User talk:Soomaali

As-salamu alaykum! Judging by your username, I thought you might also be interested in working on the Somali Wikipedia, which is still pretty much empty. - Mustafaa 11:29, 24 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Wa salaam...

W.S.W.W., brother. Well, I try to edit other English-based Somali-related topics, never seen or knew there was a Soomaali page. I will now try to do my best, brother.

PS, are you Somali?

No, I'm actually Algerian, but I'm interested in a lot of languages. I tried to add a few links to the Somali Wikipedia using a dictionary, but I don't really speak Somali. I'm afraid the page is a bit of a shambles at the moment; the welcome text on the front page hasn't even been translated into Somali, let alone the interface. Good luck! - Mustafaa 13:24, 28 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Somali language

As-salamu alaykum! Please see Talk:Somali language for a discussion of your recent changes, which I reverted and which were reverted last week by another editor. It boils down to the fact that Wikipedia articles should be written from a neutral point of view. Nabadeey, — mark ✎ 10:12, 7 May 2005 (UTC)

By the way, I see that no-one has provided you yet with information on the workings of Wikipedia. You might want to check out some of the following:

• Welcome, newcomers
• How to edit a page
• Editing, policy, conduct, and structure tutorial
• Picture tutorial
• How to write a great article
• Naming conventions
• Manual of Style
• If you're ready for the complete list of Wikipedia documentation, there's also Wikipedia:Topical index.

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! By the way, you can sign your name on Talk and vote pages using three tildes, like this: ~~~. Four tildes (~~~~) produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, see the help pages, add a question to the village pump or ask me on my Talk page. Kind regards, — mark ✎ 10:15, 7 May 2005 (UTC)

Mark, I wrote this response on the other thread, talk:Somali language. So, basically let me paste it for you.

I edited and wrote 'occupied Somali region of Ethiopia" because there was/is no official and clarified agreement the former or current goverments of Somalia and Ethiopia. This dispute resulted one major war, plus another two minor unofficial wars regarding that region called "Soomaali Galbeed" (Western Somalia) by Somalis. It is still in official dispute, which most Somalis regard unsolved. So this justifies my reasoning of it being 'occupied.' Mind you the "border" between Somalia and Ethiopia isn't internationally recognized, and no body has an official agreement where to draw the line. Even the colonial powers who divided the Somali people let that "boundary" be vague, as it is today. It isn't a border per se as other international known boundaries are.

PS1, I know wikipedia for about two years now and, believe me, read all its rules and regulations. Even though I hardly used edite and that I am very familiar the so-called 'edit wars.' Honestly, It isn't my cup of tea to have a dispute on online, even in real life....it isn't just me!

PS2, where did you learn that phrase, "nabadeey," from? I am presuming you aren't Somali, are you?

No, I am not Somali :) (I found the Somali greeting in a dictionary). I'm just someone interested in African languages. As for disputes, it isn't really my cup of tea either; and I hope we find a nice NPOV phrasing to our liking to use at Somali language. Kind regards, — mark ✎ 08:54, 9 May 2005 (UTC)

I still am even surprised at your correct spelling of 'nabadeey.' Note the last long vowel, which Somali (Soomaali) language is famous for. I just met a displaced (homeless) man today at my city and asked me some changes; after handing some, he instantly asked me whether I was Somali and as I was finishing to say yeah, he started rapidly speaking a little Somali sentences he knew, how how are you (sidee tahay), I'm good (waan fiicanahay), etc; I was surprised. Still am. I asked him who taught him, and started answering, "Musse, your friend, your Somali brother..." LoL--Soomaali

Good to hear that :). I'm used to the long/short distinction in vowels because I've been diving into several African languages which have it (for example, Nobiin). — mark ✎ 10:38, 12 May 2005 (UTC)

re Christian names

You removed your comment from Talk:Lists of tropical cyclone names but I felt like answering anyway. What's your exact point? Sure, the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific and Filipino basins have a lot of "Christian" (by that I assume you mean standard western first names, or what?) names, because those areas are mostly Christian. If you scroll down to the Central Pacific list (Hawaiian) or Western Pacific list (two dozen different languages), you find many other kinds of names. Or did I misunderstand the comment, and you removed it for that reason? =p --Golbez July 9, 2005 07:52 (UTC)

Hello there. Thanks for the private message. But I didn't remove what I wrote, and it is still there, I believe. I was just asking about the supposedly Christian names Hurricanes are based on, just a curious inquiry. Nothing else.

