Somali Week Cairo 2024 Concludes With Calls to Maintain Cultural Heritage

GOOOBJOOG NEWS | CAIRO: The Somali Week Cairo 2024 concluded in Egypt with participants engaging in discussions touching on cultural heritage, education, child psychology and other key issues vital for strengthening unity, connectivity, and the advancement of the Somali community.

The gathering brought together senior officials and other members of the Somali diaspora in Egypt where keynote speakers including senior academicians, intellectuals, and authors among others delivered insightful speeches highlighting the need for the Somali diaspora to ensure the younger generation remains connected to the Somali cultural heritage and values.   

In her welcoming comments, Nasteha Ahmed, Chairperson of the SAFWAC Foundation’s Board of Trustees underscored the importance of such gatherings and emphasized the need for parents to critically plan the upbringing of their children.

“We consistently advocate for and encourage a structured approach to nurturing and educating children born in the diaspora, as this is essential to preserving their Somali identity and religious values,” she said.

Somalia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Ali Abdi Awara in his opening remarks praised the inception and implementation of the initiative and commended all those dedicated to guiding and supporting the community.

The Ambassador further urged members of the diaspora to “uphold the integrity of the Somali community and to respect the laws and regulations of the host country- Egypt.”

On his part, Dr. Nuur Hassan, a writer and lecturer, presented the findings of research he has conducted over the past years on the upbringing and development of children.

He opined that “Somali parents in the diaspora are increasingly concerned about their children experiencing identity crisis and cultural shocks, which need to be deeply studied and properly addressed.”

Professor Farhiya, a senior lecturer, stated in her speech that, “Western countries, when they visit Africa and the Third World, often claim that these regions lag behind in [aspects] of human rights, justice, and development. However, it is these countries that have colonized, exploited, and divided their societies”.

Additionally, while discussing the relationship between curriculum and societies, she noted that “Western countries often exclude any important and positive aspects related to Third World societies from their curricula.”

In conclusion, Layla Hussein, a mental health practitioner, noted in her presentation that “Chronic stress, if left untreated, often results in long-term illnesses in Somali parents, such as diabetes and hypertension.”