The Development of Somali Social sciences

[Waaberi]

most published books about Somalia, whether about it society or history is written by Westerns.Two examples are Modern History of the Somalia by I.M Lewis or Somali Sultanate: The Geledi State over 150 years by Virginia Luling. although i enjoyed both books i couldn't help a certain uneasiness about their portrayal of somalis. although i believe that both authors grew to respect and forge lasting friendship with their subjects. for them this was just a means to an end. their approached their subjects with cold detached academic indifference or worse portray somalis as noble yet primitive savages. they don't have a emotional response to history like a native would who would picture Somalia history as something alive a link to the past and a determining factor for the future of Somalia society. on the other hand books about somalia history written by somalis usually found in Xawalah office, somali shops or somali cafes are usually inadequate short, boring and without any academic research. none are written in english which means that they are out of reach of avid audiences among somali in diaspora. so i believe that we should definitely encourage a new revitalized Somali Studies. serious, Academic researched works about somali anthropology, history, geography, economics, linguistic etc etc etc.

Archeologist Sada Mire gives me hope for the future. now i know what most of you are thinking: let wait for peace and than thing can take off but with lasting peace tantalizing close is it time for somalis to start thinking about grand idea since the old excuse will insha-allah be erased soon.