The Craftsmen’s fair

The Craftsperson’s Association and the French Comorian Alliance invited you to the Artisans’ Market in Moroni from 30 November to 3rd December 2023. The fair was held at the terrace of its cultural center. There were around fifty exhibitors at this 4th edition. It’s was cloudy this first Saturday of December when I visited the fair, but the weather forecast was predicting some rain in the afternoon. Amina Mohamed is the founder of Zahrat al-Hayat Creation. Her job is to collect and recycle objects and items found in the streets. “I recycle plastic pots, cans, denim skirts and pants. I make bags, jewelry and small traditional fans where Comorian ladies carry them in their purse during wedding ceremonies” she said. Her family concern was set up in 2020. Zahrat al-Hayat Creation has a Facebook page. “When I finished high school, I didn’t know what to do. Then, I decided to enroll in law at the University of Comoros. After my bachelor degree, I launched my own business as there are no job opportunities for many graduates and undergraduates from the University of Comoros,” says Abdullah karim. The 28- year- old law graduate makes bags, shoes and pretty African outfits for men and women. He thanks God for being able to live from his work and feed his family. Djidji Couture is his small business. It is located in Foumbouni, the capital region of Mbadjini. Mrs. Zalhata Mchinda is the developer of Babou Salama Art (BSA). She is a specialist in making household linen, apron for cutlery, traditional fans and bags. Her prices vary from 10 to 15 euros par item. You can contact her at this email: bsa.comores@gmail.com Zarianti Said dropped out of school when she was in the middle school, but she doesn’t regret anything at all. She is nowadays a successful entrepreneur in sewing Comorian traditional clothing. She crafts traditional boubous and hats for men. A handmade boubou costs 100€ and a machine-made one costs 60€. A handmade kofia (hat) costs 300€. Thanks to her work, she asserted that she was able to send her little brother to study abroad. The artisanal soap was also in the exhibition. Mataany Hassani is the manager of Bio Mat. It’s an enterprise specialized in natural bath soap for the whole family. The bio soap is made from papaya, charcoal, turmeric, etc. It protects your skin and is different from the industrially manufactured soaps that contain chemical products you may find in the market. Established in 2022, the small company is located in Nyumadzaha, in Bambao County. Kinaya SARL is a one year- old glass bottled beverage small company. Its plant is located in Domoni ya djuu in Mboude district, but its distribution network is in Itsandra Mdjini city. Kinaya produces grenadine, baobab, pineapple and other juices for its grocery and restaurant customers. It sales some crates of 20, 24 and 30 bottles to its clients. A bottle costs 1€ in an ordinary shop and may be the double in a restaurant. Other exhibitors proudly showed their know-how to the public in the fields of beauty and cosmetics products, pastries, cooking and the cultivation of flowers. Chami Mouzawar, Contributing Writer

