Baashi, I shall happily oblige, as I have no plans of getting rich myself. In fact my motto is just the opposite: own nothing- no cars, houses or jewelry, just a few suitcases of essential items and books. Of course, I welcome friends who own these along with fat bank accounts I never bought into the idea of evolution in the first place, however, it has also never occurred to me to think of Darwinism as the religion of atheists- in this sense you might say that I am experiencing a paradigm shift- in the most liberal sense of term. Cheers.

Baashi- Yes, I should have mentioned the money part. I could always make you a Xerox copy, you know, that’s if buying will break the bank- I know this Indian guy who will do it really cheap. This will all be facal khayr, of course, for services rendered(I’ve been wanting to read a simplified critique of Darwin’s theory for a while, but couldn’t find one until I saw your recommendation of “Darwin on Trial†on this site. I picked up a copy and it’s proving to be an interesting, albeit slow read- as they say, one good turn deserves another…). What say you?

Baashi- Maay and Maxaa Tiri have only 60 per cent cognition rate (this means only 60% of the words we use are similar, this is apparently sufficient for linguistic classifications). This probably explains why you and I do not understand those words completely. Anyhow, I don’t have the time to summarize the study now. If any one is interested, here is how you can get hold of it. History in the Horn of Africa, 1000 B.C.- 1500 A.D: Aspects of Social and Economic Change Between the Rift Valley and the Indian Ocean (Ali, Mohamed Nuuh, 1985) The study is now published through UMI Dissertation Services, based in Michigan, USA Tel: 1800-521-3042 (I’ve called to check if it’s there- and it is) Use Item Reference # 8601884 If you live outside Canada or US, call 734-761-4700 Ext. 2825

According to Professor Maxamed Cali Nuux, Professor of African History (who is also a linguist and former Dean of Lafoole), Af Maay and Af Soomaali are one and the same. So, in reality there is only Af Maay and Af Maxaa Tiri/Tidhi, both of which are Somali. He studied the origins of the Somali language and found that the Somali language is close to (or originates from) Oromo and Afar languages. Afar is the oldest of the three followed by Oromo and then Somali. I can’t think of the title of professor Nuux’s research at moment (this was his Ph.D. thesis for UCLA), but I shall find it if anyone is interested.

Waaq- How true! It's the fear of an alien culture that leads parents to put so much emphasis on what's forbidden (Xaraam) by religion. In the past, children left home early and parents raised them to be able to survive on their own early on. Not so these days. We just want them to stay home (to stay out of trouble) and vegitate in front of the television- (except for some overworked little girls). Seven of Nine- I know how you feel. If you live in Canada, spanking is now allowed, but there is not much satisfaction in that. Some Somali parents found ingenious ways of giving a good beating without alerting the 'child-abuse' police. The theory has an interesting logic to it. They (parents) found that if they beat their child (particularly girls), say on a Tuesday, you can be sure that they'll tell their friend, the friend will tell her mother, the mother will call the teacher, the teacher will call the social worker, the social worker will have a nice chat with you, and your life will never be the same. So, some very enterprising parent found that if you reserve beating for afterschool on Fridays, then you'll have the whole weekend to erase the memory of that beating from their impressionable little minds. You can buy candies, take them to the movies, buy them a new toy, or whatever you need to do to send them to school on Monday HAPPY. When their friends ask, "what did you do on the weekend?", you can be certain that the beating on Friday will not make it to the list. This has happened, I kid you not. The challenge for you then, Seven of Nine, is how to hold on to that anger until a Friday. I taught anger management to teenagers, perhaps I can provide a few tips. Shoobaro- I guess your name says it all:) Viking- I am a firm believer that boys need to be raised by men, and the points you raised confirms that. And I agree, there isn't just one method of disclipine that works. All children are not created equal and each family would have to figure out for themselves what works best for them. Sophist- Didn't think I had anything to offer a sophist - Glad to know there is a little, even if it's just triggering childhood memories. Cheers.

Mombasa_QUEEN (note that I’ve maintained the emphasis on the queen…)- for some reason il-gubidda was something practically all Somali mothers used (you’d think they all graduated from the same school!). It would be interesting to know how far back it goes. Corporal punishment may work when used sparingly, but I am not convinced of its long-term usefulness. Obviously it worked on you since you can laugh about it. Just don’t try it yourself if you’re in North America cuz those little brats will report you at their school. Baashi- in the psychology of learning field, your father’s method of discipline (rewarding good behaviour) is known as Positive Reinforcement. Your father was psychologist who did not document his experiments. One of the things that were most alienating about higher education in a western institution (for my Somali friends and I in the social sciences) was that there was no room for knowledge passed through oral traditions. If something was not written, then it had no value and could not be used as a source. A whiff of nostalgia passed through me at the mention of Bajiye, Caana baraawe and xanjo buufis . My girlfriends and I were very economical and environmentally conscious in the way we recycled our xanjo buufis . After chewing for practically half the day we would neatly stick the used xanjo on a discreet corner of the bed, to be retrieved the following morning. Kids these days would say that we were deprived, but I’d like to think that we were well ahead of our time. I am glad you’ve shared the experience with your father- it reinforces my own belief that our old folks had some sound and timeless values, which we can replicate in our new environment.