Thanks for explanation.---Soomaali

Sorry, it was late so in my fatigue, it looked like you'd added it then removed it - but in actuality, you'd only added it, and it was a new page. :P So back to the question - what do you mean? :) --Golbez 14:36, July 11, 2005 (UTC)

What I meant was since Hurricanes are natural events that take place worldwide (albeit mostly in the Caribbean nations), it needs diversied international names. Look at this list of supposed Hurricane names, should they happen to occur in this year: Adrian - Beatriz - Calvin - Dora - Eugene - Fernanda - Greg - Hilary - Irwin - Jova - Kenneth - Lidia - Max - Norma - Otis - Pilar - Ramon - Selman - Todd - Veronica - Wiley - Xina - York - Zelda

Don't you think these names are ALL Christian-based (or Western-based) names? I don't see an Asian name, African or even a well-known Muslim name. The issue isn't about wikipedia having those names, since it was originally given and copied from U.S. National Hurricane Center, so the issue is with this organization. ---Soomaali

That list is the 2005 Eastern Pacific List (Which was, incidentally, mostly written in 1979). Barring *extremely* rare circumstances, those storms will effect only Mexico, Central America, Hawaii, and possibly - very rarely - the continental United States. They will never hit a Muslim nation, nor an African, nor, again barring *extremely* rare circumstances, an Asian nation. A storm will almost never hop basins - and, FYI, when it does, it's given a new name, excepting eastern Pacific -> central Pacific.

I don't think you realize that there are about a dozen lists used worldwide: the Atlantic list, the Eastern Pacific list (both mostly Western names), the Central Pacific list (mostly Hawaiian names), the Western Pacific list (mostly Asian names - look at it), the Papuan list (mostly Papuan names), the various Australian lists (mostly western names), etc. In other words, the lists use names that are relevant to the impacted population. A hurricane in the Eastern Pacific - the list you cited - will only ever likely impact a Latin American country, so why are names outside of those familiar to Latin Americans useful? Likewise, should the Papuan list include a bunch of Western names?

Did this address your question? --Golbez 13:33, July 12, 2005 (UTC)

Well, it does in a way. I didn't see other lists regarding about other non-Caribbean, non-North American Hurricanes, for I always come across the media in North America mentioning this particular kind. And when I came wikipedia to check, I only saw them again, so that re-inforced it.

Anyway, thanks for your explanation, once more.---Soomaali

They're right there on the page... sure, they're lower, but those basins are less studied and less promoted. And, I would wager, many of them are less frequent. There are few storms in the Central Pacific, and not many storms hit Papua New Guinea so far as I know. The ones that get the most press are those in the western Pacific and Atlantic; ironically, the basin that kills the most, the eastern Indian Ocean, last I checked had no names, but maybe that's changed.

Put another way - the only basins the American media are likely to mention in a given year are Atlantic (especially considering American media), maybe an occasional eastern Pacific storm (like Adrian, was was a big rarity), and maybe an occasional western Pacific storm (Like the typhoons last year that hit Japan). None others. Then again, most cyclones form and fizzle out without effecting land; the Atlantic basin is unusual in that most of its storms DO effect land of some kind. Most Eastern Pacific storms, and nearly all Central Pacific storms, die out in the open sea without ever showering land. Media in other regions are likely to focus on those storms relevant to those regions; Fijian media, Papuan media, Australian media, etc. But the Atlantic basin gets the most press even worldwide because 1) The dollar figures attached to them (Last year's storms caused $45 billion total, Andrew alone caused $25 billion; no other storm has ever come close in financial damage); and 2) Especially since Jeanne of last year, people are reminded that Atlantic storms can kill a lot of people. Jeanne killed 3000 in 2004, Mitch killed 18,000 in 1998; yes, other basins have deadlier storms, but they occur with less frequency. Hope this cleared things up further :)--Golbez 20:23, July 14, 2005 (UTC)

Yeah, it cleared much up and nothing down. Perhaps North American earthquakes (especially the California and Washington states since they frequent there commonly) should be given names too, LoL.

Have you studied anything relating to storms, by the way? I still can't figure out how a typhoon, a storm, a hurricane, a cyclone and others differ from one another, really. Perhaps technicalities, I guess.---Soomaali (July 18, 5:05 p.m., Eastern Time)

No difference whatsoever except the location. A storm in the North Atlantic ocean is a hurricane (Only one such storm has been seen in the South Atlantic so there's no naming standard yet); so is a storm in the North Pacific ocean east of the dateline. A storm in the North Pacific west of the dateline is a typhoon. There have been a few cases where a hurricane formed in the east pacific, was named a hurricane from the Central or East Pacific lists, then moved across the dateline, was renamed a typhoon and given a name from the West Pacific list, and then actually moved BACK across the dateline and was re-renamed a hurricane and given its original name. (Storms moving between Eastern and Central Pacific keep their names, though).

