I am July. July First from Somalia

July 1, 1960 the day my Somalia was born. It was a day I broke the chains of colonialism and claimed my nomad freedom. I have survived through draught and devastation. Treachery and treason. Death and destruction. Theft and trickery. But I was, am and will be steadfast. Rock hard and unwavering. This unity will not be broken. The white and blue flag will eternally stand high. This nation of nomads will stay there and those tyrants and warlords who scheme by the hour to kneel me down will never win.

I will survive. I will deliver. I will reach. I will win all the battles in every war.

And my name is July. July First from Somalia.

Farhiya Abdi - Somalia's hot chic Basketballer

Farhiya Abdi is another nomad who makes history. She is the first Somali girl to join the American WNBA! That news made headlines in every Somalian blog. This of course is needed motivation for the thousands of Somali girls who have been victimized by the 20 year old civil war. No wonder therefore that nomads and particularly Somali girls hold her as a role model and motivate them to resist tyranny and achieve success.

Young Farhia's family came to Sweden in 1980 and is the youngest of seven children. By 14 she was a good player. She was last playing for the Czech team Frisco brno and won quick accolades - MVP of the Under 16, Sweden's Forward Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and other titles not to mention contributing to Frisco's fantastic achievements. Her induction into the WNBA makes her the first Somali and the first Swede to be drafted into the NBA. The 6-feet-2 Farhiya will play for the LA Sparks.

Ahoooooooy! Another nomad making history. We love you, Farhiya!

Somalia's Living Shakespeare

He wrote hundreds of peoms. His poems are translated in dozens of languages. He is a reference of contemporary litrature. He has written some of the greatest Somali songs like Beletweyne. His presence is as imposing as his poems.

This living legend - called by some as Somalia's Shakespeare - is Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame better known as Hadrawi. Born in Burco in Northern Somalia, Hadrawi settled early in Aden and came back to Somalia when it got its independence. He has a rich life of experience as a student and teacher of Lafole University, Director of the art division of the Academy of Science, Arts and Litrature in Mogadishu and was one of the pillars of Radio Mogadishu and the National Theatre. A prolific critic of contemparary life, he fell out with the military government afte he wrote his famous Sinlay and play Tawaawac resulting in a solitary confinement for 5 years. As the country went into a quigmire of civil war, he cried with his poems and went into the field for peace. In 2003 he started his famous Peace March in the Mogadishu he did not see for decades and marched with similar minded Somalis for 500 KM to the seaport of Kismayo.  In 2011 he again visited Mogadishu carrying symbolic aid to the hundreds of refugees from the people of Northern Somalia (Somaliland). One never to hide his love for the Somali people which is the subject of many of his poems, he said that the thing he loves most is the togetherness and unity of the Somali people.

Hadrawi now is living in Hargeysa and makes visits schools and universities kindling the love of litrature in the hearts of young people. He also visits Somalis across the globe where his appearance attracts hundreds of Somalians.

He is indeed a living legend.

Hot, Young and Bold - Somalia's New Artists

They have taken the Somali music industry by storm. Young cool and gorgeous artists who asserted themselves in a market dominated long by older generations who were riding aging fans who still clang to their epic yester years before the devastating civil war. But that was then. Now came  into the arena young and bold artists in their first 3 decades, in the comfort of new homes in the west and with new technology available. The sing about war, peace but always LOVE! They sing singly in duos and in groups. In styles ranging from hip hop to classical to pop to even jazz. You name it!

Once such duo is the incredibly attractive Farxiya and Dalmar in their new bold 'Dhunksho' or 'Kissing' song that introduced to the Somali industry an intimacy that was shied from before. Here it is. Enjoy!

Somalis Jubilate at their Girls Basketball Team

Somalis were jubilant as their girls team brought hope that Somalia is back into the fold of nations by marching to the Somali national anthem and raising their country flag high.

The Somalis in the stadium in Qatar where Somalia was for the first time participating in the Pan-Arab Women's Basketball tournament went wild.