University of Comoros’ Anniversary

The University of Comoros celebrates this week the 20th anniversary of its foundation. It was in August 2003 when President Azali Assoumani decreed the creation of this institution of higher education commonly known as UDC (Université des Comores). Some events were respectively organized in the campus of Wanani in Mohéli and the Patsy site of Anjouan. It’s the turn of Grande Comore where many schools and faculties are located to celebrate the event this Thursday, 23rd December 2023 at the People’s Palace of Hamramba in Moroni. The weather was incredibly fine that morning despite some rain shower in the afternoon. History The University of Comoros was founded in September 2003 by the merger of some public institutions of higher education set up in the 1980s and 1990s: the National School of Higher Education (ENES), the National School of Administration and Commerce (ENAC), the Teachers’ Training Institute and Research in Education (IFERE), the Institute of Higher Education and Retraining (ISFR), the National Health School and the Faculty of Arabic and Islamic studies (known as Imam shaafeen Faculty). The university number was 1,250 students in 2003. Two decades later, the number of students has increased ten times and reached 13,281 people. Female students represent 52% of the total. The state university employs only 305 professors and staff members in nine (09) schools, faculties and institutes in the islands of the archipelago. The only public college of the country welcomes more than 70% of the new baccalaureate graduates each year. Insight and missions According to the University of Comoros’ prospectus, the public institution aims to become a reference institution of higher education in the Indian Ocean zone by the development of knowledge, innovation and the mastery of sciences and technologies serving the real needs of the socioeconomic development of the country. Its mission is not only training people in the fields of humanities, science and technology, but also to shape citizens capable and responsible to contribute to the social cohesion and to the change the country needs for its social well-being. The morning workshops Professors, students and experts were invited to attend and participate in four different workshops: shared perspectives on the 20 years of the institution, current changes with the medical school, university funding and the international partnership. Each workshop was honored by the visit of Azali Assoumani, head of state and current president of the African Union. Each team had to brainstorm all day and came up with some solutions and proposals. The restitution of the works by the rapporteur of each workshop at the end of the day was summarized by Ibouroi Ali Toibibou, the provisional administrator and acting president of the University of Comoros during a presentation before the audience including the government at 4pm. The projects selected in the workshops include the teaching of the Comorian language at the University of Comoros, the creation of some doctoral schools including the school of medicine, application of several conventions signed between the Comorian government and its development partners. Last but not least, the public university should be able to have a balanced budget by increasing the students’ tuitions and fees, selling and acquiring expertise activities in many fields where professors, trainee students and staff members may succeed as consultants. The afternoon activities Many speeches were given in the afternoon. Said abubakar is the current Mufti of the Republic of Comoros. He was not there to interpret some verses of the holy Koran read in front of the public. He focused his speech on the importance of education. He gives the example of Japan where teachers are honored and well-paid like ministers. A parent representative and great notable also had his say. “All my offspring have been trained at this university before pursuing their studies abroad. We must be confident of what we have. It probably costs the earth to send a single student abroad. So, let’s increase the tuitions and fees to allow our students to get a good education,” he asserted. A female student representing her classmates and student’s government was able to utter some words. “On behalf of my classmates, we are grateful Mr. President for what you did for our country. By founding the University of Comoros, you give the chance for everyone to get a college education,” she said. The minister of Education, Dr. Takiddine Youssouf thanked the public for coming to celebrate together the 20th anniversary of the public university. He reminded the audience some history facts. ‘‘There were only 77 primary schools, 4 middle schools and 2 high schools before the independence of Comoros in 1975. Today, the university is surely the foundation of the completion of our territorial integrity,’’ said the minister boastfully. Before starting his address, President Azali took the opportunity to pay tribute to the former Mufti Said Toihir Ahmed Maulana, the founder of Imam Shaffeen faculty of Arabic and Islamic studies who passed away three years ago. President Azali is the founding father of the University of Comoros. He was grateful and thrilled to be honored by the presence in the ceremony of Damir Ben Ali, the first sole administrator of the state university from 2003 to 2006. ‘‘When I set up the university, I increased the price of the popular rice in order to back its administration and management. The tax was designed to support its operating costs,’’ the president said. ‘‘Take the example of a 16 year-old baccalaureate graduate who should leave his country to study abroad. He risks having a cultural shock. My own daughter started her studies at the University of Comoros before continuing her studies with brilliance abroad,’’ he proudly said. The president thinks that this institution of higher education is a kind of sanctum and protection for our young students before venturing overseas. He promises to boost state subsidies and demands that good governance and management should prevail at the only one public university of the country. After the event wrapped up, a traditional folkdance was performed by women from the island of Anjouan. Chami Mouzawar, contributing writer