All of these are "tropical cyclones". Hurricane and typhoon are two local names for them, and there are others; Australia calls them "severe tropical cyclones" or sometimes simply "cyclone". That typhoons tend to be larger and stronger than hurricanes is just a function of their environment; structurally they are identical. And to add a little more confusion to the naming, when a hurricane reaches Category 3 or higher, it's called a "major hurricane"; likewise, when a typhoon reaches roughly the same strength, it's styled a "Super typhoon", which tends to stick. (e.g. no one refers to Andrew as "Major Hurricane Andrew", but lots of people will say "Super Typhoon Tip".)

A tropical storm is universally called such, and is basically the first step in cyclone formation. It has the characteristics of a tropical cyclone, like low pressure, high windspeeds and cyclonic rotation (these storms rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise in the southern), but lack mature hurricane features like an eye and eyewall. Hurricanes (typhoons, etc) are those storms with sustained windspeeds of 75 mph or higher; that just happens to be the speed that eyes tend to form in these storms.

As for naming earthquakes, the reason they name hurricanes is because they can be seen two weeks away, and there was a need for a simple identifier to expedite preparations and insurance claims. (saying "Andrew" is a lot easier than "the storm of August 1992"). If they could predict earthquakes in advance and there were enough a year, they might name them. :) --Golbez 21:23, July 18, 2005 (UTC)

Today I was reading the paper when it mentioned Typhoon Haitang in China and Taiwan (now downgraded to a "storm," though). Apperantly as you were saying, they too have their own names. This is a first for me to come across, because I used to hear/see before only ambiguous "typhoon" or "storm" only without a specific name.

You've been a lot of helpful, thanks. Where are you from, by the way? As my name says, I am a Somali currently living in Toronto.

Oh, I just checked your profile, and it says you are from North Carolina. A "red state," aha? The closest I've been to that state was during my brief visit to Fairfax (or was it Alexandria? I don't know, LoL), Virginia.

You're welcome. :) Yeah, the Pacific list is weird - it has 4 lists of names, each one contributed by one of the 26, I think, countries around the Pacific rim that could potentially be impacted by a typhoon. The USA list (They do have Guam out there, after all) looks nothing like Christian names, too. And yeah, North Carolina, though I've lived most my life in and around Washington DC. How do you feel about the current "forbidden experiment" going on in Somalia? By that, I mean, no one would ever deliberately force anarchy on people, but in those rare cases where it happens, it's an interesting study. --Golbez 22:16, July 20, 2005 (UTC)

It is Westerners who believe and sense such an Utopia thinking of anarchic experiment. Somalia is a truly failed state, yes, and it is perplexed one because Somalis are mostly ethnically homogeneous as one, not to mention speaking one language, having one Faith and one culture and heritage. Still, historically, they quarrelled, feuded, bickered and fought to death in the name of clan and sub-sub-sub clan. At that time, it never affected that much Somalis because they didn't have this modern weapons we see widespread today in the country.

I've been to the country, Mogadishu, in 2003, and it is really sad how "survival of the fittest" rules. The country advances in communication and technological sector, but poverty and weariness of 15 of non-sense war is universal. Thus, really, the anarchy I had seen isn't really fitting for a human race. Order is essential, and without order and law, humanity wouldn't exist as we know it. Perhaps 'economical anarchy,' in sense of laissez-faire would make sense for now Somalia has one of the cheapest telephone rates in Africa and in the world too. Cheapest Internet rates too. Most cheapest stuff, too, perhaps. And you can buy in Somalia anything you desire to have. Note that: ANYTHING! But still much of the country, public health is unheard of, no schools (at least affordable ones), no police, no courts, etc. In this environment, I guess not a people as a whole group could progress.

I'm a firm believer that the best order comes from chaos - witness Wikipedia. Somalia is an .. interesting opportunity for study. Yet all anyone can think of is shoving in a government not necessarily elected of the people - do you think they'd rather have anarchy, or a dictatorship? I think once they realized that no government was going to be coming back any time soon - unless the UN and NATO force one on them - they started going with this, with private defense and such popping up. Which has made it attractive enough for foreign investment that I recall hearing a large Coca Cola plant opened there, and it's probably not alone. Your feeling seems negative; my feeling is positive; the reality may be in the middle. That some things are lacking will be dealt with in time. It's just unfortunate this has to be created from whole cloth. --Golbez 17:37, July 25, 2005 (UTC)

My feelings are expressed by the vast majority of Somalis. They do really want a government, regardless of whether it is a dictatorship or under the guise of authoritarianism--what they desperately want to have is any government that makes rules and order. Somalis have a well-known saying for this: "Dowlad xun dowlad la'aan ayee dhaantaa" (roughly translated as, "A bad government is better than a non-government). Somalia is a testament to that.

