Talks and Events

This article is the first to present a study on the wagar, a sacred wooden sculpture kept by Somali women. This study explores the wagar and its significance as a sacred medium within fertility rituals and the religious syncretism in which such indigenous...

Rock Art Sites of Somaliland: 3D, Virtual Reality (VR) and Multimedia Community Capacity Building and Documentation of Laas Geel, Nagah Nabi Galay and Dhagah Kureh The complex cave and rock shelters of Laas Geel, Dhagah Kureh, and Dhagah Nabi Galay lie...

The Europe Lecture "Destruction of Cultural Heritage" by UNESCO DG Irina Bokova: a response by Dr Sada Mire Cultural heritage at risk: protecting cultural heritage in times of conflict Her Excellency Ms Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO Her...

Big History engages with the universe’s grand narrative, and provides a dynamic connection between the past, present and future. Our collection is divided into three volumes and is the first comprehensive global anthology of Big History. This second...

The Somali peninsula has a rich heritage relevant to the world. Many ancient world civilizations have left their mark on this area, a connection facilitated by the region’s strategic location, connecting Arabia, Africa, and Asia through the Red Sea Coast,...

The Somaliland Tourism Feasibility Study is a project exploring the possibilities and challenges facing the development of cultural heritage tourism in Somaliland. It includes recommendation for ways forward in the establishing of tourism infrastructure for cultural...

UNESCO Debate 2016: World Heritage: Treasure or Target? Response from Sada Mire to Stephan Sander I agree with Stephan that not only humans deserve protection. I have often argued that cultural heritage is a basic human need. This notion is not something I...

The paper introduces the Baanashada Dumarka, a Somali fertility therapy carried out by a spirit medium, known locally as ‘Alaqad. Baanashada is aimed at women whose fertility issues are believed to be caused by spirits. The study also explores a component...

Dhambalin, a sandstone rock shelter, was discovered in autumn 2007. Theunique site holds polychrome paintings including the first sheep paintings in Somaliarchaeology. There is an extraordinary originality in the paintings, particularly thoseof the sheep...

This article argues that the Somali people have a distinctive view on heritage and a different approach to its preservation relevant to their society. It suggests that a locally appropriate theoretical framework for heritage management and archaeological...

The exploratory investigation of two sites in Kenya throws new light on the transition from a ‘stone age’ to an ‘iron age’. The model of widespread cultural replacement by Bantu-speaking iron producers is questioned and instead the authors propose a long...

Translation lit. ‘The Ayodhya Conflict – How long will the archaeologists let the interdisciplinary debate to be silenced due to political considerations?’ On 6th of December 1992, a huge crowd of Hindu nationalists, who claim Ayodhya as the birthplace of...

Somaliland is not Somalia. Somaliland is in the northern part of Somalia, occupying the area of a former British colony. After gaining independence in 1960, it joined with Somalia Italiana to create modern Somalia. But whereas Somalia is wracked with civil war and...

Somalia has suffered a civil war since early 1991. Systematic looting, destruction and illicit excavation of sites continue without the international community (including academics, government organisations, heritage workers and humanitarian aid...

In reflection upon the worthy work of Professor Shinya Konaka and his col- leagues, this contribution discusses the idea of “Localization of Humanitarian Assistance”. Several critical questions arise from a humanitarian situation where the needs are...