Meck Moroni AGM

The annual general meeting of Meck Moroni was held this Saturday 11th November, 2023. Due to a high turnout at the Meck Moroni AGM, many people did not get the ‘survival’ kit full of biscuits, drinks, T-shirt and the annual report of activity. Dr. Ahmed Abdullatif is the new chairman of the Board of Directors at Meck Moroni. He is also the professor and Computer Department chief at the IUT (University Institute of Technology) of the University of Comoros. According to him, the number of borrowers has increased in 2022 after the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Meck Moroni was set up on 1st November 1998 with only 508 founding members. Twenty-five years later, it has become one of the major micro financial institutions of the country with more than 64,603 members in December 2022. The total number of borrowers in 2022 reached 13,544, which is an increase of about 7.5% compared to 2021 with only 12,662 borrowers, the chairman said. Aboubacar Moussa is the secretary of the Meck Moroni Supervisory Board. In his speech delivered in both French and Comorian(shikomori)languages, he confirmed the bank’s financial statements as it’s already approved by the auditor from the Malagasy Mazars cabinet consulting.’‘ Even though some improvements are necessary, we are confident about the good governance and management that prevail in our institution,’’ he said. Before the election of 3 new members of the board of directors, five members were invited to have their say and ask some questions. Hamidou M’madi Djalim thinks that the reception desk is warm and inviting. However, when it comes to male staff things are different. Djalim is upset about the high interest rates. “When I borrow 5 million Comorian francs, you only give me 3 million and half. I have to repay the loan to the bank 6 million,” he said. Salim Saandi Kemba says that more than 98% of Meck Moroni memberships are Comorian citizens, but French language is still used in your report instead of Shikomori (Comorian language). He also wants to know why the Microfinance system of Meck Moroni does not help the small borrowers who fail to pay back their loans as it has much money and owns many real estates. Mrs. Fatouma Elyasse thinks that the report should be available for the public before the AGM‘s day in order to allow the members to prepare their good questions. The former director of Said Mohamed Cheikh high school suggests creating a special committee for the cost of living. “This 4th body can give advice to the borrowers when to invest and which time is not opportune to borrow. Forgiveness should be made possible for those who are unable to pay off their loans”, she concluded. Another guy’s proposal is about an annual ‘Action Plan’ to be approved by the members at a General Assembly and evaluated at the next AGM. It’s the only way to hold Meck Moroni employees and members of the three boards accountable, he says. Mlepo Oumouri Abdou is grateful for the banking for small businesses. It really deserves its name.” Even all the counters at the bank are open; we lose more time to be served. He proposes converting a room into a worship space or even building a mosque for the prayers. He also thinks that candidates for Meck Moroni scholarships for those students obtaining honors in the baccalaureate should focus their studies on technical and vocational trainings rather than on academic studies. He said the lack of skilled staff in many technical areas is disrupting our country’s economy and our business. Chami Mouzawar, Contributing writer

A professors’ farewell ceremony at IUT

A farewell ceremony was held at the University Institute of Technology (Hamramba campus) of the University of Comoros in Moroni. It was on Saturday 21 October, 2023. Mrs. Cheikh Amina was a Communication professor and former mayor of Bambao ya Pbwani. She is among the three professors, senior cadres and notables who retired from the University of Comoros two years ago. She boasts of having among her former students several cadres who have become ministers, directors, professors and even candidates at the last and next presidential elections. The lady who invited some of her former colleagues is also a trade unionist, an activist and an international consultant. She travelled to many countries as an election observer. Before becoming a professor at IUT, Mohamed Youssouf used to work in the ministry of Land Planning and Environment. ‘‘I like my country, my region and my village of Djumwashongo. I am not introducing myself. Those who know me will tell you who am I ’’ he said. Mr. Youssouf has some of his offspring who studied at the IUT. He is grateful for the young directors who run the Technical Institute today because they were their own students. He never missed an opportunity to come to visit his former colleagues especially during traditional Comorian weddings. Mohamed Soilihi is the first and former Director of the National School of Administration and Commerce (formerly ENAC). ‘‘I did not intend to become a teacher. My first job was in the ministry of Finance in the 1980s. One day, I asked Mr. Rashad (former president of the University of Comoros) if I can give some Management courses at the public high school Said Mohamed Cheikh in Moroni. He told me okay. Since that year, teaching has become my only job,’’ he said. Before the opening of ENAC in the 1990s, he got a scholarship for an internship in France on how to run a high school. When one of his instructors asked him what his plan was for the next five years, he had no say. ‘‘There is no specific training to become a school director in Comoros. That is the first time I learned that special skills are required to become director or superintendent in a school,’’ he said. Mouridi Soilihi was a professor and an expert in International Business. He passed away in 2022. He was the former Cabinet director of the governor of Ngazidja in the 1980s. He also worked as civil Cabinet attaché at the presidency of the Union of Comoros from 2002 to 2006. He was appointed at the Human Resources department of the University of Comoros as assistant director, then Director General between 2007 and 2017. The audience paid tribute to him by reading the holy koranic surate al-fatihah i.e. prologue. May Allah reward him. Ibouroi Ali Toibibou is the administrator and acting president of the University of Comoros. He spoke some soothing words by reminding our honorable retirees that they paid back the pension funds Department almost the money they owe. However, some financial problems remain for the months and years to come. After the farewell ceremony speeches wrapped up, our honorable professors were given certificates of recognition. That Saturday morning event was followed by a lavish cocktail to honor our champions as they should be. Mouzawar Chami, Contributing writer

