WTF of the week

[Amirsade]

Harvard 2012 - Halftime (The Somalia Show)

And now, ladies and gentlemen, please rise and remove your koofiyads for the national anthem of Somalia

[Oba]

wow

[Amirsade]

[Formation: Honor guard. Song: "Somalia, Arise."]

The Federal Republic of Somalia, known as the "gateway to the easternmost portion of Africa," has a rich and fascinating history. Bordered by Djibouti and some other countries that are not Djibouti, Somalia has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era. The Laas Gaal cave complex, for example, contains some of the earliest known rock art in all of Africa. It features natural wonders such as the Jubba and Shabele rivers, the Cal Madow mountain range, and the Guban semi-desert plains region (a large swath of land covered in scrub plants). In antiquity, Somalia was known for its diverse spice trade and domestication of camels. Its expansive coastline along the Horn of Africa established the capital of Mogadishu as a strategic port for a long period of Islamic rule between the late 800s and the end of the 19th century. Colonized at times by both Britain and Italy, Somalia gained independence in 1960. Governmental turmoil has persisted ever since, with a civil war breaking out in the late 1980s from which Somalia is still recovering.

In honor of Somalia's history and geography, the Band now forms the Guban semi-desert plains region and plays Hava Nagila.

[Formation: Amorph. Song: "Hava Nagila."]

After the collapse of Mohammed Siad Barre's government in the aftermath of the Somali civil war, the country found itself adrift. Insurgent factions struggled for power and resources, and peacekeeping efforts by the United Nations and European Union proved fruitless.

Today, Somalia's central government holds the country together, even as autonomous regions like Somaliland and Puntland attempt to secede. President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed's authority is tenuous at best, and in many parts of Somalia clan leaders are the dominant power.

In honor of polycentrism, the Band now forms the Somali government and plays "Who Owns Somalia?"

[Formation: Amorph. Song: Who Owns Somalia]

Despite its recent political unrest, Somalia boasts a thriving and vibrant culture. Muslim festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha bring the country together, and Somalia's mosques are among the most beautiful in Africa. Ancient castles and citadels dot the landscape, reminding Somalis of their grand heritage, while prize-winning authors such as Nuruddin Farah and Faarax M.J. Cawl spread Somali literature around the world. From the great Islamic empires of the 11th century, to the fierce colonial resistance in the 19th century, up until today, Somalia has much to be proud of and much to offer the world. And yet, thanks to mass media coverage, most Americans only know one thing about Somalia: there might be some pirates there. Sigh...guess we have to give the people what they want

[Tuushi]

Nice.Weird as hell tho.

[Amirsade]

What the heck were they demonstrating?

[Thuganomics]

The Federal Republic of Somalia is bordered by Djibouti and some other countries that are not Djibouti,

[DayaxJeclee]

Qiirtee kici. iyaa iyaa iga dheh. Calankee suubanaa.

[zingii]

Bordered by and some other countries.