President Silanyo Should Aim For History, Eternal Legacy

[Hawdian]

As well as making progressive development and forward initiative in social, cultural, economical and political areas, President Ahmed Silanyo should aim for long term legacy and going down in Somaliland's history forever. The best way he can do this is by challenging the current symbols, names and ideologies of the nation.

He should aim for an entire re-invention of Somaliland and giving her a new complete outfit that gives her new perspectives and outward views of the outside world. Silanyo has the chance and today is the time. Somaliland's population is 60-70% under the age of 30 and now is the time to give them new tools by giving them fresh idea of who they really are. Self-confidence, self-made, self-belief and self-creation is the way forward that they must dream to shape, mold and inspires themselves to be what they want to be not be defined by the outsiders.

To be who you want to be should not be based on hurt, emotions, mistakes, misfortunes but because you inspire to be better, be greater, be higher, be ever more imaginative because being now is not good enough.

So I suggest changing Somaliland's name from the ever confusing "Land of Somalis aka Somaliland", which is nothing unique. Secondly it has colonial stigma and people should have more identity than "once a British man called us this". Then we have the chaotic Somalia, who killed the name of "Somalis" next door.

The inspiration for a new name should come from old African maps. This is how Emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari) reinvented Abyssinia by visiting old maps of Africa. It was there he discovered AETHIOPIA which had various versions including ETHIOPIA, ITYOPP'IS. He gave the new nation a new beginning by erasing the past which was the creation of only handful highlanders (Abyssinia).

I once stated that Abyssinia is not Ethiopia but rather Abyssinia is Ethiopia's Lesotho (yacni sida Lesotho ugu dhax talo South Africa ayun bay Abyssinia-na uu ahed mel yar oo maanta dhaxda ku jirta in modern Ethiopia).

So I have came up with the following.

NAME of the nation: Alkebulan (Alkebulan is the oldest and the only name of indigenous origin. It was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthagenians), and Abyssinians.) Africa was named Africa by a Roman commander who defeated Carthagenians/Punic/Phoenicians (modern Tunisia/Berbers). But at that time Africa was known mainly the northern regions (Tunisia, Libya, Algeria). Then the continent became Libya at one point, most part of east Africa, central regions and southern Africa all the way to Cape town were known as "Ethiopia". Africa was once named Tunisia too.

It was believed in ancient times that Africa was originally populated by Gaetulians and Libyans, both nomadic peoples

The Arabs then looted Tunisia (naming present country), Libya (naming present country), Mauritania (naming present country) and Abyssinia took Ethiopia. See map below.




Ancient Mauretania, Numidia



The second option that I propose is: Numidia (probably my favorite). I can imagine calling you guys Numidians rather than Landers.

The notion that one needs to keep old colonial name in order to satisfy colonial argument is nothing but a bogus and excuse for the uncreative. We define ourselves from ground up. What we call ourselves and where we run our border totally up to us. All foreigners need to know is that there is a functioning state defined by its people and based on the will of the people.



In ancient times, Somaliland was called Berbera/Berber and so we have historical connection to the Berbers (not necessarily related but shared names). Today we take their old name. The Numidians and Moors belonged to the race from which the Berbers are descended.

The new flag (more Africa-inspired than the current Wahabi/Arab/Iranian flag). Re-arranging the colours to reflect an old ancient Africa with a new modern heart






Ras Hawdian---------Ancient Libya/Tunisia/Ethiopia/Numidia/Alkebulan are far more appealing than the "British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, French Somaliland, Kikuyu Somaliland, Tigray Peoples Liberation Front Somaliland (Jigjiga), AMISOM Somaliland".

[Estarix]

And now your pulling out the Bulgarian flag, the Iranian flag wasnt enough but now you want Bulgaria too? damn, what happened to originality.
And why are you using the names of other nations heritage, being a somali skinny numidia has completely nothing to do with you in any way. You might aswell go ahead and call the country carthage and yourself a carthigian. As for alkelubulan it was used by Romans for Africa so what is up with pan african bull*** who are you trying to impress? the name should reflect Somalilands history and most of all language, why are you using latin for? Go back to the drawing board son.

[Hawdian]

Estarix kid,

Somaliland's renaming herself does not necessarily has to be based on her former past. The only name that comes up in the past is Berber/Berbera and that's not a suitable name for a nation.

Modern Mauritania for example is not in the same location as its inspiration ancient Mauretania. The same is true about Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Alkebulan is equally great for Somaliland's future generation whose core belief is peaceful Africa.

The most important thing is to kick start a new debate and replace "Somaliland" with something fresh and unique. We should not be sharing anything associated with the southern neighbors.



Ras

[HayWire]

NUMIDIA

[Estarix]

Look up Roman Mauretania that's literally located in Morroco and northern modern mauretania. So they are literally neighbours. Also Mauretania can be excused because its part of a cultural block of people who share history and culture, for example mauretania was pretty much indistinquishable for much of the last millenia and the people are Berber.

