Events – Page 3 – Hargeysa Cultural Centre

Adolescent Health

On Tuesday night 7:45pm February 19 th, an event held at Hargeysa Cultural Centre assembled a group of professionals who discussed Adolescent Health in Somaliland. This event took place with the help of joined young activists, different organization workers, health professionals and government officials. They spoke about how different factors such as income and education affect Adolescent Health and how they are interdependent on each other.
The event was not held only to inspire Somaliland youth to seek medical help when needed but also to highlight the lack of medical check-ups and counselling that are accessible for the youth.
The guest speakers also touched on the importance of staying healthy and preventing diseases in the first place. Mohamed Dhamac, a member of Sonyo said “a common disease which is prevalent among youth globally is HIV/AIDS and a good way we have always prevented it is marriage”.Other guest speakers also suggested effective ways of avoiding or living with other
types of diseases.
Abdiqani Abdillahi spoke about the adolescence period and the various health related issues that are commonly observed at that this stage of human growth. Important worth mentioning here, is the need to seek out professional health help which, as Abdiqani pointed out, will be disastrous if not taken seriously. The discussion then took another turn with Mohamed
Dhamac, discussing the importance of maintaining a healthy youth and how it’s of immense importance to have a healthy youth as it will lead to healthy community as rightly pointed out by Dhamac.
Our third speaker was Dr. Hamda Abdirahman, a Psychologist and a lecturer who spoke about the mental health of youth. The message she was sending is that, young people want to be heard. Because traditionally we (Somalis) do not consider children’s opinion that much which as a result can cause them to mentally suffer. She suggested that we talk to
children about their opinion and personal problems so they won’t get depressed and end up becoming mentally ill which can actually cause them taking their own lives. Poverty and healthcare was another major issue touched upon in the event and Dr. Barkhad Hussein brilliantly explained the relationship between poverty and healthcare accessibility and he shared a touching story about a young boy who suffered from diabetes. He told us the boy’s journey from middle school to university and the obstacles
he faced on the way. What was deeply sad about this story is the fact that the young boy struggled to pay for his medication and even taking them while in school. “Double 2 Burden” is the term he used to describe the boy’s situation. Dr. Barkhad said, “This is how I will transmit my message, and it is for you to get the point out of it.”

– Dr. Mariam spoke last before the discussion group. Mariam asked the audience “where
do you go when you need medical help?” Then she explored different options people
normally have and what they do instead. Dr. Mariam highly recommended people to go
to pharmacies or hospitals and seek counselors to maintain a good health. The event was
concluded with engagement and thoughts by the audience whose discussions centered
around;

a) The fact that Somaliland Youth doesn’t have a special healthcare system and
b) people/ government’s perspective of youth and the Psychology of adolescence.
The main idea behind this event was for people to hear and learn from each other then spread their ideas to the community especially to those it concerns. They concluded that Adolescent health needs special attention and raising public awareness of the issue. Achieving this would also improve not only youth’s well being but the economy and education of Somaliland.

admin March 12, 2019

Articles Events

Breast Cancer

A group of female doctors arranged the event on Sunday night March 3^rd where they spoke about Breast Cancer and how common it is in our country particularly among women. Breast Cancer is globally the second most common type of cancer. A lot of people die from it due to delay in seeking medical advice but in the case of Somaliland, Women are shy about reaching out for help which as a result causes early preventable deaths. Breast Cancer is not a disease that happens to women only but men can get it as well although it is estimated that only 1% of men get it.

Dr. Saynab was leading this event and introduced the importance of this topic and how they created their team. “We decided to initiate this team in 2015 in the hope of helping people to be aware of this disease but we officially started in March 3^rd 2016” Dr. Saynab also talked about the causes of breast cancer. She said “Some of the things that cause cancer are prolonged take of birth control pills, Alcohol, Cigarettes and Qat. It could be hereditary too”

Dr. Shukri Daahir spoke next about the percentage of women affected by Breast cancer in the world. She reported that “17.5 million women get cancer per year and 9 million of them die. 1.7 million get breast cancer” Dr. Shukri also mentioned that in every 182,000 women in America 26% of them get breast cancer so it is pretty serious. Dr. Shukri touched on how there is a good medical help in America. The survival rate is very high. However, in the case of Somaliland, women are not as worried as they should be about their health. “Part of it is lack of health awareness and the fact that Chemotherapy is not available in Somaliland. Another obstacle on the way is using herbal medicine which in terms of cancer is not useful at all.” Dr. Shukri also classified the areas in Africa affected by breast cancer into three different parts. Central Africa, South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. She said that breast cancer is most common in the Sub-Saharan area because it is where women die at home mostly.

