Bristol MPs speaking at the launch of the Somali cultural exhibition

Charlotte Leslie, MP for Bristol North West, and Thangam Debbonaire, MP for Bristol West, speaking at the launch of the … More

Struggle – new Somali play in English comes to Bristol

Suuban explains how she is doubly discriminated against: she is black and she is Muslim. When a video she has made goes viral, she becomes the voice of her community but her new found fame has unwelcome consequences. MI5 pressure her relentlessly …

Somali Festival Bristol

The Somali Festival Bristol aims to celebrate not only the cultural heritage of the Somalis but the community’s presence in the city too. The festival will be held at the City Academy Bristol on Friday, 30th October 2015 – from 12:00 to 21:00 hours.

The Somali Festival Bristol is a sister to the week-long Somali Festival in London that is curated by Kayd and will similarly focus on the concept of ‘spaces’, what they mean, and how they are used, for ‘Aqoon la’aani waa iftiin la’aan – The absence of knowledge is the absence of light’ and we wish to fill these spaces with light. Thus the event will present Somali artists and academics, including Anab Guled, AbdiRahman Barwaaqo, Professor Awo Abdi, Ibrahim Hersi Hurre and Suuban’s Somali play ‘Struggle’, as well as the Bristol-based author and Somali playwright Abdillahi Mohabe – please see the attached documents for full details of the festival programme.

Cash is king

Somali business folk must understand that when in Rome they must do as the Romans do. This is a vital lesson. In Somalia it was easy to lend to your neighbour or long term customers and trust them to pay on time when agreed. Even without much written law, customs are strong and bind an entire community together. The respect of an individual depends on their ability to honour their obligations and debt. Unlike going bankrupt in England and America, once the business community has lost faith and trust in a person or group in Somalia, they are ostracised by everyone else.

Cultural explanations of Somali youth crime

The terms Somali and crime are becoming interchangeable in many right wing newspapers and blogs in England today. It, misleadingly, when combined with over two decades of civil war, gives the impression that the Somali culture celebrates or at least, tolerates violence and deviance.

The Somali community needs to learn to deal with the reality of Mental illness

Mental health issues are more prevalent in some groups than others and members of these groups tend to be the most vulnerable in society. These include the homeless, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, the disabled and those subject to immigration control or who are seeking asylum in the UK.

Many Somalis in the UK suffer from mental illness and need support, advice and guidance in order to recover from it.

Somaliland Faces a Tipping Point

Amid devastated Somalia, a country mired for two decades in unforgiving conflict, Somaliland glows as an ember of hope. A moderate peace has held for 10 years in the autonomous region, reflecting a decade of efforts to expand governance, security and social institutions. Yet, despite it being a minor success in a sea of failure, regional and international organizations will not grant Somaliland status as an independent state, or give it a seat at the international roundtable.

Recognising the value of Somaliland

The violent scenes in Somaliland’s parliament on Tuesday, following the third cancellation of the presidential election, showed one country’s fragile democracy crumbling before our eyes. One MP even pulled a pistol on his colleagues. Why is no country, such the old colonial power Britain, offering to mediate and prevent an eruption of hostilities?