What an odd statement. I guess it depends on how bad a government.

The version of "anarchism" wikipedia is and the reality one cannot be compared, really. This is a virtual one. But when it is an environment of war, a boy younger than 14 carrying AK-47, caring no body and listening to no one, then we have a problem. Much worse problem. The whole Somalia isn't anarchic, though. The nothern regions of Puntland and Somaliland both declared their autonomous and are in great progress. They are quite peaceful, albeit some of their citizens having machine guns at home. Compared to the anarchic southern part of the country, the stark contrast cannot be more clearer.

Nothing wrong with having machine guns in the home; being self-sufficient is hardly a vice. They know what things were like under previous governments - why should they trust future ones? And yes, the north is far, far better off - which makes it such a shame that the incoming Mogadishu government, if they ever get the balls to enter, will very likely try to force them back into a unified Somalia.

And that Coca Cola plant was opened by 300 or so expatriate Somalis, who couldn't wait no longer. It cost almost $9 million in a shareholding format. But this doesn't say much in what goes on in the country.

You have a point saying "shoving" or forcing a government to the people won't work. However, it isn't the people who are against the government (any government that has tried to exercise its muscle), it is, on the contrary, the warlords and their militia who are firmly against. It is them who brought down the 14 conferences Somalis had in the last 15 years. They fear they will lose their little power. Also regional nations contribute and prolong the conflict, mainly Ethiopia and Kenya. Especially Ethiopia, who, in a clear daylight, arms each group.

Of course the warlords are against, it's competition. Trading one warlord for another. However, some people are against them too, both the government and the warlords. And yeah, Ethiopia and Kenya are really annoying me over there. As if they don't have enough problems, they want to focus on making trouble next door. --Golbez 21:08, July 25, 2005 (UTC)

Do you why Ethiopia and Kenya are interfering or siding with one side or the other? It isn't a proxy war; in fact, both are from one philosophical side, albeit Kenya been discreet and cautious, perhaps trying to show the international community how neutral it is to Somali conflict.

I figured it wasn't a proxy war - I just figured they wanted to meddle, as governments tend to do.

The Somali mentality doesn't help for those who own guns. Somalis are fiercely tribal society; if a man from their fellow tribe is killed, suddenly, without a warning, another innocent man from the alleged tribe is revenged upon, and fast enough there is a war. This is one reason why machine guns, even pistols, in civilian hands isn't a good choice. I know where you are coming from, for the American history and your constitution, but this doesn't apply for Somalis. Really.

Perhaps, but if only the government has guns, then you lead back to the Siad Barre situation again, or worse, the Zimbabwe or Nazi Germany situations. My general feeling is, the costs:benefits analysis always favors the individual. You don't need guns to start a tribal war, but they are great at defending yourself. But anyway. --Golbez 21:47, July 25, 2005 (UTC)

"I figured it wasn't a proxy war - I just figured they wanted to meddle, as governments tend to do."

Actually they would benefit, in their view, Somalia in this deep conflict than a stable, secure and powerful Somalia. Why? Both occupy a large junk Somali lands that were acceded by Britain. Somalis never forgot their brethren, and tried everything. They still don't forget it. Also the boundary between Ethiopia and Somalia isn't internationally settled yet and there were two minor and one major war between them. Ethiopia was rescued by Cubans and financial and logical support from the then Soviet Union, who abruptly sided with Mengistu regime, abandoning Siad Barre. Ethiopia never forgot this, because Somalia almost had gotten with piece of land if it wasn't Soviet Union. It thus vowed to destabilize and quickly started helping some antagonized sector of Somalis. It quickly armed, giving a base the newly formed guerilla. It, sadly, finally achieved and Somalia fell to its knees, though Mengistu didn't see the fruit of the tree he planted. ---Soomaali (July 25)

Ahh, that reminds me of what I always say - most geo-political conflict on this planet can be blamed on the Brits drawing lines where they didn't belong. ;) And where not Britain, then France. Iraq-Kuwait, most of the Middle East in general, Somalia, a good portion of Africa in general... --Golbez 22:45, July 25, 2005 (UTC)

Yep. Europeans believed if locals can't help themselves, they are others (i.e. them) ready to do that "help." Most conflicts--within and out--in Africa is blamed on this nonsense European colonial policies of cramping together people who never shared any history, religion and language. They separated those who shared everything. They weren't asked for their opinion, only caring about who ruled what large land.

