The concept for this book emerged in 2015, shortly after the 12th International Congress Of Somali Studies, alongside the proposal to host the 13th Congress in Hargeysa. As chair of the organizing committee, I invited Professor Hussein Adam to join us initially at the Hargeysa Adam to join us initially at the Hargeysa International Book Fair in July 2016 and later for the congress in July 2018. Together, we developed the idea for a book on Somali Studies.