3253 the Horn of Africa: Somalia & Djibouti

CFE 3253V

OPEN CAPTIONED ALTSCHUL GROUP CORPORATION 1994 Grade Levels: 9-13+ 20 minutes DESCRIPTION Somalia, Djibouti, and part of Ethiopia form the Horn of Africa, a desolate and harsh land. Compares the people, limited resources, traditions, and cultures of the region. Notes the strategic importance of Djibouti to international trade through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Focuses on Djibouti and the hope for the region that lies in its educated young people. INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS · To present the three countries that make up the Horn of Africa: Somalia, Djibouti, and part of Ethiopia. · To illustrate the resources, culture, and international value of this area of Africa. BEFORE SHOWING 1. Read the CAPTION SCRIPT to determine unfamiliar vocabulary and language concepts. 2. Using a world map, locate places presented in the video. a. Locate bodies of water: Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, Lake Assal, and Persian Gulf. b. Find land locations: Horn of Africa, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Yemen, South Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Mescali, and Mucho Islands. c. Locate cities: Mogadishu, Djibouti, Ali- Sabjeh, and Addis Ababa. AFTER SHOWING Discussion Items and Questions 1. How have European colonization, foreign aid, geographical location, and environment influenced the Horn's culture, economy, and people?

1 2. How have the region's location and natural resources contributed to international and internal tensions? 3. Why can naval ships from the world's great powers be seen near the Horn of Africa? 4. Justify which problem is worse in Djibouti: a. A neighboring country would have taken over if the French had not been there. b. There is so much interference by foreigners. 5. Compare the United States and the Horn of Africa. a. Compare Texas to Somalia and New Hampshire to Djibouti. b. Compare the local environment, geography, and weather to those of the Horn of Africa. c. Compare local education programs to those in the Horn of Africa. 6. Evaluate life in the Horn of Africa. Consider fundamental conditions: water, bearing and feeding children, transportation, owning animals, knife skill, and weather. 7. What benefits have the natural resources in the Horn of Africa provided for its people and outsiders? 8. Discuss how the Arabs and French have influenced Djibouti. 9. What are the differences between the cities of Djibouti and Ali-Sabjeh? 10. How have the Cold War and the end of the Cold War influenced the Horn of Africa? 11. Hypothesize the future for Djibouti. Consider the role of its children, natural resources, and foreign countries.

2 Applications and Activities 1. Research the Horn of Africa. a. What forms of government are used in Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia? b. Have there been historical border or name changes in the Horn of Africa? c. Why have European nations seen a need to colonize the area and establish military bases? d. How successful has the United Nations effort been to bring peace to the area? e. Have residents in the Horn of Africa been beneficiaries or pawns in the Cold War? f. What were the conditions to ending French colonial rule in Djibouti? g. How has the United States influenced the Horn of Africa? 2. Consider modern life in the Horn of Africa. a. View CFV 3139V Gender Matters, in which women's roles in Third World countries are presented. b. Investigate educational and employment opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 3. Devise plans for a trip or a move to the Horn of Africa. 4. Research and use the culturally preferred signs for the countries and continents in the video. Some resources are: a. Sandager, O.K. (ed.), Sign Languages Around the World, OK Publishing, CA, 1986. b. Selected Signs Around the World (video), Sign Media, Inc., Burtonsville, MD. c. Countries Around the World (video), Sign Media, Inc., Burtonsville, MD. WEBSITES Explore the Internet to discover sites related to this topic. Check the CFV website for related information (http://www.cfv.org). 3 CAPTION SCRIPT Following are the captions as they appear on the video. Teachers are encouraged to read the script prior to viewing the video for pertinent vocabulary, to discover language patterns within the captions, or to determine content for introduction or review. Enlarged copies may be given to students as a language exercise.

[man singing the Horn in native language] gets its name from its shape, [singing continues] like an animal's horn (male narrator) projecting into A stark and barren landscape the Indian Ocean. marks this sparsely populated From outer space, the Horn is part of Africa. an easily recognized landmark.

