Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows Somali children sat about the turn of the 20th century. The photographer was J. Menges. He labeled it Somali-Karawane. I'm not sure what Karawane meant. The children seem to be wearing a mixture of African and Arab styles.

This East African country is centered on the Horn of Africa. It was Islamicized soon after tghe SArab outburst. It was colonized by the Europeans in the late-19th century. A British colony was established in the north (1884). The colonization of the area resulted in the liberation of lrge numbers of Africans that had been enslaved by Arabs operating plantations. The British defeated the Italians in World War II (1941). After the War it became a U.N. Trusteeship. Somalia was formed during the de-colonization proces following World War II. The former British and Italian Somaliland were united (1960). French Somaliland to the east remained separate as Dijibouti. The country consists of coastal lowlands and a largely arid interioir lateau. The border is disputed with Ethiopia. This is a source of friction as well as the presence of ethnic Somalisin Ethiopia and Kenya. The population until recently was largekly nomadic. After a war with Ethiopia and the overthrow of a long-time dictator, Somalia has descended into anarchy.

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Created: 5:38 AM 12/11/2007
Last updated: 5:38 AM 12/11/2007