It is sad.---Soomaali

Must be a heck week!

Hey, there.

I must guess you are too busy in this week, LoL. Unwanted and unwelcomed guest, "Katrina," is forcibly landing, I guess.

And then Rita! --Golbez 18:01, 26 September 2005 (UTC)

And then Wilma. And then Alpha. And then.... I hope you are doing great. Soomaali Nov., 15, 2005

Edit summaries

You recently made major changes (including blanking) on some articles, including Awdal. It would be helpful if you gave a summery of why you make such changes - otherwise your edits may qualify as vandalism. Since you have made many good edits, I doubt your intention is to vandalize - but as a matter of courtesy, please explain major edits.--Ezeu 10:16, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

I edited those that had overtly clanish inclination. Nothing about vandalism. Most were about rubbish, overtoned with useless tribal references. I equally edited to make it tribal-free. That was only my intention. You can bring them back, if you want to. Soomaali Nov., 14, 2005

All I am saying is that an edit summary would be helpful. I am not questioning your edits. --Ezeu 10:31, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

I thought I explained myself: I edited for slanted and unnecessary tribal reasons. You may not understand if you aren't Soomaali. Mentioning tribal names in some of those regions were unnecessary, especially regions dwelled by several different tribal groups, while only mentioning few of them.

I hope I explained myself clearly now. And by the way, it notes there on your profile that you were originally from "East Africa." Where exactly in East? Soomaali Nov., 15, 2005

I'm from Uganda--Ezeu 06:00, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Good, then we should stick with Musaveni and what his regime is doing, no? Kidding. Soomaali

You explained yourself after the fact, Soomaali. What we want is for you to use edit summaries when you are making the edits. I reverted because all I saw was removed information without reason. You can remake the edits if you explain why in the edit summaries when you were doing them. I respect you, but I've had a few anon IPs make blanket, unreasoned deletions of info from Somalia-related pages lately, so I'm a bit hair-trigger on it. --Golbez 16:49, 15 November 2005 (UTC)

Darod and Hawiye

Greetings, I am wondering if you would care to lend any effort to the articles Darod and Hawiye. There is not much information in either article, but both are currently subject to revert wars. Specifically, there is a discrepancy regarding the relative size of these clans. I have only been able to find conflicting information, and so I have cited this discrepancy in both articles (assuming it hasn't been reverted again by the time you read this). Can you provide, or point me to, a better reference? Thanks in advance, -- Gyrofrog (talk) 06:50, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

The reason Somalia is in flames is exactly because of these above mentioned clans, and sometimes a third. They are two of the four "major" clans. But these two are suspicious of one another most of the time. They do not trust one another. Since Somalia gained independence, the presidents belonged those two clans.

No body knows which Somali clan is major. There were never an official clan census, and it it was, no body would have believed because depending on who takes the census, even a combined clans of committee taking it, there will regardlessly be a a dispute. Each and every of four "major" clans equally claim to be the one that has most population. The four "major" clans are Darood, Hawiye, Digil and Mirifle (collectively known as Rahanweyn) and Dir.

Most of these "major" clans are as the result of "confenderating" and forming "alliances" to fend of attacks and land land annexing by other equally federated clans. Since there was no written history in most of Somali society, this fact was lost and the myth "Arab sheiks" coming to Somalia, which was an oral history, took over. But Somalis are rediscovering that it is nothing but myth. [By the way, the clans Digil and Mirifle, Hawiye and Dir do not believe they "descended" from Arabs. However, one clan within Dir, which is Isaaq (and members of this group sometimes say they are Dir and sometimes advocate they are a separate clan of their own), some of their members of this Isaaq clan believe they, like Darood, were descended from a sheikh by the name of "Isaaq," which was never proven. Keep in mind, there is no facial difference between all Somali clans' members. No cultural difference. Nothing that suggested there ever was a differences than "clan" names. All Somalis look alike, within the exception of Somali Bantus and the genuine, real, unquestioned Somali Arabs, called "Reer Xamar" [also known as "Banadiri."]

The latter no body questions their Arab blood because they are Arabs in every sense of the word, including their starkly physical difference from other Somalis, even with all these centuries of intermarriage with other Somalis. Most of them still look like Arabs. They are two of groups of them, though. Those who came to Somali peninsula more than a thousand years ago (the founders of Mogadishu and coastal towns, which Somalis also call "Xamar" [and a side note, you can see their tribal name even suggests this cannotation "Reer Xamar" or the "people of Xamar"]). While all of them were eventually integrated into Somali society and forming their own "clan" (the Reer Xamar), they still retained their distant Arab culture and traditions, eventually introducing those cultures to other Somalis. The other group is a later comers, mostly from Yemen. They came in the colonial times, and some eventually went back to Yemen, while others were forced to return by the late regime after the 1977 war between Ethiopia and Somalia when communist North Yemen (I think) sided with Ethiopia. The regime retaliated by expelling those Somali-Yemenis.