The Horn of Africa It has long is like no other region been considered on the African continent. strategically important

[goats bleating] because of its ability to control trade routes The countries of Somalia, through the Gulf of Aden Djibouti, and part of Ethiopia and the Red Sea. make up this desolate land After the Suez Canal where goats are better suited was built, to the environment than people. the route from Livestock herding is the most the Mediterranean Sea important economic activity to the Indian Ocean became and a way of life one of the world's throughout the region. busiest shipping lanes.

In this inhospitable land, Naval ships from the world's great powers can be seen a man's stature is often measured by his ability throughout the area. to wield the curved knife Many European nations, he carries on his belt. like Britain, Italy, and France,

Located on have seen a need to colonize the eastern side the area and establish of the continent, military bases.

4 Members of the French which is the entrance from the Foreign Legion have been Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea. on training maneuvers Djibouti lies patrolling the borders just north of Somalia. between Ethiopia and Djibouti. Across the water lie Yemen, Their presence brings South Yemen, some stability to the region. and Saudi Arabia. Tiny Djibouti would probably have been taken over To the west lie Ethiopia and Kenya. by one of its neighbors if the French had not been here. The capital city of Somalia is Mogadishu. On the other hand, their presence also represents The capital of Djibouti is the city of Djibouti. one of the region's problems: interference by foreigners. The small, independent nation of Djibouti remained more stable After World War II, throughout the Cold War. both East and West Life here is a representation vied for control of this of life throughout the Horn strategically important area. during more peaceful times.

Each side backed In the countryside, life is different local leaders carried on in much the same way and poured in guns throughout the Horn. and ammunition. Villages of Djibouti are The result has been war, much like villages in Ethiopia famine, and chaos. or Somalia. Somalia was torn apart. They all reflect It has been the focus similar Moorish architecture, of a United Nations effort usually built of coral to bring peace or lava. to the area. The people show Arab strains Somalia is slightly smaller in their faces, than the state of Texas. dress, and religion. Djibouti is about the size of New Hampshire-- Islam is the religion of most Somalis and Djiboutians. slightly larger than Israel. Social values and traditions It sits on one side have scarcely changed here of the strait, in over 3,000 years.

5 Life is based on a handful To obtain grazing of fundamental conditions: for their animals, the presence of water, half the population leads a nomadic lifestyle. the ability to bear children and feed them, One of the only natural resources in the region is salt. and some means of transportation-- This is Lake Assal, with its gigantic salt bed. in this case, the camel. It's so hot that without water, a person can die in a day The ownership of animals-- from dehydration. goats or camels-- Lake Assal is said is the measure to have supplied salt of a person's wealth. to ancient civilizations Besides milk and meat, 3,000 years ago. goats supply a means According to Ptolemy, for carrying water. the Alexandrian geographer,

Goatskin water bags ancient Rome used salt have been used for centuries. from Lake Assal.

Man might have goats or camels So did the Phoenicians. in the desert, With few natural resources, but without water, Djibouti has few industries. he could not exist. Water is one of them. [speaking native language] This plant was set up by the Life in the Horn is primitive. French to bottle spring water.

People do whatever they can It's expensive--beyond the reach to make a living. of most local people.

This man uses a screen It was intended for foreigners to separate gravel who live here. and then sells a few bags [woman singing in French] each month to road repair crews. Djibouti was a French colony Temperatures here are hot prior to 1977, all year around-- known as between 90 and 106 degrees French Somaliland. Fahrenheit. A first-time visitor might think With rainfall averaging it's still a French colony. only five inches a year, vegetation is sparse. [singing in French continues]

6 Most of the white faces seen on is the real pivot the street are French military on which the economy turns. and their wives, The railroad, the docks, and or the families of French the services connected to them bureaucrats and functionaries provide virtually the only who wield much power behind employment in the country. the now independent government. The country's highways A string of supermarkets caters illustrate the importance to this expatriate community, of trade and shipping, with everything imported as well as the importance from France. of foreign aid,

There's less than this time from the Saudis. one square mile of land suitable for agriculture, To enhance its own security, oil-rich Saudi Arabia so little food is produced locally. uses foreign aid to stabilize the countries on its borders. The country is dependent upon imports, subsidized by France. The Saudis employ European specialists, such as this one, Foreign aid is crucial to Djibouti's survival. to build roads, enlarge harbors, man essential services, The only real industry stems from the country's location. and maintain rail lines.

