There have been Somalis in Cardiff since the 19th century when seamen came from their homeland in the Horn of Africa to work on ships arriving at the coastal ports of south Wales.

Relatively few Somalis settled here until the 1970s, and since then their numbers have been swelled by refugees of the continuing civil wars in Somalia.

The event at the Wales Millennium Centre provided a showcase for Somali culture, including poetry from Ismael Aw-Aden (above left) and Mohammed Sheikh Ibrahim Hujale, a reading by Ayan Dahir (below right) and a play by pupils from Ninian Park Primary School showing the cultural dilemmas faced by Somali families living in Cardiff.

Ibrahim Harbi, national co-ordinator for the Somali Integration Society, says their aim is self-reliance through integration.

He says the people and authorities in Wales have been supportive, despite some ignorance of Somali culture, such as their language and political history.

The Somali Republic, or Somalia, was formed in 1960 as a union of British Somaliland, which won independence on 26 June, and Italian Somaliland which followed five days later.

The former British protectorate declared independence when civil war broke out in Somalia following the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991.

The Republic of Somaliland runs its own affairs and is relatively peaceful compared to the rest of Somalia, but its independence is not recognised by international bodies and it still shares the image of a war-torn country.

Ibrahim (pictured above left) says the existing Somali community in Cardiff - about 8,000 in number - has been very supportive in sending money to poor relatives back home and by welcoming refugees to the UK.

"A lot of families who arrived here in the late 80s early 90s they were overwhelmed by the obstacles that they needed to overcome," he says.

"We need resources to help those people and I think by working together we could have a positive outcome."

Ibrahim added that a key purpose of the independence celebration was to show that Somalis wanted to play a full role in Welsh society, but wanted the wider community to recognise their particular needs.

"Integration is a two way process - Somalis need to engage with the wider community, but also opportunities should also be provided for them. Equality means sometimes treating people differently in order for them to be equal."

The Somali Integration Society is based at Dominions House, Queen Street, Cardiff CF10 2AR - 029 2039 7881

See the SIS website for further details.

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