A culture on the brink of extinction

At a village square painted gold by the setting sun in Wajir District, residents gather for a wedding. The young and old mingle freely as they dance to jiisow — a Somali folk dance.
The master of ceremonies, Mr Hassan Abakiyo, clad in tunic and flip-flops, calls the crowd to order. "We are about to lighten up," he announces to rounds of applause. Women form a line as they clap and beat plastic cans. Abakiyo, a charming 73-year-old, struts around the human ring to the beat of jiisow. The old codger lifts his right leg and trudges forward using the left leg. He straightens his body and with hands curved like a cobra preparing to strike, he lumbers towards a group of stamping men,Like one possessed, he scuttles his right leg downward as the left leg shoots up in split seconds. He repeats the sequence for a few seconds before stepping back to the line. These are the marvels of jiisow, a Somali traditional dance that is fast losing glitter.
Such dances would hardly excite in other parts of the country but in this conservative community, jiisow represents a stark departure from the norm. Religious leaders often discourage the dance, arguing it corrupts morals. But defenders of the cultural boogie say it stands above the rest and creates no room for mischief...more..http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144019060&cid=4&ttl=A%20culture%20on%20the%20brink%20of%20extinction