Dr. Sahra Caydiid listed the symptoms of breast Cancer. She said “if you see these signs then you should immediately contact a doctor. Symptoms are Change in your normal breast color, change in size, unusual hardness of the breast, swelling, blood or milk leaking from your breast, severe pain, and laceration as well as skin holes.”

Lastly, Dr. Afnan spoke about the treatment of breast cancer in which she categorized into four stage treatment. She said “When the tumor is only in the breast and has not spread to any other place then we cut out the breast. If the tumor reaches the muscles around the breast and the glands, we also cut it. However, when it spreads to the entire body, there is nothing we could do about it.” Therefore Dr. Afnan highly recommended that we (both men and women) do checkups every now and then.

This event was very important for it was an eye opening to our community and will eventually save lives. It was a motivation to those who are too shy to come get help and enlightening to those who don’t understand the risk they are taking by dealing with breast cancer at home. In the end of this event, the audience was given a chance to ask questions and all three doctors answered them. We had ninety people come to the event twenty six of them males and sixty four females. What we hope people to take away from it is that breast cancer is a life threatening disease and should be dealt with in hospitals and to also prevent it by staying healthy and checking yourself up regularly.

admin March 12, 2019

Articles Events

Dacar Cas/Somaliland Red Aloe: New species of Aloe described in Somaliland

By the two researchers Mary Barkworth who is a plant taxonomist who retired from Utah State University in 2012.

In 2015, she became interested in helping Somalilanddevelop, in Somaliland, resources for studying its biodiversity, particularly its plant diversity, Mary’s research was focused on two groups of grasses, neither of which is well represented in Somaliland, but she was able to assist in
bringing the Somali Red Aloe to the attention of scientists because as a taxonomist, she is aware of the requirements for formally naming species that has not previously been recognized. And
Ahmed Awale is well known in Somaliland for his passionate commitment to the Somaliland’s environment, which is reflected in his many publications and his work as Chair of Candlelight, an organization devoted to the environment, education, and health in Somaliland. He discovered the first population of the Somali Red Aloe while traveling for Candlelight in 2013.

Because of his knowledge of Somaliland’s plants, particularly its succulents, he realized it might be undescribed. The recently published paper is an outcome of his insight. Formal recognition of the Somali Red Aloe will, it is hoped, aid in promoting conservation of Somaliland’s rich natural heritage and its recognition as an integral part of Somaliland’s cultural heritage. Mary Barkworth talking about the researcher process and the researcher’s hypothesis while describing the new Aloe.
Ahmed Ibrahim Awale talking about the discovery of new species of Aloe in Somaliland and Description and identification of a new alone species, material and methods, figs and introduction of the Researcher. Also A new species of Aloe ( Asphodelaceae )is described from Somaliland. It differs from other species in forming large clumps and in having sap that is initially yellow but quickly turns bright red and then dark red or reddish-brown, paniculate red-flowered inflorescences and uniformly colored
leaves with red teeth. And recognitions raise the number of species known from the combined area of Somaliland and Somalia from 31 to 36.
Also differed from other Aloe species in the region in having leaves with reddish teeth and, when cut, an exudate that rapidly turns from yellow to bright red.
Also noticed the plants, referring to them as (Dacar Cas), or Red, to distinguish them from other Aloes in
the region, such as Da’ar Buduk (Dacar Budhuq), the name used locally for A. retrospections Reynolds.
Also noted he is collected cuttings to grow and observe in Hargeisa. The flowers were protandrous, forming plump, well-filled anthers that matured before the styles had fully elongated. Both the anthers and the styles appeared fully functional. These observations made it unlikely that the plants were hybrids. After very interesting presentation that questions and discussion session starting, Ahmed Awale
and Mary Barkworth reflecting on the question.

admin March 12, 2019

Academic Dialogue Articles Events

International Day of Disability: 2018

3^rd December marks the international day of people with limited ability. In the occasion, Yoonis Cabdiraxmaan, a student at the New Generation University, Hargeysa, with a limited sight, gave a public talk on the situation of the people with limited ability (physical or otherwise) at the Hargeysa Cultural Centre focusing especia.lly on educational possibilities and challenges.

