Horndiplomat-Calling out around the world. Are you ready for a brand new beat. Summer’s here and the time is right. Dancing in the Street… Borama style was enjoyed by many on Saturday afternoon in Market Square including the Mayor, Councillor Julian Brookes who joined in too after welcoming the visitors for the Borama Comes to Henley event and said, “As well as bringing the culture and entertainment today you’ve also brought us the Borama sunshine too. I’m sorry that your Mayor Amed isn’t able to be with us today for this great event. I hope that we have many more events like this to establish the friendship link with Henley.”
Henley has had a friendship link with Borama since 1982 which was formed through local resident, Brigadier Malcolm Page who served there in 1947 and looked after many who were in the Somaliland Scouts Regiment. Malcolm continues to Chair the Borama Friendship Association and said, “This event will be a great way for people to learn about our link and understand the culture.”
Derek Gilbert from Henley Theatre Services who provided the staging and sound system was part of the Friendship Link committee in 1984 when they helped to raise £15,000 to buy and install a generator in Borama with other donations made from the British Ambassador of Mogadishu and the Borama people.
Borama has grown from a population of 20,000 in the 1980s to 200,000 and now has five universities. It also has the first school for deaf children in Somalia. Borama Deaf School trains and provides educational services for hearing impaired children that extends to high school. Using the Somali Sign Language, it has attracted deaf pupils from across the region and beyond.
The event also included singing, poetry and music by the special visitors who were enjoying their day in Henley, many of whom for the first time.