Djibouti is a transportation Saudi Arabia has built some of and communications hub. the finest roads in the world.

Besides guarding the passageway Tiny Djibouti, less than 200 between the Red Sea miles across at its broadest, and the Gulf of Aden, has excellent highways

Djibouti has a harbor that lead to the Somalian in the Gulf of Tadjoura. and Ethiopian borders--

It's a strategic port and all part of the country's an international transshipment primary industry: and refueling center for cargos trade and transshipping. going to Ethiopia, Somalia, The center of this transport industry is and the two Yemens. the capital and largest city, The rail line connecting Djibouti. Djibouti to Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa This dusty seaport is home to a quarter of a million people-- 7 over half of Djibouti's [wind instrument playing entire population. Arabic music]

It has proven itself a vital Islam is the chosen religion economic and strategic asset for over 95% of the people. in a volatile area Every town and village of the globe. has its holy man.

The U.S. Navy found Often regarded as a seer, a friendly harbor here his influence reaches during the Cold War. into every corner of society. Traders come from neighboring countries to make large buys. The remaining 5 or 6% are Christians, primarily Catholics. The true character of Djibouti comes out in the local markets, French missionaries brought Christianity over 100 years ago. where one can buy almost anything! The cathedral in Djibouti is the largest church in the region, Being a seller of imported or local goods is good work here, larger than any Moslem mosque. where there are few industries The children of Djibouti are and few jobs. like those throughout the Horn,

Many people except that most of these are unemployed. children go to school.

Some are homeless. The curriculum is the same as in France, and very comprehensive. A group of homeless have found shelter That makes them more fortunate than the children in abandoned boats and ships of Ethiopia or Somalia, on the beach. who are lucky to get Some are transients, waiting any education at all. for a ship to the next port. Volunteer teachers make up the A common sight are backbone of the school system. the Arab ships called dhows. All work is done in French, They come from Pakistan, the nation's official language. the Persian Gulf, or other Arab states, Arabic is also an official language. bringing goods to trade. With the adult literacy rate These wooden ships have changed quite low--below 40%-- little over the centuries. children hold the hope They illustrate how Arab culture for making the Horn has influenced this land.

8 different Life in the countryside is from what it has been. harsh and often dangerous.

It is up to young people Most disputes are settled to transform this society by the knife. to one capable of functioning Everybody seems in the modern world-- to carry one. being able to read, This has not stopped communicate, and calculate. the tourist business.

From the sea to the mountains Most visitors take a boat ride of the interior, out of Djibouti harbor visitors find a land to reach Mescali that is harsh and austere. and Mucho Islands.

90% of Djibouti is They're small paradises, volcanic desert. and attract foreign tourists

It's one of the hottest places as well as Europeans on earth. stationed here.

Along the roadside [upbeat music playing] are many graves-- These young men belong piles of stones to the French Foreign Legion. with flags decorating them. They come The ground is too hard from many different countries for graves, so bodies and speak different languages, are buried above ground. except on duty, when Stones are piled on top they only speak French. to keep the jackals away. Though the Cold War has ended, Near the border with Ethiopia, France has continued to maintain on the main railroad line, a large military force here, lies the nation's second largest indicative of the importance city: Ali Sabieh. foreign governments have placed A large village might be on this volatile region. a better description. Debris from wars and conflicts There's little to distinguish can be seen strewn about. this settlement as a city-- Captured and partially destroyed no hotels, no restaurants, military equipment nothing an outsider might need. lies baking in the sun The people are unaccustomed of the desert. to strangers. In Somalia and Ethiopia, Visitors seem tribal warlords, unwelcome here. 9 backed by East or West, have they can help exploit caused death and destruction. the region's major asset:

Coupled with drought its location. and starvation, Perhaps they can push the conflicts of the region the transportation industry have caused much misery. to provide a better life Given its limited resources for all of the region's people-- and strategic location, a people whose spirit makes the Horn will always be under the Horn of Africa great pressure from outsiders, a unique region and it will continue to need of the world. the help of other nations. Funding for purchase The region's greatest hope and captioning of this video lies in its young people. was provided by the As they learn skills to function U.S. Department of Education: in the global community, PH: 1-800-572-5580 (V).