By Hassan Mogeh Hirsi

African Market Place & Cultural Fair is a three weeks long Los Angeles annual event. It started 18 years ago by few Afro-centric vendors to increase the awareness of African cultures, customs and products among the American people. It outgrew its original location, and is currently located at the Exposition Park. The African Market Place is in front of the Los Angeles Sport Arena, next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The University of Southern California campus, the Afro-American Heritage Museum, the California Natural & History Museum, and the California Science Center are among many attractions in the vicinity of the African Market Place & Cultural Fair. It is a place frequented by many locals and visitors alike, an ideal location for such events.  Many African Nations, the Caribbean and South Americans are participating as well as a distinguished African American group of people who are invited to serve as ambassadors of this years' event.

The 18th annual African Market Place & Cultural Fair opened to the public on Saturday, August 16, 2003, with Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean cultural celebration on the African Stage, and Steve Wonder among the participants. On Sunday, August 17, 2003 the Uganda and Congo celebration were scheduled; while Somaliland and Ethiopia celebration were marked for Saturday, August 23, 2003.

As scheduled, at noon on Saturday, August 23, 2003, well rehearsed and confident Somalilanders from the California Community, represented by Southern Californians, stepped onto the stage carrying the Somaliland Flag, dancing and singing "Haybad waxaad ku leedahay dalkaga hooyo, Waana lama huraane' hagar li' ii wax ugu qabo".  Participants were fully dressed in Somali traditional attire; females in green tops, white skirts and a red sashes (the colors of Somaliland's flag); while their male counter parts wore white shirts, "macawiso, koofiyado and goyaal shaal". It was indeed a beautiful scene. Somaliland's traditional kitchen and household utensils were also displayed for the audience to view.  Saylici, Hirwo, Botor, Jandeer and other Somali traditional dances were performed without any intervals except when the ladies were out for changing their attire into different traditional styles. The audiences were on their feet, clapping and cheering and the performance ended with Somaliland Fashion Show.  Dynamic Zam Zam, the MC of the event, kept the audience abreast and informed. The crowd was very pleased and satisfied with our performance.  In addition to the cultural show, printed information about Somaliland was distributed to the audience, and other visitors.  We performed beyond our expectation. Well done and Hooray to San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles County Somalilanders.

The Southern California Somaliland Community gave a splendid show, to say the least, on the 18th African Market Place and cultural show. The Somaliland Cultural Fair is the first event among many scheduled programs by Somaliland Policy and Reconstruction Institute, with the California Somaliland Community, in their campaign, quest, and advocacy for Somaliland Recognition and awareness. 

Infinite thanks to the Southern California Community who despite the great distance between their cities and counties, traveling hundreds of miles for practice (I mean hundreds of miles) through the notorious California traffic jams. These individuals have shown their dedication to the Somaliland cause. After a long day of work, instead of going home and relaxing, they would drive hundreds of miles for practice, which in most cases would pass midnight. Without the dedication and hard work of these individuals, acting as one group, under the leadership of Suad Abdi, Yasmin Mohammed, Anab Nur and Fardows Musse and their insistence on excellence, the outcome of the event wouldn't have been the same. 

It is worth mentioning the effort and time spent during preparation and planning by Adan Hassan Iman, Saeed Maygag Samater, Ibrahim Ahmed Siyad, Mohammed Elmi Bullaleh, Omer Mohammed Sanyare, Abdirahman Mohamed (Abu Site), Abdalla Haji Ali, Hassan Mohamed Aden (sheef), Abiib Haji Jamac, Mohammed Mohamoud (Kabatoleh) and Hassan Mogeh Hirsi. We, the Californian Somaliland Community, would like to extend our gratitude to the African Market Place & Cultural Fair organizers, in particular to Julie Ward and Marcia Thomas, and to the American Ethiopian Advocate Group in general, in particular, to Azeb Tadesse for all their help.  Thanks to Fadumo Ali Marshal for making the Somaliland Flag. I would also like to thank my wife, Vanessa Hirsi and my daughter Asha for being very supportive. Thank you all.

The Somaliland Artists who performed in the African Market Place and Cultural Fair, and those who helped in the preparatory stages, in one way or another, were (if I forget anyone, please forgive me):

1. Farhia Dualleh
2. Ifrah Rabi
3. Fardowsa Musse
4. Fatumo Mohammed
5. Amina Mohammed
6.  Ayan Dualeh
7. Hibo Abiib
8. Nimo Abiib
9. Anab Nur
10. Hayt Ali
11. Zam Zam Mohammed
12. Muluka Hussein
13. Abiib Jama
14. Hassan Mogeh Hirsi
15. Saeed Samater 
16. Hassan Mohammed Adan - Sheef
17. Omer Mohammed Ali - Sanyare
18. Abdulrahman Mohammed Abu-Site
19. Mohammed Ali
20. Adan Hassan Iman 
21. Yassmin Mohammed
22. Khadra Mohammed
23. Khadija Mohammed
24. Ahmed Abiib
25. Abdirazaq Abiib
26. Abdalla Haji Ali
27. Insaf Ali
28. Halimo Jama
29. Nimo Mohomud
30. Ridwan Noor
31. Asma Abdi
32. Suad Abdi

Hassan Mogeh Hirsi, Member of Somaliland Policy & Reconstruction Institute and Organizer of the event.
 

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