News of the Branches

1. The Branch in the South of Somalia:

The month of February in 2005 was successful one for the branch of PEN in the South of Somalia. The leadership committee had held several important meetings. The committee had finalized with INXA the conversation that the President of PEN had initiated in Djibouti and reached an agreement of cooperation and partnership with them.

 The cooperation and the partnership between INXA and PEN began in the form of a symposium organized on the 31 of March 2005 in City View Hotel, one of the biggest in Mogadishu. The symposium was based on the slogan of PEN “Towards Creative Writing and Culture of Reading in the Mother Tongue” and had attracted many enthusiasts of literature who liked the presentations. The Secretary General of PEN, Cumar Aadan Qaaddi and Professor Qare of the Mogadishu University had made presentations shedding light on the need and the best ways towards a new culture of book reading and writing in the Somali language.    

2. Djibouti branch:

Since the Djibouti office of the Somali-speaking PEN had been reorganized and reactivated, it has been functioning smoothly. The members of the executive committee in Djibouti have had several meetings where they discussed the general plan of the organization for the 2005 and demonstrated strong commitment to realize the project “Towards Creative Writing and Culture of Reading in the Mother Tongue”. A task force has been formed to lead the work of the Djibouti branch. Some of the planned activities include organizing a literary meeting on the 15 April 2005. This meeting is a prelude to literary meetings that will be held every month at the office of the Djibouti branch of the Somali-speaking PEN. 

3. Sweden branch:

The Sweden branch of the Somali-speaking PEN in cooperation with the Somali community organizations has participated in a number of activities aimed at the promotion and development of the Somali language, art, literature and culture. Working with the Somali teachers, the managers of the Sweden branch of the Somali-speaking PEN have played an important role in major events celebrating the “Mother Tongue Day” held throughout Sweden including several places in the capital. 

On 21 February 2005, one such event has been held in a school called Gullingeskola in Spanga-Tensta. This event in which literary and other cultural performances were displayed was intended to inculcate the love of mother tongue to the Somali students was led by the chairman of the Sweden branch of the Somali-speaking PEN, Yuusuf Cabdullahi, and the Secretary of the branch, Cabdi-Bashiir Cali.

Members News

 Aw Jaamac Cumar Ciise, the icon of Somali letters and history was unable to find a publisher for important and valuable set of books that he has been working on for many years. When this situation was brought to his attention, the President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, in his customary way of supporting the spreading of knowledge and aiding those working in it, has invited Aw Jaamac to Djibouti and provided him with a space to work and people to help him until the book is published. The first book of this work is an extensively revised edition of the poems of Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan by Aw Jaamac; the second one is a book about the literature on camels, horses and women (politically correct?); and third one is a book in Arabic on the Djibouti initiatives of the Somali peace processes.

Saalax Xaashi Carab, a poet and a linguist has succeeded after many years of research and writing to produce a large dictionary which he called Eraykoobe. Saalax was able to finish writing this dictionary to publish it with the support of the President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh.

Maxamed Daahir Afrax has produced a new bigger and extensively revised edition of his famous book Dal Dad Waayey iyo Duni Damiir Beeshay: Soomaaliya Dib ma u Dhalan Doontaa?    

On 20 February 2005, a ceremony honouring the author and launching the book was held at Sheraton hotel. The ceremony had been honoured by the presence of the President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, who congratulated the author and promised once again his support and the support of his government to the writers and to the advancement of knowledge and the promotion of the mother tongue. Also present was the Prime Minister of Djibouti, Dileite Ahmed Dileite and other members of the government and the parliament, intellectuals and members of the civil society and the media of Djibouti which extensively covered the event and the interest of the readers for the book (check for more details at: www.waxbarasho.com.

Yuusuf Cabdullaahi Xasan, Chairman of the Sweden branch of the Somali-speaking PEN has written two books aimed at helping the children learn their mother tongue. The titles of the books are: Afka hooyo baro oo ku barbaar and Ugaadh iyo habar dugaag.

 Aamina Siciid, the vice-chairman of Sweden branch of the Somali-speaking PEN and poetess has published a book of poems which she called Qoriga u garwaaxshey asagoon sagaal galin. The launching ceremony of this book which was organized by the Sweden branch of the Somali-speaking PEN will appear in the next issue of the newsletter.

 Cabdi-Bashiir Cali, the Secretary of the Sweden branch of the Somali-Speaking PEN and a poet has produced a book of poems that he entitled: Shirrabidda Halabuurka.

 Axmed Sabriye Gaabow, has also published a book in Sweden called Taariikhdu waa ma Guuraan.

 We have recently learned with great sadness the death of Aadan Nuur, a young journalist and the representative of the Somali-speaking PEN in Mudug who was well known in Puntland and throughout Somalia. Aadan Nuur died in a car accident between Boosaaso and Qardho.