Sartorial Hargeisa

#HIBF.
In many parts of Africa, if you happen upon a grown man dressed in a wrapper in place of trousers, you have probably visited him too early in the morning before he got out of his bed clothes. But in Hargeisa, Somaliland, as in my Asaba, Nigeria, the male in the wrapper (the macawis in Hargeisa, the akwa ocha in Asaba) is the acme of public dress. I feel right at home, here, among people with an equally sophisticated sartorial sense…

A More Literary Saddam Hussein

This is a tradition that will likely persist into the future, because here the young people appear to have embraced it. Here is Saddam Hussein. Yes, that is truly his name.

In this picture he holds his book proudly.

Somali Language Literature

He is a young author, and apart from dressing in his traditional macawis to attend the Hargeisa international Book Fair, he also writes in the Somali language. His book is called Baraarug (Spring). I cannot give you a helpful synopsis because, well… I cannot yet read Somali. Cue an Ngugi Fund for the translation of literature in African languages. This might well be a glimpse of the future of Somali Literature (and while this is not a critical opinion, )… well, it looks good.

10 Replies to “A Sartorial Hargeisa”

  1. Ali AwDoll says:

    That which is true about a Somali in Hargeisa is true about all Somalis whether it’s the partly-French-assimilated Djiboutian or the Kenyan Somali who can’t be distinguished from the homogenic brother who has fled into Kenya from the upheavels in Somalia. I am clad in a macawiis myself even as I write this, it’s not only my evening wear, it is what identifies me as a Somali

    Reply
  2. Barkhad says:

    This young author represents the real picture, that we aspire as young Somaliland writers.

    Reply
  3. Barkhad says:

    Hi Chuma,we appreciate you and the other African writers who came to Hargeisa to take part this festival and we are keen to hear your comments about our city and also the your personal evaluation towards our young writers,though you can’t anderstand Somali but the other books which were written in English.

    I am not writer but I like writing and I would like to see one day my books being read by persons like you.

    Reply
  4. Yahye says:

    First and foremost, welcome to Somaliland Mr. Chuma. Thank u sir for being there(Hargeisa). I hope u and other fellow Africans have had good time in Hargeisa as well as the event.

    Reply
  5. Sekerie mbow says:

    It is a honor that a great writer like you taked your time and visitet Hargeisa. I Hope You hade a great day in Hargeisa.

    Have a wonderfull day.

    Reply

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