Monday October 27, 2025
By Hassan Deri
I must begin with an admission: the phrase “the city of firsts” is borrowed from the great poet and writer, Ambassador Bashir Goth, now Somaliland’s mission leader in Washington, D.C. I first heard him use it during a short briefing to visiting guests some years ago. The phrase stayed with me ever since, waiting to be put into print.
Borame, the capital of Somaliland’s Awdal region, has long been a cradle of innovation, culture, and community-driven progress. From education and volunteerism to music and social development, Borame has played a defining role in shaping Somali society.
It was in this very city that the country’s first secondary school was established – an institution that, four decades later, gave rise to Amoud University, the first university in the Somali-speaking world. Today, Amoud University stands as a proud symbol of progress and vision. It not only pioneered higher education in Somaliland but also helped reshape the model of learning across East Africa, serving as a beacon of academic excellence and regional cooperation.
Equally remarkable is the story of Annalena School for the Deaf, founded in Borame in the late 1990s. It was the first of its kind in Somalia and became the birthplace of Somali Sign Language (SSL) – a groundbreaking achievement that remains little known yet represents a major milestone in inclusivity and linguistic innovation. It is an accomplishment that should fill every Somali-speaking community with pride.
Borame is also the birthplace of the Somali concept of volunteerism, known locally as “iskaa wax u qabso.” This grassroots spirit united communities to build schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure – long before government-led development programs became commonplace.
Culturally, Borame is celebrated as the mother of modern Somali music. It was here that Cabdi Deeqsi Warfaa, better known as Abdi Sinimo, pioneered the Balwo musical genre, forever changing the course of Somali artistic expression and laying the foundation for modern Somali songs.
Historically, Borame has also been at the forefront of economic and social development. The city hosted some of the first public-private partnership projects in the region – programmes that flourished and set an enduring example of collaboration between citizens and institutions.
In 2019, Borame marked its 100th anniversary with a grand celebration commemorating its recognition as a district under British colonial administration. While other historical accounts of its origins exist, this centenary symbolized something larger: a renaissance of local history. This trend, common in the West where universities devote entire departments to regional studies, may well inspire Borame’s next intellectual innovation. Perhaps, alongside Amoud University, the city’s future will lie in revisiting and preserving its own medieval and modern history – its poets, songs, empires, and the warriors who once roamed its surrounding settlements.
Borame’s story is more than a chronicle of “firsts.” It is a living testament to resilience, vision, and collective achievement. As the city steps confidently into its second century, it continues to embody the spirit of renewal – both as a guardian of its past and as a pioneer of the future.
Hassan Deri is a lawyer who has served in various municipal roles across Sweden.