Again, Somali history is mostly peppered with unproven myths that some take as facts. For example that "Sheikh Darood Ismail" and "Sheikh Isaaq;" both never existed, and there is no physical evidence than a few written pieces, some written by coloninalists (who were fed by the wrong and biased information the clan chiefs and without authenticating it believed them, writing some books on Somalis).

Anyway, check these sites, but don't believe whatever you read:

http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/somalia/1994/dawn_of_civilization/index.htm (this site's information fits the colonial information "fed" by clan chiefs without authenticating the information)

http://bdeco.tripod.com/somalia/clans.html (a good map up there)

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/somalia_ethnic_grps_2002.jpg (another good map)

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/somalia.html

And those "revert wars" up there, the tribalists finally came online, I guess. ;-) Do not believe whatever they write, though. Not an atom of what they write, believe me. Soomaali 30 Nov., 2005

I suspected there might be some chauvinism behind the recent edits (but then i was reading between the lines). Thank you very much, all of this is fascinating! -- Gyrofrog (talk) 08:08, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

Gyro., can you have a look at Darod page. Some people are messing it up. Soomaali April 24, 2006

I've left comments at Talk:Darod#Darod Jaberti subclans. -- Gyrofrog (talk) 19:32, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Hello, I have left a message for Taajir that he is in danger of violating the three revert rule. However, since it is your edits that he is reverting, please realize that you are only one edit behind him where this rule is concerned. Thanks, -- Gyrofrog (talk) 04:35, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Obviously, he isn't heeding. Actually, I have no problem what he is listing, but it diminishes the quality of encyclopedia since the names he is listing are his uncles' names that no body knows, let alone a sub-clan name. He already edited even as you warned, and I did. I hope it will be the last time. Soomaali April 28, 2006

Hello there.

That guy came back again on Darod page, and doing the same vandalism again. He hadn't heeded your earlier warning, I see. Please have a talk with him, lecturing that wikipedia isn't his family's homepage. Soomaali May 12, 2006

Thanks for clearing up Nugaal

Hi Soomaali,

Thanks for clearing up your changes on Nugaal. I don't know this area, I was involved with cleaning up this page and adding infomation from elsewhere on the wikipedia.

Cheers. akaDruid 11:32, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

You're welcome. But know that most Somali information up there were written by some Somali individuals Somalis might call "tribalists." They brought their biased clan attitude to online. Be very cautious about this. Soomaali 30 Nov., 2005

History of Somalia

Selam. I was wondering if you could help clean up and disambiguate the article History of Somalia. Being Ethiopian, I knew enough to clean up everything up to the 1600s, but I'm unfamiliar with the history after that, which comprises the main portion of the text. Yom 09:04, 30 March 2006 (UTC)

Wa salaam. I will try to look at it. Not now, though. A bit busy currently. Soomaali Mar. 30, '06.

Darod

I'm looking for a second opinion on the names and links that I put in earlier.

1. Is Maj. Gen Mohamed Siad Barre the same person as Siad Barre who was president of Somalia from 1969-1991?
2. Is Abdirashid Shermarke the same person as Abdirashid Ali Shermarke who was president of Somalia from 1967-1969?
3. Is Adde Muse Hersi the same person as Mohamud Muse Hersi who is the president of Puntland?

I had linked them as quick reasearch indicated that they were the same. However, User:Taajir removed them. I still think they are the same and restored them here. Let me know. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 06:25, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, they are the same people, all of them. That user "Taajir" removes them for clan purpose. Do not mind his vandalism. Soomaali June 14, '06.

Somali clan

Please be careful. Your last edit changed several blue links into red links. Thanks. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 04:11, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

What? I was just clarifying some things. Under Hawiye clan, it had Garre sub-clan, which also happened to be under the Digil clan. Garre sub-clan aren't part of Hawiye, but Digil.

And I was clarifying and making sense other things, did not delete.

I didn't explain myself well enough. When you changed some of the names such as Gadabuursi to Gudabiirsi and Murale to Muraale the links went from blue to red. I changed some back but missed some of the others. The other edits tha you made were good and did help to clarify the clans. CambridgeBayWeather (Talk) 04:24, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

Gudabiirsi and Muraale are the Somali spellings. Since most other clan names have the original Somali spellings, I tried to do that with those two names as well. You can put a sub-link with English spelling, which may take you to that link, and at the same time have the Somali spelling. Easy.