 But our girls were still not done as come next day they routed the host country and later Kuwait to end up at the 4th in the overall rating of the 21 nation competition. Given the civil war in Somalia, the zero resources for the Somalian teams and that they had to play against and won over some of the richest nations in the world was in itself another win. But for Somalis the most satisfying the most rewarding win was the participation, the glory of seeing the white starred blue flag and jumping to their feet every time our girls scored. Not only in Qatar but Somalis from Mogadishu to Beletweyn Bosasos to Hargeisa to Baidoa to Kismayo to Jabuti to Moscow to Nairobe to Jeddah to Sydney to Kuala Lampur to Istanbul to London to Seatle to Toronto to Dadab to Ceelasha Biyaha and in between  were all praise and hope as this seemed a good omen that the name Somali from now on will be normal and not synonymous with pirates, civil war and failed states.

They literally put Somalis into a chest beating  frenzy and returned some of the pride of yester years. What is more satisfying is how the international media picked the story and from CNN to VOA to BBC yo Russia 24 to Fox all picked the theme of a nation in trouble and war getting a sort of satisfaction and showing sign of recovery.

Scrolling, dribbling, jumping, shooting and scoring were those angelic Somali stars some of whose photos are on this page:

Khadija, Khadra, Qamar, Xamdi, Maryan, Yurub, Manal and Nicmo and the others and management team.

To you ladies we say we love you for coming from Somalia, Canada, USA, UK and other places, standing for our country and giving us moments of glory.

Thank you on behalf of every Somalia. God bless you.

Somali Twin Sensations : Ayan and Idyl

They are gorgeous and young and they took the fashion industry by storm. Ayan and Idyl are Somali twins who have their own design line in New York. They were interviewed in the Oprah show and are role models for the young. Proud of their heritage, they have called their brand Mataano or twin in Somali and have underlined how proud they are of their Somali and American heritage. A product of Michigan and Boston universities, these Somali twin sensations are living examples of successful enterpenourship.

This is an extraction from their Mataano website:

Born to Somali parents and raised in both their native country and Washington DC, identical twins Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim are anything but ordinary. Having fled Somalia at the age of nine to escape the country’s civil war, both Idyl and Ayaan completed their college education at University of Michigan and Boston University, respectively, before making the bold move to Manhattan where they aimed to stand out from the rest in the world of fashion and design. Experiencing the industry from the ground up through careful study and practice, they slowly crafted their talent, weaving their cultural influence throughout each meticulously designed piece in their studio with only distant dreams of launching a collection

In 2008, the Mohallim sisters took their first step together, launching a new brand, Mataano (meaning “twins” in Somali) and furnishing a platform to express their vision and bring forth their creations to the marketplace. Mataano’s premier Spring 2009 collection launched in New York City on November 1, 2008 featuring a boutique preview of ten dresses, many of which received notice in the industry. Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime television, invited both siblings onto a recent show via Skype featuring the Olsen twins and young millionaire moguls. Paralleling their success with the Olsen sisters, Oprah lauded the duo for their inspiring story and much deserved success, and gave them the national credibility that will undoubtedly launch Mataano as an emerging brand with a rich cultural heritage.

Below is some of their collections - including the flowing Somali Diric dress:

Somali Bloom wishes success to the twin nomads!

18 Year Old Somali with Golden Foot

Every now and then we see new nomad faces in the news. This week some very young talent made his mark in the football area.

On the night of 12JAN10, Somali sports fans watching the Man City Vs Blackburn Rovers game were thrilled to see a Somali face sitting among the spare Man City players on the back bench.

The focus of their admiration is 18-year old Abdisalam Abdulkadir Ibrahim "Caddaay" who has been signed up by the Man City Italian coach Robert Mancini known for his "new blood" strategy.

Abdisalam did not play during the game which Man City routed their rivals 3:1. But recent sports reviews have been all praise for him and many see him as a promising asset for the team.

Apparently football runs in the family blood. Abdisalam's father was a prominent international referee in Somalia and son is perfectly following that old adage of like father like son.

As for the fellow Somalis, it was a sight to behold to see on the TVs a fellow nomad lining up in one of the premier teams. Abdisalam is marking his time and given a chance will grab his opportunity. He knows he is a sort of flagship for his family and fellow Somalis. And of course he knows he has to deliver a return of goals for Man City's investment in him.

Of course an early unexpected return for Man City's investment is the large number of fans from the Somali community.