Somalilandpress

News headlines from Somaliland, Somalia and the world.

Somaliland: The Hargeisa International Book Fair

July 15, 2012 · 321652 Comments2012-07-15+15%3A44%3A24goth+Mohamed

The Hargeisa International Book Fair: Day One

The Hargeisa International Book Fair is far more than a book fair. It is now in its fifth year running and hosts authors, poets, musicians, film-makers, artists, playwrights, actors and circus performers, both Somali and non-Somali.

The book fair is being held in the Working Men’s Club in central Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland which declared itself independent from the rest of Somalia in 1991. The territory has built itself up from the rubble of war, has a growing economy and a functioning democracy.

The book fair is the brainchild of Jama Musse Jama, a Somali who fled to Italy during the civil war which broke out in the late 1980s, has lurched through various incarnations and is still not over today. Jama lives in the Italian town of Pisa where he has a publishing house, a vibrant website and a family. He is the author of several books. He was until recently a lecturer in Mathematics at Pisa University. Now he works as a computer scientist. Oh, and he invented a computer game based on a traditional Somali board game called Shax.

There are stalls selling books, paintings, photographs, handicrafts, clothes, cake and drinks. Mini-libraries have been set up so people can borrow books and read them in a specially

There are now taxis in Hargeisa. Last time I came (earlier this year) there were only buses and private vehicles. I had my first ride home from the book fair with Nadifa Mohamed and the Brazilian film-maker Iara Lee.

Posted by Mary Harper at 02:53 No comments

Follow @somalilandpress

By goth Mohamed

Tags: Somaliland: The Hargeisa International Book Fair

Kayse says:

Nice now Mary Harper works with Somalilandpress? Fantastic. I am a fan of Hargeisa International Book Fair and I wish I was there but I will be there next year…some of my boys are there now. Shout to you amigos!!

Well done Mary Harper!!

I am so happy that they now have two taxi companies. Last year when I was there I refused to ride on those dangerous, dirty and over-filled station-wagon metals.

Now they got serious stuff and Hargeisa (people not government) are making progress but no government, no Council services, no infrastructure….just people building homes and businesses.

I salute the people always, Hargeisawis are capitalists but they let down by the lack of councils and proper government.

They have bunch of useless people, corrupted to the max, who claim to be government, Hargeisawis are better without it.

10:02 am on July 15, 2012

Log in to Reply
- F.A. says:
  
  You are really ….. (sorry). How low can somebody be? I mean really? May Allah bring you some humanity in you. What you are doing is ill and it will follow you till the hearafter so you really need to stop before it is to late for you.
  Stop all your lies about the Somaliland Government. The people of Somaliland have chosen them in the office, which is really rare those days in this world. Instead of wishing your brothers and sisters in the office (muslim people) good you always attack them with all your writings. If only you could use all that time and great writtings (despite being blind to the truth brother) you may help allot of people including your own brothers and sisters of islam.
  
  I dont hate you but i really feel sorry for you, and I hope that you one day understand Somaliland and what we stand for (freedom and peace) and you support us in this.
  
  Peace and love to you.
  
  Asalamu alaykum
  
  1:00 pm on July 15, 2012
  
  Log in to Reply