Hargeysa International BookFair (HIBF)

[Ibtisam]

It is that time of the year again and while I got no time to write up the regional tour "The Moving Library"- we are in the midst of the concluding 5 days fair in Hargeysa scheduled to end on Wednesday this week. Below is some links to coverage of HIBF so far but I think the most popular medium has this year been Twitter with FCO, guests and organisers have been twitting endlessly-

 

For those of us who like to read more that 140 characters- enjoy us in celebrating literature and culture in Somaliland!

 

Hargeysa International BookFair (HIBF) 2013

 

http://mary-harper.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-sixth-hargeisa-international-book_18.html

 

 

http://kaariye.blogspot.com/2013/08/hargeisa-international-bookfair-hibf.html

 

http://ibtisam.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/somaliland-and-hargeysa-international-book-fair-2013-day-2-fun/

 

http://ibtisam.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/somaliland-and-hargeysa-international-book-fair-2013-day-1/

[Wiil Cusub]

Thanks Ibti sharing this great even. It is great to see how Hargeisa book fair becoming real international

 

British Ambassador to Somalia Neil Wigan at Hargeisa Int'l Bookfair

 

Chuma Nwokolo, Lawyer and author from Nigeria (L) and Michela Wrong,

 

Author and Journalist at the Hargeisa Int'l Bookfair (HIBF

[Wiil Cusub]

 

 

British Ambassador tried to speak Somali

[Mooge]

ibti, is that you with the hijab with face missing?

 

[D.O.C]

very nice

[Blessed]

It gets bigger and better each year... Mashaallah. Well done to the amazing team.

[Alpha Blondy]

the arts should be accessible to all not just a few expats, NGO workers and elite Qurbo-joogians.

 

Somaliland literature has for far too long been championed by Qurbo-Joogian apologists, whose chronic paternalism has not only completely alienated readers but neutered and emasculated Somaliland based authors. HIBF works with a patronising ‘internationalist’ foggy tokenism, promoting international authors or Qurbo-Joogian authors, whose musings and civilising mission undertones lack context or indeed relevance to the realities on the ground, to the detriment of Somaliland based authors.

 

conscious cultural critics like myself value grass-roots, organically inspired cultural products, products grounded in real life experiences and not some pre-judged culturally distant stereotype informed by the overarching Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset. this mindset not only hijacks Somaliland cultural and literary products for its own ends but more significantly constructs a condescending, cultural straight jacket and stereotypical concoctions to self-aggrandising audiences. this dominant milieu or the prevailing Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset is the dominant ideology that inhibits Somaliland-based literature from the mainstream, at least here in the nation's capital.

 

what i'm proposing here, in my capacity as a conscious cultural critic, is a 'back to basics' approach, bringing alternative and seldom documented experiences into the cultural mainstream; with the intention of shining a light with the aim of uncovering, and authentically documenting, hard to reach cultures and sub-cultures that exist in the Somali-speaking world and in particular Somaliland. these voices should be organically sourced from their own communities (instead of being white, English speaking, off a Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset), given the tools and the encouragement to write books based on their experiences and values rather than having a romanticist Qurbo-Joogian ethno-centric culturally biased world-view forced upon them. the most important point is to realise that this romanticist Qurbo-Joogian ethno-centric culturally abusive milieu is the number one impediment to Somaliland authors and readers alike.

[QansaxMeygaag]

Alpha Blondy;974123 wrote:

the arts should be accessible to all not just a few expats, NGO workers and elite Qurbo-joogians.

 

Somaliland literature has for far too long been championed by Qurbo-Joogian apologists, whose chronic paternalism has not only completely alienated readers but neutered and emasculated Somaliland based authors. HIBF works with a patronising ‘internationalist’ foggy tokenism, promoting international authors or Qurbo-Joogian authors, whose musings and civilising mission undertones lack context or indeed relevance to the realities on the ground, to the detriment of Somaliland based authors.

 

conscious cultural critics like myself value grass-roots, organically inspired cultural products, products grounded in real life experiences and not some pre-judged culturally distant stereotype informed by the overarching Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset. this mindset not only hijacks Somaliland cultural and literary products for its own ends but more significantly constructs a condescending, cultural straight jacket and stereotypical concoctions to self-aggrandising audiences. this dominant milieu or the prevailing Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset is the dominant ideology that inhibits Somaliland-based literature from the mainstream, at least here in the nation's capital.

