My review of the first month in Kismayo, Jubbaland-Somalia.

It’s one month ago when I firstly arrived in Kismayo, which is a capital and port city in the southern Lower Jubba (Jubbada Hoose) of Jubbaland State of Federal Republic of Somalia. It is also a commercial city in the region that connects Kenya and Somalia. 

The city is situated 528 kilometres (328 miles) southwest of Mogadishu near the mouth of the Jubba River where the waters empty into the Indian Ocean. (1)

For that period of one month,  I realised that Kismayo is a multi-cultural and multi-society city with different cultures, communities, and languages as I know so far. It is the first time I saw non-Somali speaking Somali citizens that stay in Somalia for their life but speak with their own local and/or Swahili language. I surprised when we need another person that translates our conversation between us.

Kismayo is a warm city with the Indian Ocean at the side, but its climate is exacerbated by the severe droughts in the region. The city’s main transportation is Taxi which you’ll pay one US Dollar from one point to another per person regardless of the how far it is although if the destination is out of the city, you may be charged an extra money. 

Here are some of the interesting local medical terminology and their translation that I learned from the community coming for a service in a local public hospital in the city. 

• Malaariyaa haysa = Xummad = Fever 
• Gooryaan baa cunaya = Casiraad/Calool-Majiir = Abdominal cramp 
• Jiis = Nabar = Wound 
• Borokiito = Xiiq = Asthma 
• Qooramaley = Babaasiir = haemorrhoid

The people in the city are very good at welcoming of new arrivals, hence it is an interesting and outstanding city. 

(1) wikipedia 

Mukhtar Abdi (Keenadiid), MD

Kismayo, Jubbaland-Somalia.