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Articles by Omar Degan
A Manifesto for the Pan-African Architecture Biennale
Every two years, the design world descends on Venice. On now, the exhibition's 19th edition is expected to bring some 300,000 visitors to the Italian city, while smaller events in cities from Chicago to Sharjah are shaping an ever-evolving global architectural dialogue. Yet, while the African continent is increasingly the subject of international design discourse, the gaze typically remains detached and external - even fetishistic.
Why does Paul Kagame want in the DRC?
As Rwanda president Paul Kagame’s M23 militia and army, the Rwandan Defense Force (RDF), advance towards Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s third strategic city, following their occupation of Goma and Bukavu, one of the questions I have been asked a lot has been along the lines of: what does Kagame really want? Does he see himself as a conqueror? Is he simply striving to be the “apex predator,” as Félix Tshisekedi, Congo’s president, put it?
Somalis brewing hope in Johannesburg
On any given day, the pavement outside “Uncle” Ebrahim Mohamed Ali’s coffee shop is crowded with Somali men gathering for his famous coffee while discussing politics, sharing stories, or talking about events in their homeland.
Elon Musk and the hypocrisy of the West
When Elon Musk marked Donald Trump’s inauguration with what seemed very much like a Nazi salute and was defended by a lobby that claimed to fight anti-Jewish racism, he and his defenders confirmed the death of two illusions. The first illusion is the belief that Zionism, the ideology that prompted the Israeli state’s genocide in Gaza, is about protecting Jews from racists.
The inheritance of hope
In 2002, Kenyans were polled and ranked as the most optimistic people on the planet. The decades-long rule of President Daniel arap Moi, that had seen cynics spout witticisms such as “L’état, c’est Moi,” had finally ended. After 24 years under Moi’s rule Kenyans witnessed the first peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box since their independence. A significant departure from the norm in many African countries at the time, where power often changed hands violently.
Archives: Somalia Trys to Live by Both the Koran and ‘Das Kapital’ (1977)
Two years ago, when it was pressing a campaign to emancipate women, the Somali Government was vexed to find conservative religious leaders preaching against equality of the sexes and supporting their arguments with readings from the Koran. It decided to stop the dissent. Eleven of the religious leaders were rounded up, and early one morning they were executed by firing squad.
Translation; Jawar Mohamed recalls Hachallu's impact on him
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian extremist, is considered a pivotal moment in history that escalated tensions and eventually led to the first world war. However, the assassination alone was not sufficient to cause the war; Europe was already politically volatile, with militarism, [hostile] alliances, and border disputes exacerbating the situation. The assassination merely acted as a spark that ignited a larger, pre-existing conflict.
Translating Somali history into Turkish
In an era where historical narratives about Africa are often filtered through Western-centric perspectives, Making Sense of Somali History is an important contribution, offering a Somali historian’s lens on the nation’s rich but sometimes turbulent past.
Mogadishu is losing its aesthetic identity
In 1331, the renowned Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta described Mogadishu as “an exceedingly large city,” a vibrant and prosperous hub along the trade routes of the Indian Ocean. Merchants in fine attire traded goods from distant lands, and the city thrived as a cultural and economic centre in the western Indian Ocean. At that time, Mogadishu was ruled by the Mogadishu Sultanate, a powerful city-state that had emerged as a dominant trading hub in East Africa.
Jubaland: a decade reining in the slippery state
Somalia’s federal government and Jubaland state have issued arrest warrants for each other’s leaders, turning their power struggle into a bizarre legal drama. The Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu has charged Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe with treason and collusion with foreign entities, while Jubaland’s judiciary has countered by accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of corruption and constitutional violations.
Samar al-Bulushi on Kenya and the War on Terror
When Kenyan president William Ruto stood alongside US president Joe Biden during a press conference in Washington in May, he likely saw it as his opportunity to shine, being the only African leader to be extended a visit to the White House during the Biden administration. Kenya had just stepped onto the global stage, anticipating designation as a major non-Nato ally by the US.
Islam, Somalinimo and American identity
Rebuilding a shattered mirror requires meticulous effort and a willingness to confront the varying and incomplete reflections within its fragments. Each shard tells a part of the story and reassembling them is no simple task. For much of my life, this broken mirror symbolized my identity—a blend of Somali heritage, being raised in America, and the grounding influence of my Islamic faith.
Frenemies tied at the hip: Eritrea & Sudan
Sudan’s army (SAF) chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who also serves as chair of the Sovereignty Council, paid a one-day visit to Eritrea on 26 November 2024. Photos released by Eritrea’s press agency showed Burhan being warmly received by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and paraded around Asmara with a large entourage. The visit is the latest indication of a growing alignment between Asmara and Khartoum.
East Africa experts react to Trump 2.0
Donald Trump’s victory in the US election over Kamala Harris promises major changes to the way US foreign policy is conceived, its goals, and how it is executed. Indeed, foreign policy was an important theme that Trump’s team emphasised as an area in which the Biden administration was failing throughout its campaign. The reaction of world leaders to Trump’s election reflects the change many are anticipating.
Weekly Snaps of African Architecture - Issue #1
Hi friend, Welcome to my first ever weekly email, welcome to “Weekly Snaps of African Architecture”. It was a while that I wanted to start writing about what I know the most, architecture and in particular African architecture, and even if in the last year’s Twitter become for me a tool to share thoughts and visions about it, I felt that the 280 characters of a tweet weren’t enough. I want to talk to you this week about the beauty and the power of our diversity.
Architecture as Culture: Designing for Community in Mogadishu
Architecture as Culture: Designing for Community in Mogadishu Architect Omar Degan reflects on the experience of designing a restaurant that celebrates local identity and cultural tradition in the Somali capital. Think back to your childhood. Even if the memories are blurred, many of the flavours and aromas remain. The time we spent with parents and grandparents is often remembered in scents and spices — returning us to those moments, even after many years.
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