Garre clan is still included in the Hawiye clan part, which is still wrong. Garre is part of Digil. Soomaali

That so-called Mel Etitis is misusing his soft, limited power as one of adminstrators. What is on Somali clan page is not sourced and it is a blatant misinformation, and while trying to correct some of you are reverting it back and forth. What I put as an information is a goverment-based, and it is in the interim constitution.

Like that above mentioned guy, who does not even know Somalis and their culture, retorts to threaten me. I never vandalize pages for my long four years of stay here and never was my intention, but I cannot stand the complete disregard of real sources and misinformation, in addition of misusing his limited power as an adminstrator for threatening to block me. Soomaali [March 26, 2007]

Vandalism warning

This is your last warning.
The next time you vandalize a page, as you did to Somali clan, you will be blocked from editing Wikipedia. --Mel Etitis (Talk) 13:09, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

What vandalism are you really talking about than abusing your limited power?

There is no source whatsoever of what you put there. I put there what in in the constitution, explaining it. What you, on the hand, put is unsourced and unexplained.

You don't even know the Somalis.

Bring sources, otherwise it is YOU who is doing the vandalism. I don't vandal any pages for my four years of staying here and never was my intention, but I cannot stand the blatant disregard of sources and distorted misinformation, and your misuse of soft, limited power of threatening others does not help, either. Soomaali [March 26]

I've blocked you from editing for six hours in the hope that you'll use the time to think about your approach to Wikipedia and come back prepared to edit in line with our guidelines and policies. If you keep behaving as you have been doing, however, the blocks will increase. --Mel Etitis (Talk) 09:47, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

It is ME who is following the guidelines, you are NOT. Certainly not. You do not know Somali history, let alone Somali clans. I am not in favour of any clan, just putting the facts as they are, while you are forcifully trying to suppress that. Instead of abusing that soft power and threatening "I am going to block you," you should put your sources forth, as I am doing. Soomaali [March 27]

Read WP:CITE. In what sense are you following Wikipedia policy in making large-scale changes with no sources, only your claim that you have knowledge which others don't? --Mel Etitis (Talk) 08:08, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

There are plenty of wrong and misinformation on there. I tried to deal that with you, but you do not know Somali history, only trying to re-state the misinformation there.

First of all, the "Sab" is not a cluster of minority clans. Sab and Samaale are mythical figures that Somalis united. Sab is thought to be the "father" of Digil and Mirifle, where as Samaale as the "father" of Dir and Hawiye. Both Daarood and Isaaq claim the fairy tales of mythical Arab heritage, though no evidence. Which brings us the other wrong misinformation, which is Irir Samaale, which some included Daarood and Isaaq to be part of. They are not.

Now, I will give you my sources about the 4.5 formula that the interim federal transitional government follows. Here they are:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/12475/somalias_transitional_government.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F11392%2Feben_kaplan

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR520012005?open&of=ENG-SOM

Since I am just trying to correct the misinformation, I hope this closes the case now. A lot of misinformation were there, and when an expert tries to edit, without looking further, you people bring the old misinformation back. You people seem oblivious to the Somali clan history. Soomaali [March 27]

You simply don't understand what Wikipedia is, nor how it works; I've tried to explain, and to point you to documents that explain, but you still refuse. "Experts" cannot edit outside our rules; all edits need to be given verifiable sources. Your new changes are in large part sourced; I've copy-edited those, moved the section to a more natural place in the article, and commented out one section (concerning the 4.5 formula) which doesn't make sense as it stands: you don't say what the formula is for, what the figures stand for, and the English of the first sentence is too obscure for me to be able to understand, and thus to correct. Could you explain it at the article's Talk page, so that we can work out how to add it? --Mel Etitis (Talk) 09:39, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

I've explained the 4.5 formula on the talking page, and I hope you will see it on there. There, however, remains some other misinformation in the page. This time whoever put there following statements needs to bring a source, such as labelling "Sab" as a minority clans name. No, it is not. Sab and Samaale are two mythical brothers in Somali tales, not a "minority" status.

"Sab" is given to mean the "father" of Digil and Mirifle clans, whereas "Samaale" being the "father" of Dir and Hawiye.

Daarood and Isaaq were never part of those two. They claim to descended from a mythical, though unproven, Arab ancestor.

Another thing is that "second tier" labelling to Rahanweyn (or Digil and Mirifle) clan, without giving a source.

Third is Daarood and Isaaq are not Irir Samaale, but only Dir and Hawiye. Sometimes Isaaq clan members say they are part of Dir and thus being part of Irir Samaale, sometimes claiming a mythical Arab figure that is not proven. But Daarood never claimed to be an Irir Samaale. In the 4.5 formula, they were added in Dir category.