 

what i'm proposing here, in my capacity as a conscious cultural critic, is a 'back to basics' approach, bringing alternative and seldom documented experiences into the cultural mainstream; with the intention of shining a light with the aim of uncovering, and authentically documenting, hard to reach cultures and sub-cultures that exist in the Somali-speaking world and in particular Somaliland. these voices should be organically sourced from their own communities (instead of being white, English speaking, off a Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset), given the tools and the encouragement to write books based on their experiences and values rather than having a romanticist Qurbo-Joogian ethno-centric culturally biased world-view forced upon them. the most important point is to realise that this romanticist Qurbo-Joogian ethno-centric culturally abusive milieu is the number one impediment to Somaliland authors and readers alike.

Any one know how Nadifa's new book is inaar? have you read it

 

Can't believe I missed HIBF this year, so sad, I was so looking forward to joining fellow saad moses....

[Ibtisam]

Alpha- of course if you knew anything about HIBF or attended any of the launches you would not be looking like a total id*iot now-

 

Today alone 15 locally written books were launched and presented at HIBF and even if you read the program you will see each day there is a section on locally published books.

 

Not to mention the 5day creative writing and photography course for regional readers club. So if you didnt know, siida ula soco iminkaba inaar

 

That aside as most of the Somali authors on list including Shiekh Dalmar, Hadraawii, Hasan Ganey, Scii Jama, Sciid Salah and so on you cannot say diddle nothing about with regards to their Somali-ness or qurbo-joog you are out of luck here.

 

So, perhaps you should stick to your cantrabaqash thread where you can spew your nonsense without bothering the rest of us normal people.

 

FCO published their own photos too

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77567524@N02/sets/72157635140416562/

[Tallaabo]

Alpha Blondy;974123 wrote:

the arts should be accessible to all not just a few expats, NGO workers and elite Qurbo-joogians.

 

Somaliland literature has for far too long been championed by Qurbo-Joogian apologists, whose chronic paternalism has not only completely alienated readers but neutered and emasculated Somaliland based authors. HIBF works with a patronising ‘internationalist’ foggy tokenism, promoting international authors or Qurbo-Joogian authors, whose musings and civilising mission undertones lack context or indeed relevance to the realities on the ground, to the detriment of Somaliland based authors.

 

conscious cultural critics like myself value grass-roots, organically inspired cultural products, products grounded in real life experiences and not some pre-judged culturally distant stereotype informed by the overarching Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset. this mindset not only hijacks Somaliland cultural and literary products for its own ends but more significantly constructs a condescending, cultural straight jacket and stereotypical concoctions to self-aggrandising audiences. this dominant milieu or the prevailing Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset is the dominant ideology that inhibits Somaliland-based literature from the mainstream, at least here in the nation's capital.

 

what i'm proposing here, in my capacity as a conscious cultural critic, is a 'back to basics' approach, bringing alternative and seldom documented experiences into the cultural mainstream; with the intention of shining a light with the aim of uncovering, and authentically documenting, hard to reach cultures and sub-cultures that exist in the Somali-speaking world and in particular Somaliland. these voices should be organically sourced from their own communities (instead of being white, English speaking, off a Qurbo-Joogian romanticist mindset), given the tools and the encouragement to write books based on their experiences and values rather than having a romanticist Qurbo-Joogian ethno-centric culturally biased world-view forced upon them. the most important point is to realise that this romanticist Qurbo-Joogian ethno-centric culturally abusive milieu is the number one impediment to Somaliland authors and readers alike.

Alpha the cultural historian, the social activist, literary critic, travel writer, photographer, weather forecaster, public educator, cultural custodian, news analyst, stand up comedian, female hospitality specialist, all in all pseudo-intellectual, leave HIPF alone :mad:

[Alpha Blondy]

*Ibtisam;974191 wrote:

Alpha- of course if you knew anything about HIBF or attended any of the launches you would not be looking like a total id*iot now-

 

Today alone 15 locally written books were launched and presented at HIBF and even if you read the program you will see each day there is a section on locally published books.

 

Not to mention the 5day creative writing and photography course for regional readers club. So if you didnt know, siida ula soco iminkaba inaar

 

That aside as most of the Somali authors on list including Shiekh Dalmar, Hadraawii, Hasan Ganey, Scii Jama, Sciid Salah and so on you cannot say diddle nothing about with regards to their Somali-ness or qurbo-joog you are out of luck here.