Young Entrepreneurship in Comoros

Farmer Biamrifi at the American Corner ''I didn’t like school when I was a young boy. I got a college education by chance,’’ Fayçal Biamrifi said in a presentation held on Thursday 12 October 2023 at the American Corner – a building of the University of Comoros – in Moroni. It’s the first meeting of this kind titled ‘‘ Parcours, Oeuvre et Perspectives d’Avenir ’’ i.e. Career History, Work and Future Prospects organized by Abdou Mroivili, the educational adviser who worked for the US embassy in Comoros. Mroivili’s teamwork includes Ibrahim Mohamed from YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) association in Comoros and Ahmed Bacar from Joso (Journalisme de Solutions, Solutions Journalism in English). YALI is the American government initiative to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Its aim is to develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills and connects participants with their peers and with the American people. Solutions Journalism is an approach to news reporting that focuses on the responses to social issues as well as the problems themselves. Solutions stories explain how and why responses are working or not working. For instance, it can explain a problem and find the solution by giving the examples of young entrepreneurs who succeed in business. Joso is not interested in global news. It focuses on responses to problems that are newsworthy for youngsters instead. According to Mroivili, there is a US program of USD 300 million that aims to develop agriculture and livestock farming in partnership with FAO in order to achieve food self-sufficiency in Comoros. Biamrifi was born in the village of Boingoma in the island of Mohéli. He got a Bachelor degree in Environment from a university of Madagascar. He was hired by the Telecom public company in 2010. He used to work at the Logistics Department. Biamrifi refuses to work under political pressure, especially during the 2010 general elections. Thus, the young cadre was often posted in different remote areas of the country from 2011 to 2018 because of his ‘political disobedience’. After been suspended from his job for eleven months in 2019, Biamrifi has decided to work for himself in the agriculture business. He first worked with his father by renting five hectares of land in Mohéli. He had the chance to get freely a tractor, but he had to pay the fuel charges. Despite his lack of training in agriculture, the corona virus lockdown of 2020 and 2021, some water and transportation problems, the young farmer has become the first producer of banana, pineapple, and watermelon in Comoros. Concerning his production of bananas, he uses bleach – a technical method that kills all germs in a hall – before planting the banana seeds in the warm soil. Biamrifi works with a team of 19 youngsters. They set up an agricultural cooperative. He takes 40% of the annual income and the remaining for his co-workers. He thinks that gardening market (vegetables) is also profitable. He criticizes the public authorities for not helping those who invest in the agricultural sector. ‘‘We need a bank dedicated to farmers because conventional financial institutions do not trust us,’’ he said. Even if no one knows what the future has in store for us, the young entrepreneur is still optimistic. He hopes to increase his production and value add his product by selling crisps, jam and straw juice in the national and international markets. The Comorian Blog, 12 October 2023, Chami Mouzawar, Contributing Writer

Sankoule Twarab Music at Alliance Française

As France’s national celebration took place on Friday 14 July 2023, a traditional music called “twarab” was played by an orchestra from Itsandra Mdjini at the French cultural center located in Moroni, the capital city of Comoros. Sankoule Twarab Music d’Itsandra Mdjini is a concert band whose aim is to promote and safeguard a Comorian cultural heritage commonly called “twarab”. Twarab is an Arabic loanword which means concert. According to historians, it is a classical Arabic music that comes from Egypt via the island of Zanzibar where an important community of Comorian citizens used to live in the last centuries. The group was formed in 2022 and gave its first concert at CNDRS (centre national de documentation et de recherche scientifique) for the 43rd anniversary the state institution. Chabane Mohamed is the oldest man and singer who first appeared on stage. He is well known for his magnificent voice in his younger days. He sang “zinu ndja zi ombeya”, a successful song from the 1960-70s. He always performs the same old refrain during the djaliko, a traditional folk dance in Grande Comore. Another doyen who preferred to sing an Arabic song is Mohamed andhwimuddine, a fiddler who works as a security agent at the town council of Itsandra Mpbagaani. Ibrahim Mohamed, alias mtsounga, performed “na ri ombe rahamani” a song by Shababi El Watwani group of Itsandra Mdjini in the 1970s. The musical group was replaced by SAMUCO (Sankoule Music Comores) in the 1980s. The new orchestra is run by Boinaidi Ahmed Ben, an aeronautics engineer who used to work for ASECNA (agence pour la sécurité de la navigation aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar). The band has also some young crooners. Ahamada mshangama, alias mashababi sang “fitina” which means the friction that can be caused in a lovely couple. A musical slam performance was also put on stage by some young students of ACEJIM (association culturelle et estudiantine des jeunes d’Itsandra Mdjini). The text was written by Housseine Hadji, a disabled young student from the city. Last but not least, abubakar known as ‘Gili’ performed “trama” a hit love song from the 1970s. It talks about a girl who dumped her boyfriend. Gili was also the presenter and master of ceremonies during that night. Despite the numerous wedding ceremonies of July and August in Comoros, about a hundred of people attended the concert. The event was honored by his Excellency Sylvain Riquier, the French ambassador in the Union of Comoros.

