I’ve really enjoyed how you’ve picked apart this film. I’m now keen to watch Qabyo 2 for completeness. Never knew the iconic he’s not your blood scene was from this. Feels like when you put a voice to a face.
Assimilation is inevitable with time. I’m interested to see what values we take forward and those we leave behind.
thank you so much! The focus on/the fear of assimilation in 1990s-2000s Somali media (film, music, news) is soo interesting. My personal interest is exploring how Somali diaspora navigated and resisted racialization… anyways I’m interested in reading your thoughts on qabyo 2!
this was so wonderful to read. i have never seen qabyo, but i’m all too familiar with the viral “he’s not my blood” scene. i have never been to accquainted with somali art. gabay and songs were too complicated for me to understand, and i could never seem to find any books that weren’t historical or political. this summer i had the pleasure to see a somali play in minnesota. and it was really wonderful. reading this really makes me want to dig more into somali media and film.
I’m glad you enjoyed the piece! I do recommend watching Qabyo with family or an elder who can help you understand the nuances in the film - my mom helped me! I’m also on the hunt for more Somali media and film, lol, and often ask aunties and uncles about their favourite plays/songs/gabays to help expand my search!
What an analysis. I had seen this film a long time ago (2010). I also agree I loved the taxi and hit the road jack part. It really goes into what life could be like for Somalis in the early 2000s and late 90’s. Riwaayad is like a play or film on stage. Kind of like huckleberry fin or Romeo and Juliet. I also would love to see you writing about Knan he had written one of my favorite songs called soobax: https://youtu.be/8mVY30buW4Q?si=_wRtg-6WxmrBBtPF and a Somali American singer named Yasminah who wrote about a song called hooyo
I’ve really enjoyed how you’ve picked apart this film. I’m now keen to watch Qabyo 2 for completeness. Never knew the iconic he’s not your blood scene was from this. Feels like when you put a voice to a face.
Assimilation is inevitable with time. I’m interested to see what values we take forward and those we leave behind.
thank you so much! The focus on/the fear of assimilation in 1990s-2000s Somali media (film, music, news) is soo interesting. My personal interest is exploring how Somali diaspora navigated and resisted racialization… anyways I’m interested in reading your thoughts on qabyo 2!
I’ll have to watch it with my in-house translator (my mom) and report back. But also very interested on this topic
this was so wonderful to read. i have never seen qabyo, but i’m all too familiar with the viral “he’s not my blood” scene. i have never been to accquainted with somali art. gabay and songs were too complicated for me to understand, and i could never seem to find any books that weren’t historical or political. this summer i had the pleasure to see a somali play in minnesota. and it was really wonderful. reading this really makes me want to dig more into somali media and film.
I’m glad you enjoyed the piece! I do recommend watching Qabyo with family or an elder who can help you understand the nuances in the film - my mom helped me! I’m also on the hunt for more Somali media and film, lol, and often ask aunties and uncles about their favourite plays/songs/gabays to help expand my search!
What an analysis. I had seen this film a long time ago (2010). I also agree I loved the taxi and hit the road jack part. It really goes into what life could be like for Somalis in the early 2000s and late 90’s. Riwaayad is like a play or film on stage. Kind of like huckleberry fin or Romeo and Juliet. I also would love to see you writing about Knan he had written one of my favorite songs called soobax: https://youtu.be/8mVY30buW4Q?si=_wRtg-6WxmrBBtPF and a Somali American singer named Yasminah who wrote about a song called hooyo