 

So, perhaps you should stick to your cantrabaqash thread where you can spew your nonsense without bothering the rest of us normal people.

 

FCO published their own photos too

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77567524@N02/sets/72157635140416562/

a poignant story, if you will.

 

as a conscious cultural critic, i've often been absorbed by listening to and engaging with a variety of people from different backgrounds. this, i feel, is very important, not least because it's an opportunity to learn but also a chance to exchange ideas and to avoid the same old mistake of wholly prescribing the same solutions to differing problems, akin to and informed by a rose-tinted view of a world...... singing the same tune to Kumbaya whilst having some mashmellows by the fire camp, you know.

 

the story

 

the year is 1998. Ethiopia has just embraced ethnic federalism and coming to terms with this fictitious mashruuc that'll eventually take the country down a slippery path towards strife and possibly even disintegration. somewhere in the deepest darkness of southern Ethiopia, near the Omo Valley, there are various tribes with various customs and traditions....there are the kara, the mursi, the hamar and the nyangatom. in those early days, the Tiray Govt. of Meles wasn't so much concerned with internal security and repression but rather looked outwardly, appeased NGOs and the foreign interests of the faraji. anyway, an american NGO thought itself smart to intervene itself with a local land dispute between the Omo Valley tribes, no doubt, because it's the right thing to do but also because these Omo Valley tribes are not capable of resolving internal issues themselves, maha?

 

due to the American NGO's democratic crusade and sense of purpose, particularly its desire to communicate via the senses and to create a 'festive atmosphere''..... they hired many Amharic musical celebrities ( the minew shewa sort) from the capital and paid them handsomely for their troubles. i suppose, we can't really fault their ignorance here, maha? because after all, Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia, maha? they're all Ethiopians maha? those with something of the outsider and voyeur-like tendencies about their persons are NEVER likely to recognise difference and in turn respect diversity, maha? i'm afraid not.

 

the proceedings started. the american NGO thought the Omo Valley tribes would 'react' to these melodious beats, maha? that the omo valley tribes were devoid of reason, customs and laws, maha? that the omo valley tribes were just another tribe in the dark continent, maha?

 

cala kuli xaal, the omo valley tribes boycotted the event. during the first day, numbers were high and curiosity ripe. in the second day, there was a sense of the anti-climatic about the whole thing. during the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th day no-one bothered to turn up. the tribes, sensing outsider interferences, convened in their communal land, where the Omo River with its meandering yet greenish silhouetted landscape, reminiscent of Regent's Canal in East London, run its course blissfully wild and resolved their warring land dispute.

 

ma garatay?

 

warya Ibtisam don't get your nigis in a twist over my critique, dee. it's all true, maha? SL is a democracy ee sida uula soco. caay, colaad iyo waxii aflagaada ah waa laga wanaagsanyahay dhamaan. mida labaadan dhamaan waan jacelnahay wadankeena ,heesteena calanka iyo HIBF (without the Qurbo-Joogian Romanticist mindset spurred on by it’s white imperial masters) ee isku xishood inabti. waa kuu sidee?

[Alpha Blondy]

Tallaabo;974220 wrote:

Alpha the cultural historian, the social activist, literary critic, travel writer, photographer, weather forecaster, public educator, cultural custodian, news analyst, stand up comedian, female hospitality specialist, all in all pseudo-intellectual,

leave HIPF alone

:mad:

i'm going there in like 6hrs, abti. i'll spend about $300 purchasing some of this year's books for my library project, inshallah. i'll post the pics ee sida uula soco.

 

kulaha female hospitality specialist ;) soo dhawoow markasta iyo meel kasta inabti.

[nuune]

^^ Innaa Lillaahi, ceesaan yaroo mina shaakiriin

 

 

Ibti, thanks for the thread, great cause, great pictures, at least am not good with books so I welcome those reading the books or trying to buy them or planning to go there to steal the books for their own dogy library

[Khayr]

Apophis;974209 wrote:

I'm with you; the whole thing appears to be a chance for the, not so camera shy, "qurbo-jogs" to be seen with their white imperial masters. It's disgustingly elitist and degrading to the local people.

Aphophis, you have taken a 180 turn these days. I am cautiously optimistic about the dramatic changes. Its strange but you make some sense.

[Jacaylbaro]

I am opening a center where i can keep the "good for nothing" people so that they don't infect others .......

 

 

HIBF proved to be one of the success stories in the world ......... at least for now