Morning breaks

I woke up a couple of times last night, half from mixed up dreams and half wondering if it's morning yet.

It ended up not raining last night, though the air was thick with the smell of a looming storm.

October is the rainy season in Somalia...
Desperate hope fills everyone's heart as they pray for rain.

Imagine if it were us, if we were trekking hundreds of kilometers across a desert searching for survival. Imagine leaving behind your old folk, loosing your babies and burying your spouse.

No amount of imagining will make us understand. How can we ever understand such devastation ?

We have taps all around us and refrigerators and stores too. We live in paradise. We, desperately search for happiness. Our stomachs are always full.

I think about the story of the Somali man who had to make his baby suckle on his wife's corpse; just to be strong enough to carry on the journey.

Has suffering become only another news piece ?
Muslims believe the faithful are one body, that when 1 part pains the whole body hurts....
How many tears have rolled for the Somali's?

First Rains

I usually pay particular attention to when the first rains of spring fall in my part of joburg... While I don't remember exact dates I noted it's coming later.

I doubt I will ever forget this year's... tonight.

I feel the twist of joy go bitter, because tomorrow I leave for Somalia..
There are two things I really find myself thinking;
How different our worlds are n that I have no idea of how Somalia's hurts.
The second thing I wonder is what is the real lesson here ?

Looks like a storm is brewing.....

Al Imdaad foundation saving lives and rebuilding Somalia

Somali women and lifestyle

A POEM BY ASINA AWAKE ON THE FAMNE

Dying from sever hunger
Bones decaying infront of my eyes as i forget how it is to be a youngster
dried tears, no need to be in anger
Thats Shaitan't characteristic, i'll just obey Allah, submit, and surrender
YOur daily Dua is all i request
For that will give me an assurance that my life might turn out for the best
I understand this could possibly be a test
But this is a lesson for you
You who throw away food
You who satisfaction indeed subdued
you who over eats to the point ehre the food changes your mood
You who's rather spend 10 dollars watching Hollywood
I don't blame you as you haven't experienced this pain
Can you imagine starring at the sky for hours just to witness one dropp of rain?
Maybe that's too much strain on your brain

History of Somali Part 3

History of Somalia Part 2

History of Islam In somalia

The Journey Begins

As I sit preparing myself for my journey to Mogadishu, I cannot help but reflect upon a verse of the Quraan:

"...We have created you all male and female and have made you nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other..."

How is it that the Somali community has been in South Africa for 120 years now but still my association with my brethren has been limited to kind smiles and polite gestures ?

The opportunity has arrived and I am about to set off on a journey over the next two weeks discovering a learning everything I can about Somalia and Somalis.

From the outset one gets the sense of the uniqueness of this humble nation; they are of 1 tribe, practice 1 religion, speak 1 language and have 1 culture.

The average Somali is a relaxed individual, timid and humble, yet strong and independent. Perseverance and courage are disguised behind brilliant smiles of kindness.

Somalia has found itself trapped by a disaster of epidemic proportions. Many believe the famine suffered by the region, Somalia being the worst affected, is a natural disaster - this is the furthest reality from the truth!

Decades of political meddling and the undermining of social evolution by outsiders have caused Famine.

Piracy, which is described so horrifically in main stream media, is the off shoot of this interference, along with the pillaging of the seas by foreign fishing fleets.

What lies above and beyond the politics? What undiscovered treasures and beauties are there? How many tales will there be tell of victories against suffering, and resistance in the face of oppression?

I am set for a remarkable journey, one which fills me with enthusiasm along with anxiety for it is an untold tale which is my province to tell.