February 2013
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December 2012
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November 2012
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History of Governance (Part 2)
Colonization
Italian depiction of the capture of Boqor Cusmaan by Italian and allied forces in 1927.
Hoisting of the Italian flag following the destruction and capture of Bargal.
The Italian and British conquest of the Sultanates (in 1920-1927) suppressed the peoples’ resistance...
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History of Governance (Part 1)
Pre-Imperalism
The northeast region of Somalia has, since August 1st, 1998, been referred to as Puntland State of Somalia. The territory is characterized by vast semi-arid range lands on which nomadic pastoralists raise herds of camels, goats and sheep. There are also a number of small towns and small coastal settlements where people practice rudimentary fishing.
The economy is primarily...
October 2012
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September 2012
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Boqor Cusmaan Maxamuud - 1927
Photo of Boqor Cusmaan Boqor Maxamuud ( Boqor Osman Mahamud) of the northern sultanate in Muqdisho following his capture by the Italians.
Background: De Vecchi, the governor of Italian Somaliland, had to reassess his plans as he was being humiliated on many fronts. After one year of exerting full force he could not yet manage to gain a result over the sultanate. In spite...
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August 2012
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Hurdiyo, Puntland - 1933
Soon after the First World War, the Italians realized that the shallow bay of Hafun, which had a long, low beach along the mainland side, was a perfect place for a large salt works. The Società Saline e Industrie della Somalia Settentrionale built on both sides of the peninsula of Ras Hafun ( Hafun and Hurdiyo) what would be the largest salt-works in the world. The firm, constituted in Milan...
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Memories of a Mogadishu Childhood
Maryan Muuse Boqor (b. 1938) and the Women Who Inspired Her
Lidwien Kapteijns and Maryan Muuse Boqor
In light of Somalia’s recent history, Maryan Muuse Boqor’s recollections of her coming of age, as recorded by Lidwien Kapteijns, seem to describe a paradise lost. This is not at all to say that Maryan’s early years were without challenge and loss. Rather, it is to say that,...
July 2012
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Osmanya Script →
Invented in the 1920s by Osman Yusuf Kenadid, the Osmanya Script was one of 3 main contenders (others being Arabic and Latin) to be the written Somali language after independence in 1960. The writing script transcribes the Somali language in its original alphabet and borrows heavily from Semitic writing scripts.
In the 1950s, the nephew of Osman, Yaasiin was very influential in lobbying for the...
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