Last evening my brother and I sat with my nieces and nephew reminiscing about our mother (who’s in Somalia) and our childhood. We often tell them stories of how we grew up to counteract some of the negative images they see in the media about Africa. This evening, the topic was about discipline and the rather simple but effective methods my mother used to mold our characters. She did not believe much in the virtues of beating; yelling was contrary to her character. By the time my brother and I were born, she was exhausted from the many years of toil and childbirth/loss. Her methods of discipline, then, had to be a little bit more creative. There was the occasional threat of “Haddaan kuu soo istaago…†but she never really had to get up because my brothers and I were sufficiently intimidated by her ‘look’ alone and knew that she would carry out whatever threat she issued if we did not desist from further mischief. The ‘look’ was my mother’s fiercest weapon. Every situation had its particular ‘look’ and we were well-versed in its meaning: there was the look for misbehaving in front of guests; one asking for food and refreshments for the guests; yet another for lingering too long in the presence of guests. Then there were looks for sitting improperly, eating too fast, and speaking out of turn. The ‘look’ in itself was not a punishment but rather a warning. My mother did not believe in reprimanding us in front other people, so the ‘look’ was her way of correcting our behavior without embarrassing us. The ‘look’ was effective in most situations and almost always worked on us. But, being children, we would soon forget and embark on yet another mischief. Some of these she was content to address as they occurred. However, there were others, which fell into the realm of vice, which required moral lessons. For these, she turned to stories. My mother, like others of her generation, was (still is) an avid storyteller. Growing up, I have heard every episode of Cigaal Shiidaad, Dhagdheer, Arraweelo, and Wiil Waal, among others. When one of us did something that displeased her during the day, the story related that night would reflect the moral lesson she wanted to impart. To this end, stories about gluttony, greed, and laziness became a recurring theme. My brother is fond of recounting how he would be so engrossed in a story only to find out at the end that he had behaved as badly as the protagonist! These stories had a deep impact on us. To this day, I feel tremendous sense of guilt if I stay in bed too long (her words, ‘maxaa ku seexiyey, miyaad jiran tahay?’ and the proverb ‘ninkii seexdaa sacii dibi dhal’ still ring in my ears). Having lost a lot of children (after they were born), she had a profound understanding of the fragility of the parent-child relationship, and so she never took it for granted. In this manner, she was unique. She once related a story to me of how so grief-stricken she was after burying yet another child, unable to walk away from the burial grounds. Her brother, in an effort to give her courage to walk, scolded her for grieving for something that did “not†belong to her (literally saying ‘Ilmahan Ilaah baa leh, adigu ma lihid’. She also had an amazing trust in us. Having done what she could, she never doubted or questioned our actions. As adults, when people tried to relay some negative story about us she would respond, in her calm, gentle way, “ilmahaygii ayaan kaa waraystay, haddii aadan wax wanaagsan iiga sheegayn, waxba ha ii sheegin.†The onus was on us to show ourselves worthy of that trust. Observing Somali parents, I have come to the conclusion that living in exile has adversely affected the way we parent. This is understandable given the many challenges our people are facing as refugees. The next generation of parents, however, needs to do better. We will have to find a creative way of combining what was good and wholesome in our Somali culture and the very best the Western and other cultures have to offer. I share my own upbringing with you because I believe it contains some simple but universal truths. If we want our children to be kind, polite, responsible, etc., we have to reflect these attributes ourselves. The result may not always be perfect, but at least we can have the comfort of knowing that we have done our very best. On a side note- I am not a parent, but I’ve earned the right to delve into these issues because, like many other Somalis, I have helped raise children- from the diaper stage to adulthood- and yes, I have the annual ‘Mother’s Day’ card to proof it.

Thanks Raula and Viking. It's nice to have in-house resident experts. What's supposedly good for us today may be rendered harmful by a new research, making it difficult for the average person to keep track. Raula, I too became interested in the control of infectious diseases, particularly sexually transmitted infections, after doing a research on sexual health among immigrant communities (including Somalis) last year. I was petrified to discover the complete lack of information among Somali youth and their parents (I conducted focus groups with boys, girls, and their parents, separately). Sexually transmitted infections have strong social stigmas attached to them and this is particularly so in our community. This kind of stigma results in lack of compassion for those infected. Worse, those infected may not seek treatment and continue to behave irresponsibly (as we’ve heard time and again) by spreading the infection to others. After that research I knew that I had to somehow get involved in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. How to get there is what I’m working on now. Perhaps our paths will cross one of these days. Cheers.