Yoonis Cabdiraxmaan shared with us the challenges a young person with limited ability faces daily and the their future. Yoonis said: “When I first wanted to join the field of journalism, I faced some challenges. I remember people telling me ‘how can you get any benefits from this field when the ones with sight couldn’t get any’ so I managed to get a scholarship after paying for the first month of the school by myself. My own family couldn’t agree with me in the first place to go studying in the university’’.

He continued “The massage I want to pass on tonight is ‘people with disabilities are part of the community and they don’t belong to stay home, they deserve to play their part in the community as well, they need to participate in the politics, I want to be able to contribute in the politics of my country despite my disability’’.

President of the New Generation University, Mr. Cabdiwaasac, also gave an enriching speech to honouring today’s people with limited mobility as well as to Yoonis Cabdiraxmaan, by saying “We are willing to offer Yoonis to do his Master’s degree with us”

admin December 4, 2018

Articles Events

Hargeysa International Book Fair – The Program

Day 1

The Program - Day One

Day 2

The Program - Day Two

admin July 19, 2018

Events

‘The Africans: A Triple Heritage’ – ADIH Documentary Night

Documentary Screening of June

‘The Africans: A Triple Heritage’ By Dr. Ali Mazrui

ADIH Documentary Night

With the start of the Independence Day celebration for many nations in Africa, June shines up as a month of wish come true for many African countries specially for the Horn of Africa with Somaliland being the first to get its independence on 26^th of June from its British protectorate status. Hence, what perfect timing will there be to talk about the issue of independence, indigenous knowledge and identity of Africans than this month even though the quest for answer seems a vicious circle with more than a finger count can do to answer it. Who is an African? Where are African indigenous knowledge and wisdoms? Where does Africa fit in the ever-changing global system? Many more “where” “what” “Who” and “How” for Africa and Africanness are questions been in search for answer as long as the age of the organization of the continental union which has its foundation on the dreams of the early Pan-African advocates which include leaders such as Haile Selassie, Julius Nyerere, Ahmed Sékou Touré, Kwame Nkrumah, Thomas Sankara and Muammar Gaddafi, grassroots organizers such as Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X, academics such as W. E. B.

Did we get the answers? Not yet even closer in spite of all the changes such as a name and amended vision for Organization of African Unity (OAU) to Africa Union (AU) along with the current initiatives such as African Solutions for African Problems (AFSol), establishment of Panel of The Wise (PoW) as one of the five pillars for AU and its regional organization, nothing yet seem to give a resting point for the quests. The number of people asking “do we even need to define Africanness at this day while aspiring for global citizenry?” to “What does the African Solutions for Africans Problem really stand for?” with the inseparable mix of the western and other cultures thanks to the globalization which has a tilted field structure that slides and roll down western norms more on Africans than the things it dropped on the west for countless reasons.

These were the foundations for our Documentary screening of June “The Africans; a Triple Heritage by Dr. Ali Mazrui that guided our academic discussion for the Academic Dialog in Hargeisa session. The Africans: A Triple Heritage is a documentary history, written and narrated by Dr. Ali Mazrui in the early 1980s and jointly produced by the BBC and the Public Broadcasting Service (WETA, Washington) in association with the Nigerian Television Authority. The film series premiered in 1986 on BBC and controversially on local PBS stations throughout the United States. The documentary has a central argument and narration that the triple heritage of Africans is a product resulting from three major influences: (1) an indigenous heritage borne out of time and climate change; (2) the heritage of Eurocentric capitalism forced on Africans by European colonialism; and (3) the spread of Islam by both jihad and evangelism. The negative effects of this history have yet to be addressed by independent African leaders, while the West has tended to regard Africa as recipient rather than as transmitter of effects. Yet Africa has transformed both Europe and America in the past, Mazrui points out, and the difficult situation in which Africa finds itself today (economically dependent, culturally mixed, and politically unstable) is the price it has had to pay for Western development. The series was in nine parts even though the documentary has summarized in a precise manner which are 1. The Nature of a Continent 2. A Legacy of Lifestyles 3. New Gods 4. Tools of Exploitation 5. New Conflicts 6. In Search of Stability 7. A Garden of Eden in Decay 8. A Clash of Cultures 9. Global Africa.

