The word denotes longevity, not to mention wisdom, respect and other bits and pieces that I can't recall now. When you meet young, recently married Somali couples and you hear the woman/man refer to their partner by first name (all the time) the first thought that crosses your mind is that these two are just too excited about the whole thing and have not come down to earth just yet. Usually, their anecdotes will be: Her: 'as I walked to the toilet I bumped into the world's biggest cockroach! I screamed. Abdi came running and stamped on the cockroach. Ooh Abdi is so brave, and he has nice feet'. Him: 'as I sat watching TV I heard Leila scream! I ran over and saw that a huge cockroach was attacking her! I stamped on it and killed it. Ooh Leila is so fragile and when she's scared she breathes in the most beautiful way'. When they've been married a little longer and are sure of their affection for each other and position in life, things start changing a little. Her: 'as I walked to the toilet, I saw a cockroach and tried to kick it. I missed and kicked the wall instead. I screamed in pain. Odaygaygi heard my screams and came running to help me out. He saw the roach and killed it. Odaygagyi waa geel jire asal, he stamped on the cockroach with his own bare foot! Him: 'ninyaho, ano kobbad dhawanaya, islaanta cabaaday! Baranbaray argatay. I killed the cockroach but I'm not happy about the way xaajiyado breaths! Mala hargab ba haya, yaanay I qaadseen'.

He was the proud owner that finally kicked out the invader. Just trying to gee old Kashafa up lest he thinks I'm always against him.

He was the proud owner that finally kicked out the invader. Just trying to gee old Kashafa up lest he thinks I'm always against him.

In the end, the good always win. Watch this right to the end

In the end, the good always win. Watch this right to the end

Edit. Actually. NO! This should not be here. Carry on...

^^ What you don't know is that I almost joined Northerner on that trip of his. Had to chicken out at the last minute.

Peerless it is. I come from there. That should count for something.

^^ Jacayl, cantar baqashka (my fav Somali word by the way) mad naga daysid. qurbo aan joogno, we still get the news you know. habar vs habar is alive and kicking in Somaliland. Why else would you not vote for the man in your signature? Maybe yours is political but for many it's clannish. And rightly so. One can't expect the work of centuries to evaporate in only sixteen years! The first step to salvation (as they say) is the admission of faults in the perfect utopia that is Somaliland. Besides, maxad Baashe wax oga qarinaysa, for all you know, and like all Somalis, one of his in-laws is a Somalilander that daily spills the beans to him about habar-so-and-so being the lowest of the low! It works on all levels of Somali culture and it's duplicitous to deny this malice. Better embrace it (by admitting it) and reject it (by pointing out its faults) rather than following the brainwashed notions of unity that our resident ostriches would try to sell you.

^^ Sophist, flattery will get you everywhere. I hereby apologise for any slur or insult (actual or imagined) directed towards the young Garad. Heh. Baashe, so there is such a time when the tables are turned? ps Recently (and Northerner might want to look away now), one of the big fish of Somaliland came for a visit to London. The womenfolk (including my very own Mrs) made a sizeable collection and hired a hall to welcome this old man to London! This was fundraising for him and not for any projects back home (at least that's as far as I know). I don't believe this is an isolated incident. pps You sure about Mr Yusuf?

** pushe glasses back ** Abdi does not mean 'slave', it actually means 'my slave'. It's not much of a big deal really. No point being a pedant about things! Arabs would also shorten some of these names and say 'Abood', 'Aboody' and 'Abed'. In addition, using names like Raheem, Hakeem or Aziiz is not a problem. One can be called wise but only ONE is the all wise. One can be called merciful but only ONE is THE merciful, etc...

Aaah, what the hell! Fund raising events are not the same as ONE person travelling around the place and picking up hard cash, Baashe. It's a sick Somali tradition and I can't see anyway of defending it. I wonder if Mr Yusuf got any 'change' when he was recently in London.

Yet, he'll still watch his step and keep the army on side by not going ultra Islamic with his policies! So far, he's been good and long may it continue.

Originally posted by Juje: quote:Originally posted by NGONGE: I believe the odayal at the conference are only doing what comes natural........ Indeed, had that been the case. And in fact you are right it is good to air grievences, 'wa in la helo 'calol fiyobi si xal lo garo'. But sxb you are skipping the fact that this gathering is not sincere, authentic and representative. One point that will prove my case to you is that the 'conference' boasts the presence of tribal elders from Somaliland. Is that true, am sure you will agree with me NO. Hence fake and phoney. Somaliland is not as perfect as some of its fans would try to paint it. It's very possible that some from that region have decided to attend the conference. I even wouldn't put it beyond the government of that state sending their own secret 'odayal'. It is politics after all. ps Having said all of the above, I hope you don't mistake my comments as an approval of this conference. I don't approve but, in political terms, I fully understand (and can't help admire) the cunning ploy being operated here. I still stand by my earlier comments (from months ago), the only thing to beat the TFG will be the TFG itself.

^^ I'm not sure that is true. Well, maybe locally and amongst tiny sub clan levels! On the national level and with big fish, Somalis would say they're an 'honour based society', but in reality (and as evident by many examples from all parts of Somalia) the wailing never stops. I believe the odayal at the conference are only doing what comes natural........

Had I written this article I'd have half of the site on my back. Bloody racist Somalis.

It's a reconciliation conference after all, horn. What else did you expect them to be doing?

I never for a minute thought that this conference was going to fail. For the simple fact that there is no other acceptable rivals to the TFG. The handful of people in Asmara can flail about all they like but not unless (and until) they organise themselves politically and offer a more attractive opposition could they really derail the big flood that is the TFG. Having said that, and to stay with the theme of flooding, I'll repeat my claim that, eventually, the TFG will drown in their very own vomit. (that ambassadorship of Peru looms ever closer methinks).

You mean you carried guns the last time you were there? YOU! Heh.

Nice and sunny now.

^^ You took your time but you finally got there.

^^^ Not sure they've taken anything out of context there. Sure, they ignored some parts of the report, but the bit about the Prime Minster's comments was actually the headline of the actual article. The only difference is that in the Somali version they use the word 'will fail' and the Arabic version says 'warns of failure'! I suppose Shabelle are not as hopeful as Geedi.

The same article in Asharq Alawsat claims that the TFG have given the green light to the European envoy to talk to the Islamic Courts and try to bring them to the conference! According to the article, this envoy also claims that Somaliland is sending representatives to this conference! Wonder if any of this is true! Here

Originally posted by Zenobia: Interesting, marriage to three needy men (brothers) sounds like a prison sentence. Very interesting though, I’d like to hear the thoughts of the girls that advocate for polyandry to balance the legitimacy of polygamy in Islam. I find that this set up is easier on the men.

^^^ Whilst I understand your point, that was one hell of a farfetched comparison! There is an old and unwritten Internet rule about not using Nazi comparisons in arguments and debates. The first to resort to Nazi comparisons is viewed as having lost the argument.