An evening with the Socialistic Party of Somalia

An invitation with music, singing and dancing

      During   my   time   in   Somalia   from   1978   until   1981,   we   as   the   international   staff   of   the   NTTI   (National   Telecommunication   Training Institute)   once   were   invited   to   join   an   evening   with   the   Socialistic   Party   of   Somalia.   After   some   speeches   were   held,   the   entertainment started   with   traditional   dances   and   songs   of   the   Somali   people.   Of   course,   there   were   revolutionary   songs   against   the   archenemy Ethiopia and colonialism. From a gigantic wall painting President Siad Barre was watching all of us.       Lots   of   women   were   present,   and   they   participated   happily.   Under   the   socialistic   regime   of   Siad   Barre   women   had   equal   rights.   They were allowed to join a school and even to study at a university. This was new among the muslim world, and they liked their leader.       Interesting   was   a   dance   we   knew   from   the   Caribbean   as   Limbo   (above   right).   Students   told   me   this   was   an   old   dance   competition which found its way to the Caribbean with slaves, carried from East Africa to Central America in past centuries.