Using the documentary as entry point discussions were directed towards many point of interest as it touched up on a multilayered issues overthought the highly voiced issue was the state structure of Somaliland where by the indigenous knowledge of conflict resolution through the elders which now is a constitutionalized part of the state structure making the upper house of the parliament named as Guurti in parallel with the multiparty western democratic system to create the Hybrid government system of Somaliland. Questions and reflections were how much effective this has been and what are the challenges it is creating for the fundamental principles of rule of law, separation of power and accountability among many others. Participant were firm on the fact that these layers of rule and regulations that are reflection of the triple heritage Dr. Mizuri was talking about are a real reflection of the situation in Somaliland now as the Islamic rule, the western rule and the indigenous justice system all are in place hard to say having an effective marriage and are serving the best interest of the community specially the youth and women who are significant part of the society.

Stepping out of the government structure arguments, discussion was also towards even on self-depiction of a Somalilander by proxy any African who has to deal with the same issue due to the colonial legacy, the globalization system and the wish to stay loyal to the cultures and norms of the indigenous founding fathers of the African nations. How do we dress? what language we speak? and what shapes our moral value? are questions that became pandora box than gained a solution in our interesting discussion of the documentary screening.

Of course, it would be an over ambition to address these questions which have been with us for more than 50 years celebrating their power for confusion and remain a question with unpreventable changes just like the years of independence days marked by independent days of nations in the continent. Will it have answer any time soon? we leave it as a question knowing many will keep on asking themselves and use it as a critical mirror to evaluate the changes happening around them until our next socially significant documentary screening of July.

By Tirsit Yetbarek

Academic Dialog in Hargeysa Coordinator

admin July 9, 2018

Academic Dialogue Articles

Doing research: a workshop on research approaches and methods

Somaliland is attracting an increasing number and diversity of research projects, offering interesting opportunities for researchers to participate in interesting and potentially valuable projects designed to better understand Somaliland, it’s people and its context. A significant number of young Somali scholars are also pursuing PhDs and other research degrees which call for a similar understanding of research methodologies. This workshop will provide an introduction, over four days, to the different approaches and methods used to collect data in academic and policy-focused research projects. It will cover both qualitative and quantitative methods, and will consider research ethics and the ontologies and epistemologies related to different ways of understanding the research process.

This workshop is being supported by the Development Planning Unit (DPU) of UCL (University College London), UK.

It will be take by Dr Mohamud Hashi Hussein and Dr Michael Walls.

Dr Mohamud Hashi Hussein is an economist with over 20 years of experience in industry, the public sector and research in the UK, and more recently in Somaliland. He has an excellent understanding of the challenges and opportunities for research in the Somali Horn of Africa, as well as in a wide range of thematic areas employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. His research skills and expertise include the quantitative analysis of business responses to regulation and market incentives, and qualitative analysis of behavioural drivers for the uptake of new technologies. Most recent work includes extensive research on the political economy of regulatory policies, including regulatory capture by industry interests.

