The Year of the Poet VI July 2019

ForewordOnly a single birdis singingThe air is cloning it. We hear through mirrors. Federico Garcia Lorca This month's theme is Africa and Horn Africa. Africa and Horn Africa are the mirrors of singing birds, flora and fauna, cultural prominence, collective life, social translators of ethnic groups those who grow with the nature. The inhabitants are the crisis manager of all adversities and the echo of their brave History . Africa is a continent but Horn Africa is a peninsula in Northeast Africa. It extends hundreds of kilometres into the Arabian sea and lies along the Southern side of the Gulf of Eden . The area is the easternmost projection of the African Continent. The countries and territories included are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The people of the Horn Africa are subdivided into six people clusters; Beja, Cushitic, Ethio-Semitic, Omotic, Oromo and Somalia. Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa bordered by Ethiopia to the West, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the North, the Somali Sea, Guardafui Channel to the east and Kenya to the South East. The Horn Africa enjoys an excellent strategic location south west of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Its location on one side of some of the world's major trade lanes and land route gives it vital importance because of its proximity to the oil reach Arabian Peninsula. Part of the Horn Africa is also known as the Somali Peninsula. Mostly mountainous, the region arose through faults resulting from the rift valley. Agriculture is the single most important activity in Africa. We cannot overlook the tradition, the nativism, the culture and the contribution of Africa and horn Africa for the generations. Nativism is a celebration of the pluralism that is the very core tune of Africa and Horn Africa. Somalia is known to the Egyptians as the Land of Punt. Punt was famous for frankincense and myrrh. Around 100 Somali Diaspora communities exist across the West, which actively are engaged in thousands of Civil associations. Lake Assal is a saline lake below sea level making it the lowest point on the land of the Horn of Africa. Some farming knowledge passed down from generation to generation has become obsolete. Drought crippled the region. People struggle to recover from the natural calamity. Inner Child Press International(R) with its mission of building bridges of cultural understanding takes the responsibility for global peace and harmony through poetry with International festivals and Anthologies. We respect the land, nature, folk tales, culture, music, literature, perceptions, ideas, thoughts, language and all ethnic groups of the world. Poetry is the living nature and nature is the living poetry. We respect the humanity ... We respect the survival skills. We respect the indigenous knowledge. Let us join our hands for peace .... Swapna Behera Cultural Ambassador of India and south East Asia for Inner Child Press International