Raula, This was difficult, but informative read (all that medical jargon had my head spinning!). This study is particularly applicable to me because most of the females in my mother’s side of the family suffer from Iron deficiency and, in some cases, acute anemia. If, as the study suggested, Zinc and Vitamin A supplements boost the immune system and thereby increase the body’s chances of fighting Malaria (and other diseases?), then this is very good news. Perhaps all those Somali parents who are sending their children home for some Reacculturation can arm them with these vitamins along with the Malaria pills. Do you know if there are foods grown in the Malaria endemic regions that may contain these nutrients (so perhaps people could be encouraged to grow and consume these foods instead of becoming dependent on supplements from drug companies)? Thanks.

Waryaa, Yes, that’s an impressive list you’ve there, which clearly points to the fact that we’ve already entered that “desirable†phase of economies (the joint ventures and enterprises you speak of). My objection is not to economic growth, which is what our poor nation needs, but to the types of business enterprises we are willing to undertake. As a fledgling economy, we are in a position to discriminate as to the type of foreign products/investments we should allow into our country. Big corporations have pillaged the earth in pursuit of absolute and unhindered profit and now even developed countries are grappling with the result of these unimpeded business practices, such as poor health, toxic waste, degradation of the environment, and depleted resources (I highly recommend a documentary called The Corporation â€, if you haven’t seen it, which explores some of these issues). Coca-cola, for me, implies that it’s now ‘safe’ to do business in Somalia- and that perhaps McDonald’s, Marlboro, and all other undesirable corporations the West is trying hard to get rid of, should follow suit. Our country is already dumping ground for toxic waste from other countries. Must we also join in by inviting these same companies to ruin the already poor health of our people? I can see how young aspiring entrepreneurs like you are thrilled at the prospect of doing business in Somalia. I would even concede that the salvation of our nation lies with business-minded people (as it has in the past 15 years), but let’s do so conscientiously (this may be oxymoronic). To borrow the words of a Somali man who wanted to advise some chubby individuals to eat less, “Cuntada marka la cunayo, miyir ha lagu daroâ€.

I fail to see the benefit of Coca-cola for Somalia. Granted, there are investment and employment opportunities, but the harm that can come from such an investment outweighs the good. In the West we are told to avoid drinking Coke and other soft drinks because they are not good for our health. Yet, we are thrilled when this kind of thing happens to the poorest people in the world. Why Coke when so many other opportunities that are lucrative and beneficial to society abound? The men who installed the telephone lines did a service for their people and got rich in the process. Our objective should never be development at any price.

In some parts of Somalia, a woman would go and sit in front of the house of the man whom she desired to marry. It’s considered a cultural faux pas to return such a woman to her family unmarried. So, the idea of a woman proposing is not outside the norms of the Somali culture. A ring and a man bending on one knee is very much alien to our culture, although most people have adapted the wedding ring these days, probably for good reasons (it serves a good purpose in a society where married people are recognized by the ring they wear). Besides, if you talk to most Somalis who are/were married, they will likely tell you that there was no proposal to speak of. The decision to marry is often as a result of a discussion, which ends in a mutual agreement. Rather dull, but practical.

Ijabo, People tend to exaggerate on how wonderfullife is in America (North America?). In terms of education, those of us on this side of the Atlantic tend to believe that you are the lucky ones because you’ve access to free (or inexpensive) higher education. I was envious when a friend mine mentioned how little he had paid and owes in loans compared to those of us Canada. It’s probably a case of the grass been greener on the other side. Having said that, it’s probably true that there is a great deal of social activism and organization taking place among Somalis in North America. Most of these activities started in Canada in the early 1990s when a group of students started organizing ‘Somali Week’ conferences. At first, their objectives were to create a forum whereby Somali academics (intellectuals, if you like) would discuss the situation(s) back home. Soon enough, however, the focus of these conferences changed to addressing settlement needs of the Somalis in Canada, who were increasingly under attack from various segments of Canadian society (the media, white supremacists, politicians, etc.). Canada is a relatively small country (population wise) and our very visible presence was not well received by the mainstream society. I think it’s fair to say that we all became somewhat conscious of a greater sense of ‘Somaliness’ precisely because we felt under attack and devalued. I know that there were not many activities in the US until large number of Somalis who could not find work in Canada migrated there. They probably brought along with them the newly acquired community activism skills. Somalis in the US are increasingly becoming more organized because they are being faced with the same set of challenges that face us in Canada in 1990s. Hence, you are likely to hear about a lot these types of activities. This is not to say that we’ve over come all challenges, but that unlike the US, Canada has not had an influx of Somali refugees since the early ‘90s.