Dr Michael Walls is a Senior Lecturer at UCL’s Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) and, and for the past fourteen years, his research has focused on the political economy of the Somali Horn of Africa, including the evolving political settlement in Somaliland. He was Chief Observer for the international observation mission to Somaliland’s 2017 presidential election, and has also been a member of the coordination team for missions in 2005, 2010 and 2012 as well as the 2016 Voter Registration process. Michael was Principal Investigator for the ESRC-funded research project ‘Political Settlement in Somaliland: a gendered perspective’, and is currently part of the research team looking at Complex Land Markets in Somaliland and Uganda.

admin June 18, 2018

Academic Dialogue Courses Events HIBF2018 Workshops

Somali Studies International Association

Somali Studies International Association was established in 1978. It is an organization that has played a central role in defining the field of modern Somali Studies, and since its establishment, it has organized 12 International Congresses, and many other regional and continental conferences. Out of the 12 International congresses, only four took place in the Somali speaking territories. 40 years later, it is high time for SSIA to hold its Congress in the Horn of Africa. In fact holding 2018 SSIA in Hargeysa will enable Somali studies to reconnect with the current reality on the ground. The last time a full congress was held on Somali soil was in 2001 in Hargeysa and in 2007 Djibouti co-hosted.

The initiative would assist young Somali scholars to close the feelings of disconnect they feel with academia as whole and thereby positively encourage young Somalis to be more active and feel ownership over scholarly contributions. Additionally the legitimate subjects of Somali Studies are not necessarily Somali’s who have avenues to participate, object, contribute and debate in the Diaspora, but rather local Somali people in Somali territories that lack the academic platforms to engage with Somali Studies beyond being subjects of study. Holding it here in conjunction with state and private Universities will provide legitimacy and access to a hard reached population. Local Somali scholars are missing two fundamental things: firstly institutions to provide backing of their work and secondly the recognition and platform to showcase their work. For this reason 2018 SSIA congress will be jointly held in Hargeysa by Somali institutions and some western Universities who already work in the Somali territories to benefit key stakeholders. Please read more here.

admin June 14, 2018

#HIBF2016 Podcast Academic Dialogue Articles Events Featured HIBF2018

Film Production Course

‘Are You Not Entertained?’ Treatment: Films for Development

An intensive course on Film Production at Hargeysa Cultural Centre

“Whenever am faced with this question, why Films for Development? My answer has always been – My observations became an obligation.” Says Taye Balgun, Taye is a film director/photographer, pan Africanist, activist, social justice campaigner and a teacher.

The course

There are too many entertainers across the world but not enough content to create a critical thinking, provoke minds and trigger change. As a part of Hargeysa International Book Fair pre-activities, Redsea Cultural Foundation is organizing this year at Hargeysa Cultural Centre, a film production workshop that will take the following structure:

IDEATION: Identifying a problem. This is a simple discussion forum.
RESEARCH: Why is it a problem? Maybe its not a problem elsewhere. How did the problem occurred?
CONCEPT: Will our approach to the subject matter create awareness, provide solution or provoke discussion? A 360 or 180 perspective.
FOCUS GROUP: Who are we targeting? Policy makers, NGO, Grassroots folks, Youth, Experts etc What action do we expect from them?
STORYBOARDING: A sketchy visual narration. If you can visualise your story, you can’t achieve it.
SCRIPTING: Creation of the flow of storyline. Put words on paper, let others read it.
PRODUCTION: Film techniques and style of storytelling. Let the shoot begins.

The workshop will be more interactive and hands-on. Runing five full days, from 14th – 19^th, the course organizers expect to have a tangible outcome: A 2 minutes video.

Biography of the lead trainer

Taye Balogun is a Film Director/Photographer, Activist, Educator and a Campaigner. From directing Broadway Musicals to feature films with special emphasis on impact production. Taye has consulted, campaigned and engaged with several international organizations/bodies {Control Arms, Water Aid, Oxfam, HelpAge, SOTU, Save The Children, African Union, UNESCO, AYICC, Amnesty International, Action Aid e.t.c} on issues ranging from Water and Sanitation, Gender Equality, Youth Empowerment, Women/Human Rights, Climate Change, Peace and Security, and Arms Control. He is the Director of Media and Campaigns of African Artists Peace Initiative (www.aapiafrica.org) – a pan African movement of Artists and Peacemakers working closely with the African Union and UNESCO. Taye is an Alumni of the UNLEASH – a global Lab on SDG’s where he advocated for quality education for all . Taye taught Acting/Filmmaking for 4 years, and presently teaches Films for Development, which has attracted an invite to present his work in Harvard University, Howard University and Georgetown University in the United States. Taye is currently working on his first book titled GUNS, GUTS & GOD and his 7th feature film titled THE BLUE KHAFTAN. www.tayebalogun.com

