid Ali Fort and after bombing by RAF the fortress fell with no losses on the British side. The Mullah had fled towards the east, presumably to Taleh. On the 29th the RAF found Taleh: no sign of troop movements, but the aerial photographs taken on the 1st of February revealed a huge fort complex The main fort was 100x200 yards and had 12 turrets more than 10 meters high, with grain silos for each turret and accommodations for more than 5.000 soldiers with camels. It was decided to make a new aerodrome at Gaolo. This would take approximately 3 weeks but after a bombing of Taleh on the 3rd where the forts were bombed with 112 20 and 2-lbs. bombs, the village was bombed with incendiary bombs and the cattle and camels strafed with machine guns. Phase 1 - Air Attacks http://www.chakoten.dk/mad_mullah.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gabbal Posted July 10, 2007 Possibly Taleex, Buur Hakaba, Laas gaal, Cabdicasiis masjid, Naaso Hablood, sultan of zanzibar's palace (turned museum) in xamar, etc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fabregas Posted July 10, 2007 saxiib. am trying to find pictures of Burhakaba, any help? what about Sheikh moutains, would say that is a wonder? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gabbal Posted July 10, 2007 Buur Hakaba Sheikh (specifically the pass) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
