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The adoption of the written language was a revolutionary change in Somalia that lead to an rapid increase of literate Somalis.

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Prior to the Revolution, where nothing was done to develop the country, the poet Maxamed Ismaaciil responded to this situation in a way that exemplified Somali people's deepest feelings:

"Oh! My friends the Somali Language is very perplexed;
It is all anxiety in its present condition;
The values of its words and expressions are
being gagged by its own people;
Its very back and hips are broken, and
it accuses its own speakers for neglect;
It is weeping with (deep) sorrow;
It is being orphaned and its value is vanishing"

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For years, people urged President Maxamed Siyaad Barre (RH) to allow the three languages to co-exist in Somalia (i.e. Italian, English and Somali). He furiously remarked: "The practice of using foreign languages besides the national one made it impossible in many African countries to fully implement their languages. Radical change is necessary"

And right he was, with his determined effort, Somalis quickly forget that they have ever used the Italian and English scripts.

The distinguished linguist Professor B.W. Andrzejewski, remarked that with "within eight years the Somali vocabulary has had to pass through a process of expansion which in some European languages toke MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES."

Dr. Warsame Indhoole, who was the head of the literacy campaign has managed to succesfully literate 60% of the Somali population.

A quick comparision

In 1969, before the revolution, 55,021 students were enrolled in all schools located in the country. In 1975, after the revolution, number jumped to 240,550, an increase of 437%.

In four years between pre-revolution and post-revolution, there was an increase of 128% in elementary school enrollment which is equal to an annual grwoth rate of 32.1%. Intermediate school enrollments increased 51 percent (21.8% annual growth rate). Secondary education enrollments rose overall by 63.8% (16% annual grwoth rate).

Before the Revolution, there were 6,412 secondary students of which 737 were girls. Four years after the Revolution, there were 10,500 students of which 1,773 were girls, increase of 140.6% in just four-year period.

Before the Revolution, and due lack of written language, there were no universities. It was after the Revolution that the first Somali National University was build.

Sources (The Revolutionary Development of the Somali Language):
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Maasha Allaah...

Bar ama Baro....

bar ama baaro

waan xasuusta

baadiyaha baa la ii geeyey

Allahu naxaristo Jalle Muxammad Siyad. True patriot. 21 Gun salute.

Warsame you have outdone yourself ina adeer.

If I were these kids, I would start searching your priceless contributions.

The undisputed professor of S.net


Wonderful work.

Hilarious.

[quote="Basra-"]Hilarious. [/quote]

^^^

give the marehans quule. let them sing kumbaya.

Warsame.......thanks for the well-researched piece.

Professor Warsame.

two years later. good post

There are still no decent dictionaries. Not for Mahatiri and not for Maay May.

Spelling is not standardized.

MSB got credit for this, but much of the development of the script was done by the likes of Hersi Magan Isse, Shire Jamac Ahmed, and Muusa Galaal. I have a booklet of Somali poems and photos, published in Kenya in 1969, with the afSomali versions written by Muusa Galaal in the full script. The introduction, by Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, is also in the full script.

I would of preferred siyad adopted the osmanya script...but latin script will do for now...

Advocatar wrote:Warsame.......thanks for the well-researched piece.

is advocater iyo avdo same person misse?