Other film makers who attend the Hargeysa International Book Fair and Somali Studies International Association Congress, will meet the trainees after the workshop for further improvement.

admin June 7, 2018

Courses Events HIBF2018

Tababbarta Tiraabcurinta Toolmoon

QORAAL-CURINTA TOOLMOON

Tababbarrada Xarunta Dhaqanka ee Hargeysa, 2018

Xarunta Dhaqanka ee Hargeysa waxa ka furmi doona tababbar ku saabsan qoraal-curinta toolmoon, gaar ahaan qaybaha maansada, riwaayadaha, filimmada iyo sheekada gaaban. Tababbarkani kuwii sannadihii ka horreeyay ayuu kaabayaa. Waana mid loogu talo galay in ay ka faa’idaystaan dadka ku hawlan qoraalcurinta, saxaafadda, ardeyda barata suugaanta iyo kuwii la mid ah.

Muddada tababbarku soconayaa waa toddobaad 13ka Julaay ilaa 18ka Julaay 2018, Xarunta Dhaqanka ayuuna ku qabsoomayaa. Waxa casharrada bixin doona barayaal ku xeeldheer qoraal-curinta toolmoon waxana, marti ku ahaan doona barayaal iyo xirfadlayaal warbaahinta ku jira oo la wadaagi doona ardeyda waaya-aragnimadooda. Siciid Saalax Axmed, Siciid Jaamac Xuseen, Cabdillaahi Cawed Cige, Saynab Aadan Sharci, Maxamed Baashe X. Xasan, Maxamuud Sheekh Dalmar, Cabdalla Cismaan Shafey, Maxamed Xirsi Guuleed, Maxamed Cali Xasan “Alto”, Dr. Jaamac Muuse Jaamac.

Tababbarku waa lacag-la’aan waxana lagu dhiirri gelinayaa dadka ku hawlan qoraalcurinta iyo kuwa warbaahinta ka shaqeeya, kuwaas oo loo kala tix gelinayo siday u soo kala horreeyaan.

Qofka danaynaya inuu ka qayb galo waxa looga baahan yahay:

In uu yimaaddo xafiisyada Xarunta Dhaqanka ee Hargeysa oo ku yaalla Shacabka, Waddada 26ka Juun ee wadnaha Hargeysa, isla markaana is qoro.

In uu xubin ka yahay Xarunta Dhaqanka oo haystaa kaadhka xubinnimada, qofkii aan haysanna marka uu yimaaddo ayuu is diiwaan gelin karaa.

Wixii faahfaahin ah la soo xidhiidh cinwaanka courses@redsea-online.org

Macallin Siciid Jaamac Xuseen
Hagaha Sannadkan ee Tabobbarada Xarunta
Lifaaq: Casharrada lagu baranayo tabobbarka

CASHARRADA LAGU BARANAYO:

Aasaaska qoraalka Af Soomaaliga

Hordhaca aqoonta afafka
Sugitaanka naxwaha iyo xasilloonidarrada qoraalka Af Soomaaliga
Soohdimaha ereyada iyo astaamaha hadalka kala sooca
Doorka shaqalka iyo shibbanaha
Shibbanayaasha labanlaabma iyo higgaad-sixidda kale ee Af Soomaaliga

Qoraalcurinta suugaanta

Fikirka ka dhexeeya qoraalcurinta iyo qaybaha suugaanta
Riwaayadaha, qoraalkooda iyo jiliddooda
Filimmada, qoraalkooda iyo hagistooda
Maansada iyo abla-ablaynteeda
Sheekada gaaban iyo curinteeda

Af Soomaaliga iyo farsamada cusub

Agabka farsamada cusub iyo caqabadaha hor taagan Af Soomaaliga
Agabka farsamada cusub iyo miisaanka maansada
Kaydka Af Soomaaliga: iscugashada, is-ahaanshaha iyo abtirsiimada ereyga.

Isdiiwaangelintu waxa ay xidhmaysaa Salaasa, 10/07/2018, 2:30 pm.

admin June 7, 2018

Courses Events HIBF2018

Category: Events

The course

Biography of the lead trainer