Secondly, it has to be linked to your country's history, language and heritage and tied in with your geography etc. For example Iraq refers to a location in the country probably in Sumerian. Thats part of native and local heritage. Similarly you can invent a new name referring to something unique like a location or object in your own language (not latin or chinese optional only for suffix purpose). Your example is like Indonesia calling itself Jin (13th century chinese kingdom) because of some cultural similarity or solidarity.

Lastly alkebula is a pan african name, it's used to refer to entire continent by the Romans. What is local and somali about that? why should somalis forsake their own identity and culture for some foreigners, all it would show is a people with no uniqueness and history and most of all with no backbone.
Like i said go back to the drawing board son.

[Hawdian]

Estarix,

You're trying but your argument is very weak. Like I pointed out Mauritania is not Mauretania nor was Abyssinia Ethiopia. Cape Town is not Gondar. Likewise, the entire African continent was once called Libya, Tunis and other names today used by Arabs who had migrated from Arabia into Africa.

Arabs did not forsake their heritage by taking on Libyan identity and on the same token Somaliland is worthy of wearing Alkebulan after all it represents strong African identity by coming up with its own hybrid system by mixing its indigenous Xeer law with communal laws and democracy and Islam.

Somaliland being an African nation can indeed take Africa's old indigenous name just same way Libya did.

Somaliland should re-invent itself and throw away the "Somali" name which is associated with a lot of ills. Likewise the world cannot distinguish the two.

Somaliland should explore its own backyard and be inspired by proud Africans. The Berbers of North Africa and the Ancient Berbers of Somaliland have many things in common including cultural ties and Berbera serves as a testimony. 80% of Berbers, Moors and Somalilanders share common DNA.

Somaliland does have a case to revive old African names and wear it as her own by giving it a new spin.

The moral of my topic is SL should explore its backyard and dig the continent's ancient past for inspiration. The issue here is not Numidia or Alkebulan. These are just my own examples. The universal theme is for Somaliland to re-invent itself and to distinguish itself from the southern people.

Ras

[B-MAX]

Why not call it Hargeysa, and the capital city is Hargeysa City. It's unique and as pure as Isaaq.

[Estarix]

Today's Mauritania's name is descended from the Roman territory of Mauretania, although the latter was located in Morroco. This is where it ends, but the geographical and cultural and historical connection between the two people justifies the naming.

Your clutching at straws here. Ethiopia is a greek word referred to the people south of Egypt around the location of Sudan and Modern Ethiopia. Ethiopia has strong connections to Greeks. Greek was used for writing, its language spoken in the courts for hundreds of years so this is just a continuum. There are also legends in Amaharic history books were a person called Ethopyys founded Axum. There is a notable connection.

I can say that from my knowledge Libya was a phoenician colony located somewhere around modern Libya in North africa, one its provinces was called Libdah. THe greeks colonized the eastern parts such as cyrenica. This is what Libyan history is pretty much built on, Carthaginian and greek people and the Libyan people are a mix of these people, Berbers and Arab settlers.

You cannot escape your heritage as much as you dislike it , you will always be a somali regardless of what name you identify yourself with. So i suggest you grasp and settle with that reality.

[Hawdian]

The entire humanity all have their inter links and historical heritage claims. Each man lays claim to whatever he desires how he sees fit and how he justifies his argument. There is no reason why Somaliland shouldn't do the same and define its own cause and alter past beliefs.

What is important right now is Somaliland has to open the venue of debate and change its cause forever. Evolution is at work and the world is ever in motion. There is no point being the Somali of yesterday or today same way man shed his Adam clothe.

Somaliland has to redefine itself and make its own race...within 100-200 years, it will take very distinctive cause of its own.

Somali is no different than Adam and Hawa. Silanyo should be bold and should put his name down in the history books. What its called is totally up to the people and ideas are endless but we must know Somaliland is not working and the name Somali is already very deep in the graveyard thanks to the southern neighbour. We must be different.

From our backyards we can revive part of ancient Africa and wear that to reshape our society and develop higher culture than our southern former relatives. Humanity always split, separated and went different paths in life and in search of new meaning. These phenomena is not fixed nor stationary. Today is not any different.







Ras

[Hawdian]

[Khalid Ali]

Something tells me we should keep Somaliland though the name Somali has Being ruined by walanweyns. We are the las positive hope for the name Somali. But I would not oppose if we change the name. Macrobania is also an option others suggest adal. But we should keep the SL flag the oldest flag we have the old snm. Flag and some say its the. Sh isxaaq flag

But we should aim for the ancient berberi script change the script uniqueness I support

[ZubeirAwal]

Anything but Somaliland, having a anclesized name for a nation makes you look like a dhabodhilif. Alkebulan and Numidia sound nice.

[KingWaslawi]

100% Agreed we should change the name. But our flag is the best! Haddii se la badalo marna shahaadada laga tago maayo.


How about this name: Adalitania

Adal = you know what it is
Tania = two

[Khalid Ali]

I am very attached to the Flag i would never change that but coat of arms name of the country the Flag symbolizes the identity of our people the struggles we went through since the early 1980s. By the way Siilaanyo can also make legacy through creating a more stronger military force build the airforce create the SL airliner.

[Xildiiid]

Our coat of arms should include lions because it symbols bravery and strenght.