Diplomatic visit of the Tanzanian ambassador at IUT

 

                                                                   His Excellency the ambassador(3rd from left) and IUT director(3rd from right)

The Technical Institute of Technology (IUT) of the University of Comoros was honored this Tuesday, 9^th May 2023 by a courtesy call of the Tanzanian ambassador in the Union of Comoros. The aim of the diplomatic visit is to get in touch with the students, the professors, the faculty members and the administrators of the institute. Our honorary guest and his staff were first welcomed at the hall entrance by Ahmed Bacar who is the director of the school and two female students dressed up with shiromani (a traditional white and red cloth from the island of Anjouan) and white shirts. Then, he met some teachers and instructors in the teachers ‘room. 

First of all, the teachers who were present had to introduce themselves. It was the turn to the ambassador, his two counselors and a Comorian female interpreter to tell us who they are. Secondly, Bacar began his presentation by describing his technical school which has more than 350 students split in first and second year. The institute consists of five training programs: Commerce, Management (GEA), Construction (Habitat), Statistics, and Computer science. ‘‘We have eight classrooms, two laboratories, one small multimedia library, but no lecture hall, nor library ‘’ the director said. He also took the opportunity to remind his Excellency the ambassador that his institution has many relations with overseas institutions and schools and that he is willing to cooperate with other schools in Tanzania.

The ambassador reminds the teachers that their hard job of training young people for their future is the most beautiful one. “Even if you are not well paid in this world, your reward will be great in front of Allah,’’ he said. He was also joyful when he learned that Kiswahili is among the languages taught at our institute. After the meeting with the professors and a visit to the classrooms and the laboratories, the ambassador had to meet the students in a special ceremony. All the students were elegantly dressed up, especially the female ones who looked stunning in their traditional Comorian clothes of sahari, subaiya and shiromani. After the holy Koran read in two separate times by a male student from a Management class and a female sophomore from Commerce, the national anthems of Tanzania and Comoros were performed by the audience. Then, two speeches delivered in Kiswahili by two female students were politely applauded by their classmates. A couple of student also performed a Kiswahili song which was really appreciated by everyone including his Excellency who rewarded them.     

                                                                               Some female students in shiromani from the University of Comoros

The ambassador told the students that kiswahili and shikomori languages are too close. For example, the collocation mhogo wa nazi has the same meaning in the two languages. So, it is easy for a Tanzanian citizen to learn shikomori and a Comorian to learn kiswahili. '' There are approximately 130 ethnic dialects in Tanzania, but kiswahili is the common language to communicate. Therefore, knowing kiswahili is extremely important when it comes to do business in our country. Otherwise, you risk to be ripped off,’’ he concluded. He also reminded that kiswahili has become a major language in Africa and worldwide. ‘’It is recognized as an official language in African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’’ he proudly said. The SADC is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. It was founded in 1992. Its goal is to further regional socioeconomic cooperation and integration as well as political and security among 16 countries (including Union of Comoros) in southern Africa.  

In November 2021, the general conference of UNESCO declared July 7^th world kiswahili language day and the first international celebration of the kiswahili language day was held at the United nations headquarter in New York on 7^th July 2022. The ceremony ended with some photos between the ambassador, some staff faculty members and the students. After the event wrapped up, a small cocktail party was hosted by the institute to refresh our guests of honor.        

Chami Mouzawar

Contributing writer