The textile-making communities in Somalia are a continuation of an ancient textile industry, as is the culture of wood carving, pottery and monumental architecture that dominates Somali interiors and landscapes. The cultural diffusion of Somali commercial enterprise can be detected in its cuisine, which contains Southeast Asian influences. Due to the Somali people's passionate love for and facility with poetry, Somalia has often been referred to by scholars as a "Nation of Poets" and a "Nation of Bards" including, among others, the Canadian novelist Margaret Laurence. COUNT 5
QSN1 Somali food contains influences from what region? ANS1 Southeast Asian QSN2 Along with textiles, wood carving and pottery, what ancient cultural activity still dominates Somalia today? ANS2 monumental architecture QSN3 Who called Somalia a "Nation of Bards"? ANS3 Margaret Laurence QSN4 Of what nationality is the person who called Somalia a "Nation of Bards"? ANS4 Canadian QSN5 What is the profession of the individual who referred to Somalia as a "Nation of Bards"? ANS5 novelist