I was trying to clarify those as well. I hope you see that. The burden of onus is not me to bring a source, it is on whoever put there to bring it. Those are not sourced statements and do need sources. Soomaali [March 29]

There's no need to give details here; they belong on the Talk page.

If you think that the article is wrong, and it has no sources, you can add the {{fact}} template; you shouldn't, though, simply change waht's there to a new version without giving sources of your own. --Mel Etitis (Talk) 08:15, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

June 2007

Please do not add content without citing reliable sources, as you did to Bakool. Before making potentially controversial edits, it is recommended that you discuss them first on the article's talk page. Please cite a source for statements such as "the vast majority of the region's population." The existing information (55%) isn't attributed, either, but I have now flagged it. Thanks, -- Gyrofrog (talk) 13:43, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

I did not put that information as a biased one. But the 55% did not do justice. It is a bit far from there. The Mirifle of Digil and Mirifle (Rahanweyn) clan dominate Bakool. I did not put a percentage, but it is far more than the stated 55 percentage. You can search on google about Bakool and its inhabitants, if you want a further information. You don't have to take my word for it. Soomaali [July 01, 2007]

Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein

Hello User:Soomaali. I hope you are well. Please clarify one thing. Was he born with the NAME Sheikh? I do not ask what TITLE or HONORIFIC he was born with or later gained. I look forward to your reply. Thank you very much. Yours with best wishes George Custer's Sabre (talk) 22:21, 13 June 2012 (UTC)

Yes, he was called sheikh since day one. It isn't a honouric title he acquired. I know it because I am the creator of this page and very close relative of his. By the way, he passed away on last Tuesday and had a state funeral this past Friday in Mogadishu where he was buried.

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The Months of African Cinema Contest Continues in November!

Greetings,

Thank you very much for participating in the Months of African Cinema global contest/edit-a-thon, and thank you for your contributions so far.

It is already the middle of the contest and a lot have been achieved already! We have been able to get over 1,500 articles created in over fifteen (15) languages! This would not have been possible without your support and we want to thank you. If you have not yet listed your name as a participant in the contest page please do so.

Please make sure to list the articles you have created or improved in the article achievements' section of the contest page, so that they can be easily tracked. To be able to claim prizes, please also ensure to list your articles on the users by articles page. We would be awarding prizes to different categories of winners:

• Overall winner
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• Language Winners - up to $100*

We are very excited about what has been achieved so far, but your contributions are still needed to further exceed all expectations! Let’s create more articles before the end of this contest, which is this November!!!

Thank you once again for being part of this global event! --Jamie Tubers (talk) 10:30, 06 November 2020 (UTC)

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Welcome to the Months of African Cinema Global Contest!

Greetings!

The AfroCine Project core team is happy to inform you that the Months of African Cinema Contest is happening again this year in October and November. We invite Wikipedians all over the world to join in improving content related to African cinema on Wikipedia!

Please list your username under the participants’ section of the contest page to indicate your interest in participating in this contest. The term "African" in the context of this contest, includes people of African descent from all over the world, which includes the diaspora and the Caribbean.

The following prizes would be recognized at the end of the contest:

• Overall winner
  • 1st - $500
  • 2nd - $200
  • 3rd - $100
• Diversity winner - $100
• Gender-gap fillers - $100
• Language Winners - up to $100*

Also look out for local prizes from affiliates in your countries or communities! For further information about the contest, the prizes and how to participate, please visit the contest page here. For further inquiries, please leave comments on the contest talkpage or on the main project talkpage. We look forward to your participation.--Jamie Tubers (talk) 23:20, 30th September 2021 (UTC)

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The Months of African Cinema Contest Continues in November!

Greetings,

It is already past the middle of the contest and we are really excited about the Months of African Contest 2021 achievements so far! We want to extend our sincere gratitude for the time and energy you have invested. If you have not yet participated in the contest, it is not too late to do it. Please list your username as a participant on the contest’s main page.

Please remember to list the articles you have improved or created on the article achievements' section of the contest page so they can be tracked. In order to win prizes, be sure to also list your article in the users by articles. Please note that your articles must be present in both the article achievement section on the main contest page, as well as on the Users By Articles page for you to qualify for a prize.

We would be awarding prizes to different categories of winners:

• Overall winner
  • 1st - $500
  • 2nd - $200
  • 3rd - $100
• Diversity winner - $100
• Gender-gap filler - $100
• Language Winners - up to $100*

Thank you once again for your valued participation! --Jamie Tubers (talk) 18:50, 11 November 2021 (UTC)

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