From the Maritime Silk road and the Nile, to naval warfare and exploration, boats have been built and used by African societies dating back nearly eight thousand years. Mali emperor Abu Bakr II is said to have set to sea to explore ‘the limits of the ocean’. Growing evidence suggests that the Malian explorer landed in the “New World” approximately …
Swimming and the Black Spirit
When I am in water, I am at peace. I float there, giving my soul a chance to hold the moment, of being one with this vast unknown. When I was younger, I tried to replicate this feeling in swimming pools. I remember begging my mother for a house with a pool so I can just float for hours. I …
A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling.
On June 14, 1325, Almost two centuries before Columbus, a 21-year-old Ibn Battuta rode out of Tangier on a donkey, the start of his journey to Mecca. He took many detours and returned home over three decades later as one of history’s great travelers. Here are seven travel tips from Ibn Battuta’s travels. Pack light and brace your resolution to …
Poetic Tradition:
The Pilot Poem from Hadramaut to Zanzibar
Humans are social creatures, we communicate through words that can transcend generations whether verbally or written. Our words connect the past to the future. An example of the beautiful connection of past and present is the verbal tradition of poetry. Poetry can be used to express emotions, describe atmospheres and guide people on a journey of not only self-discovery but …
Sudan: A Water Shaped Culture
Home to one of the hottest capital cities in the world, water in Sudan is the most important resource in the country. Although it is characterized by the meeting of the White and Blue Nile, Sudan experiences flash floods in Central Darfur and growing desertification in the Northern regions with weathers starkly differing across the country. It is however, predominantly …
Without Water, No Life:
Musings on the Realities of Water for a Somali Women's Spirituality
What I mean, when I say I am drowning “[…] Like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by clouds: depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hand, he will not see it! If Allah does not give light to a person he will not have …
Sailing with the Current:
Exploring the Tobagonian Waters
Whether you ask a tourist or an island local, the notion remains the same: the sun shines brighter in Tobago. As you board the plane from Trinidad to Tobago, you see ahead of you the gorgeous views of crystal blue waters, this being the first of many indicative traits of the serene, and beautiful beachfront that awaits you. Framed by …
Merchants of Mogadishu
Mogadishu is the capital and most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting with traders and travellers all around the Indian Ocean for millennia. Through the middle ages, there had been many visitors that had come to visit and trade in Mogadishu. The city of Blinding beauty left impressions on tourists and traders alike. …
The River that Flows North
Within her body, she carries tears For she has accepted pain from those around her, Through the ages, she has taken sorrow And turned it into blazing water You do not look hard enough To see those sounds Are cries for aid, For the stream transports history, Love stories, lost families, secrets To the sea The river that flows north. …
The Nile: A Tragedy in the Making
Throughout my graduate education, whenever there was some uproar over one of Trump’s foolish tweets, or another gruesome violation of human rights, my colleagues and I often joked about how Mother Earth will soon wipe us just like it did to our dinosaur predecessors. The sad thing is, as social scientists, we internally fear the possible truth behind such sarcasm. …
