Stories from the Horn #165
March 21, 2023
Next week I have my Horn of Africa book club gathering and this month we read At the Center of the World in Ethiopia by Stephen Were Omamo, about the WFP’s work in Ethiopia. Very interesting.
Ramadan starts this week, the month of fasting in Islam. Life tends to slow down and people spend a lot of time with their families.
On to the stories…
Djibouti
The Logos Hope ship spent a week in Djibouti and saw over 30,000 visitors! Staff run a bookstore, conversation events, and a restaurant and also engaged in various service projects throughout the city.
Satellite Internet in Djibouti. Who writes this stuff? ChatGPT? ChatGPT would probably have done better. Satellite internet in Djibouti is incredible and provides very fast internet speeds! (which is why it took an hour to upload a 1MB photo today and why we can’t stream shows). Also, one challenge is so many providers to choose from! Except there is only one. One provider. The article suggests comparing price points and service ranges. Hmmm…only read this for laughs.
Poet Joyce Kilmer’s crucifix was carried to Djibouti by US military personnel
Qatar Airways in Africa. We have flown them many times out of Djibouti.
Djiboutians regain eyesight after Chinese doctors perform cataract surgeries
Upcoming webinar event on March 29 on War and Water in the Horn of Africa
The great rift, where part of Africa will break off. This article made me laugh as it talks about news outlets “picking up the story” and how “exciting” the prospect is. It also says the process will likely take 10 million years. I think news outlets should not be too much of a rush to be the first to break this exciting story. Also, this will affect the people living there and potentially make waste disposal a challenge. Should I feel worried?
Somaliland
Somaliland clashes in Las Anood kill over 100
DP World and Somaliland open an economic zone in Berbera
Dahabshiil recognized for uplifting women
Kenya
Protests erupt in Kenya over last summer’s election results and rising cost of living
Diaspora
Afro Deli Owner (and my friend Kahin) won the Minnesota Small Business Owner of the Year award! Congratulations! And if you live in MN, go to one of his delicious restaurants. This is the restaurant that generously hosted my launch party for the publication of Stronger than Death.
Have a nice week.