Life and Debt is a documentary that talks about what the IMF and World Bank have done to developing countries, using Jamaica as an example. Their policies of 'structural adjustment' have caused a great deal of suffering in already-poor countries. Ultimately, the blame lies with the leaders of these countries who are corrupt and visionless. But, the policies of these two agencies deliberately undermine what self-sufficiency these poor countries could achieve.

It is difficult to say what material would bring Somalis to use public libraries. The culture of using libraries and bookshops is something that must be inculcated in young minds at an early age. Most Somali parents are too preoccupied with the tedious processes of resettlement in foreign countries and have yet to realize the importance of reading for the growth and future success of their children. My feeling is that the best way to reach Somali children is through the schools themselves. If there is a way for the libraries to partner with the schools to create periods (perhaps after-school) where children can be taken to libraries to read books of their choice, I am certain most parents would welcome the opportunity and it would not be too costly for the government. Alternatively, visits to the library could be part of the regular schools field trips. This is something the libraries could negotiate with schools. That said, many parents that I have encountered are concerned about the loss of Somali language and culture among their children. It has also being shown that children who speak their first language (the language spoken at home) also do better in other languages. To this end, I would suggest that Somali language/culture books would be a good place to start in terms of attracting parents and children to the libraries. Again, depending on what the government is willing to spend, a Somali heritage class on a Saturday morning in the libraries (ones that are located in Somali populated neighbourhoods) would be a good exposure for libraries. If your library requires Somali language books, there is bookstore located in Ottawa, Canada, which has pretty good collection of books in Somali including books for grades 1-8, children’s stories, collections of some of the best known Somali poetry, a huge collection of BBC Somali Service tapes dating back to the 1950s, as well as documentaries about Somalia, etc. It would be worth your while getting in touch with them. They often receive requests from as far as Australia and New Zealand, mostly for the children’s books. You may visit their website at: Somali Resource and Heritage Center: http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/somheritage/ Hope this is helpful.

I attended the conference, Somalis in America: Challenges of Adaptationtheld in St. Paul, Minnessota in July, and it was by far the best Somali conference I’ve ever attended. Professor Axmad Samatar did a tremendous job in terms of organization. Attendees came from Sweden, Holland, England and Canada, in addition to various cities in the States. While the conference did not delve too deeply into challenges faced by Somalis in the US, it touched upon issues in areas of health, housing, and education. The panelists were Somalis and non-Somalis who serve predominantly Somali clientele. For me, the most salient feature of the conference was the attendees themselves. It was really nice to see so many Somali professionals and students who are actively engaged in the betterment of our communities. This was a sort of ‘feel-good’ conference because one was left with the feeling that all was not lost and that we are not as downtrodden as we are made to believe. Even the old stereotype of tardiness (i.e. Somalis lack of the concept of time) was dispelled in this conference. One of the panelists, a Somali doctor, even commented on the fact that for 3 days everyone showed up on time. This, I am sure, is no small feat for Somali people. Another aspect of the conference, which completely delighted us, was the cultural component of the conference. For two evenings, we were thoroughly entertained by some of the most re-known Somali entertainers- the master guitarist, Xudaydi (Hodeidi), the incomparable Fatima Qaasim Hilowle, Hiba Maxamed, and Cabdinuur Alaaleh. There were also two poets- a lady from Sweden, Amina Said Ali and a gentleman whose name I cannot recall, but who’s a well-known local poet and activist for the Midgan community. This was not your usual Somali ‘Riwaayad’ we’ve grown so accustomed to in the Diaspora, but a remnant of the old-style Riwaayad where people actually sat and enjoyed a show without being compelled to dance. The functions were held in a posh and cozy theatre with no room for dancing. You can say that we were all strapped to our seats- happily. There were a large number of non-Somalis and this was an excellent venue to show case some of the best aspects of our culture- Music and poetry. Worthy of mention is the performance by Fatima Qaasim and the poems of sister Amina. Fatima’s voice, it seems, has gotten amazingly better with age- if that’s possible for she’d always had a wonderful voice- there was a standing ovation for every song she sang. She is also a warm and gentle person. Her husband of 30+ years was also there and equally wonderful and convivial. Sister Amina left us feeling melancholic with her words of lament for our beleaguered lands. Of course, there were aspects of the conference that were boring and inappropriate, but these are not worth dwelling on given what it has managed to accomplish well. These are my own observations and probably others would have a different take on how things went. I was told that there would be a videotape of the conference available to the public at some point. I’ll share that information once I get hold of it. Stay well. P.s. this is a nice forum. Kudos to the creators.