Rocky Future for Somalia's Ancient Cave
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Indian historical epic sweeps ‘Bollywood Oscars’ MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2016 37 Indian Muslims offer prayers on the third Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lucknow, India. — AP Master of street fashion photography Bill Cunningham dead at 87 egendary New York Times fashion pho- mentary about Cunningham, Anna Wintour- Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office wrote on Twitter. Bantam Dell who was often photographed by tographer Bill Cunningham died the powerful editor of American Vogue and De Blasio added: “We will remember Bill’s Cunningham, first met the photographer LSaturday, according to the paper where one of the photographer’s muses-marveled at blue jacket and bicycle. But most of all we “many, many years ago” on a cold February he worked for nearly 40 years. He was 87. his ability to “see something, on the street or will remember the vivid, vivacious New York day during New York Fashion Week. Cunningham, whose watchful eye brought on the runway, that completely missed all of he captured in his photos.” Cunningham’s “I didn’t yet know him and he certainly did- images of New Yorkers-from the well-heeled us. And in six months’ time, that will be a “wealth of knowledge is absolutely stagger- n’t know me, but he did notice that I was inap- to unsuspecting trendsetters-to the public, trend!” Frank Rich, a former New York Times ing and he is self-effacing,” one of the found- propriately dressed for the blizzard-like condi- had been hospitalized recently after a stroke, columnist and executive producer of the HBO ing editors of InStyle magazine, Hal tions,” Cho told The Hollywood Reporter. “And, the Times reported. Credited with creating the series “Veep,” tweeted: “Bill Cunningham was Rubenstein, told AFP in 2014. so, he just quietly walked over and put his big genre of street fashion photography, as delightful and fascinating a person and col- Times publisher and chairman Arthur blue parka over my shoulders and said some- Cunningham held a passion for capturing a league as he was as artist. An independent Sulzberger Jr added: “His company was thing to the effect of, ‘Child, wear this-you’re subject or trend’s look, whatever it may be. mind, big heart, no airs.” sought after by the fashion world’s rich and cold.’ I’ll never forget it,” Cho said. — AFP He was, as the Times called him, an “unlike- powerful, yet he remained one of the kindest, ly cultural anthropologist.” Cunningham, who A ‘Living Landmark’ most gentle and humble people I have ever plied New York in his trademark blue work- A 2008 recipient of France’s Legion of met.” Cunningham, born in Boston in 1929, man’s jacket with a camera slung around his Honor, Cunningham was also named a living “used his camera like a note pad, keeping neck and traveled on his bicycle, had an landmark by the New York Landmarks careful tabs on every genus, phylum and In this file photo, New York Times photogra- uncanny talent in unearthing major, even Conservancy in 2009. “Today we lost a Living species of stylish bird,” The Hollywood pher Bill Cunningham waits for the arrival avant-garde trends on the street, on the cat- Landmark, not that he ever stood still. Let’s all Reporter wrote. Former CNN correspondent of the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas walk or at glittering parties. In a 2010 docu- be more fabulous in Bill’s memory,” New York Alina Cho, an editor at large at Ballantine tree, in New York. —AP Rocky future for Somalia’s ancient cave art enturies have passed since Neolithic artists added. The site is in dire need of protection. “We Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, but it is not recog- swirled red and white colour on the cliffs of don’t have the knowledge, the experience or the nized by the international community. The “lack Cnorthern Somalia, painting antelopes, cat- financial resources. We need support,” Shabelleh of recognition” of the country blocks the cave’s tle, giraffes and hunters carrying bows and said. The paintings, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) protection, said Xavier Gutherz, the former head arrows. Today, the paintings at Laas Geel in the from Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland, are consid- of the French archaeology team that discovered self-declared state of Somaliland retain their ered among the oldest and best preserved rock the site in 2002. Amazed by the remarkable con- fresh brilliance, providing vivid depictions of a art sites in Africa but are protected only by a few dition of the paintings as well as their previously pastoralist history dating back some 5,000 years guards who ask visitors not to touch the paintings. unknown style, the archaeologist asked for the or more. “These paintings are unique. This style cave’s listing as a UNESCO world heritage site. cannot be found anywhere in Africa,” said Diplomatic donor legal limbo But that request was refused because Abdisalam Shabelleh, the site manager from Applications for assistance by Somaliland’s Somaliland is not recognized as a separate Somaliland’s Ministry of Tourism. government have gone unheeded. A former nation. “Only state parties to the World Heritage Then he points to a corner, where the paint British protectorate, Somaliland declared inde- Convention can nominate sites for World fades and peels off the rocks. “If nothing is done pendence from the rest of Somalia when war Heritage status,” said a UNESCO spokeswoman. now, in 20 years it could all have disappeared,” he erupted following the overthrow of president Requests for funding from donor countries face Photo shows a primitive rock painting. This file photo shows a primitive rock painting. the same legal and diplomatic headache. Centuries of isolation and local beliefs that the This file photo site was haunted and the art the work of evil spir- shows a soldier its may have contributed to Laas Geel’s protec- walking near the tion. But since their discovery, the cave paintings entrance of a have become one of the main attractions for visi- primitive rock tors to Somaliland. painting. ‘Part of our blood’ Around a thousand visitors each year endure long stretches of rugged terrain and travel with armed escorts to reach Laas Geel, and numbers are growing. “The concerns of Somaliland are legitimate,” said Gutherz, who has identified key areas to tackle to help protect the site. “We have to secure the site, arrange access paths, strength- en the rocks that could collapse, divert rainwater runoff and improve the training of guards,” he said. With a major development planned for A primitive rock painting, one of a galaxy of colorful animal and human sketches to adorn Somaliland’s main port at Berbera, the number of the caves in the rocky hills of this arid wilderness in northern Somalia, near Hargeisa, visitors is expected to increase. —AFP home to Africa’s earliest known and most pristine rock art. —AFP photos.