Somali faces

[Prince of Lasanod]

I was born in Hargeisa and was part of the WSLF (Western Somali Liberation Front) that operated in Somali inhabited area in Ethiopia in the 1970s and 1980s. I was a proud commander of a fierce battalion. Whilst fighting for freedom and liberation, I was wounded twice. The first time was the most severe one; I was shot in the head and brought to Hargeisa. On my way to Hargeisa, a traditional doctor from one of the villages that we passed by treated me. Let me tell you; these current modern doctors have got nothing on our old traditional doctors. A blood clot formed in my head, and he managed to thin the blood and saved my life. I stayed 21 days in Hargeisa and went back to the battlefield. Every wounded Somali soldier, whether he was being treated in Beledweyne, Mogadishu, Las Anod or Borame; went back to the field after recovering. We loved each other immensely, and your clan background didn’t matter. My battalion soldiers were Somalis from diverse clans. We joked, laughed and were brothers in arms. We were closer to each other than our own blood relatives. We were fighting for a common cause. We were like-minded, and the people cheered for us on wherever we went. I feel nostalgic talking about it. After the Somali government collapsed and was replaced by famine and anarchy, I became a civilian and have been doing nothing ever since. I didn’t join any factional groups nor the subsequent governments. I’ve been living my life quietly in Mogadishu.”

(Mogadishu)

“Waxaan ku dhashay magaaladda Hargaysa isla markaana waxaan ka tirsanaanjiray Jabhadii Xoreynta Soomaali Galbeed oo wakhtigaas ka hawl geli jirtay dhulka Soomaalidu degto ee Itoobiya sanadihii 1970s ilaa 1980s. Waxaan u dagaalami jirnay xoriyada Soomaalida dhulkaas degta. Laba jeer baan ku dhaawacmay, dhaawacii hore wuxuu ahaa dhaawac halis. Xabad baa madaxa iga dhacday, kadib Hargeysa la ii keenay. Intii aan kusii jirnay jidka waxaanu tuulo yar kula kulanay mid ka mid ah dhakhaatiirta baadiyaha. Si aan caadi ahayn ayuu ii dabiibay. Aan ku sheego dhakhaatiirta reer baadiyaha oo dhakhaatiirta mooda hadda joogta iney ka wacan yihin ayaa lafta ii guray. Dhiig ku samaysmay madaxayga wuxuu ku guulaystay inuu yareeyo naftaydii wuu badbaadiyey. Waxaan joogay Hargeysa 21 maalmood kadib waxaan dib ugu noqday goobtii aan ka imid markii hor. Askari kasta oo Soomaali ah hadii dhaawac soo gaaro oo la geeyo laguna daweeyo magaalooyinka Beledweyne, Xamar, Laascanood ama Boorame marka uu ladnaado, goobtii buu ku noqon jiray. Dhib bey ku ahayd asagoo caafimad qaba inu halganka ka haro. Anagu aad baanu isu jeclayn, waxaan hadda cararaya oo dhanka qabyaaladda eegaya ma jirin. Ciidankii aan madax u ahaa waxay ahaayeen Soomaali kasoo jeeda qabaa’illo kala duwan. Waanu kaftami jirnay, wada qosli jirnay dhamaanteen waxaanu ahayn walaalo ciidamada katirsan, qaddiyad Soomaalinimo ku shaqeynaynay. Waanu iska xigney dadka intiisa kale, ha noqoto walaalka kula dhashay. Waxaanu u halgameeney hal ujeedo oo na midaysay. Sidaas oo kale dadka Soomaaliyeed aad bay noo tageeri jireen meelkasta oo aanu tagno. Waan qiiroonaya markaan ka soo xasuusto. Markii ay burburtay dawladii Soomaaliyeed, waxaan noqday qof shicib ah, wax ciidan ama jabhad ama dawladihii ka dambeeyey kuma biirin kamana tirsani, ilaa hadana waxaan ku noolahay Xamar, waxna ma qabto.”

(Muqdisho)

http://www.somalifaces.org/post/151...and-was-part-of-the-wslf#.WSuAoXpUss0.twitter

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

“I was part of the 21st Division of Somalia’s National Army during the 1977-78 war with Ethiopia. Our unit was assigned to capture Kebri Dahar, Wardhere all the way to Jigjiga. First, all the army units from Zeila (Awdal) all the way to Dolow (Gedo) were moved to the disputed border with Ethiopia. We all crossed the border at once, can you imagine that? It was on a Sunday. A united front of a heavily armed Somali army, where your Somali comrades from the north and south crossed the border at once, that level of shared mobility, you will never find again. We were on a mission. Our objective was clear, if we captured a district, we had to wait for our other comrades to capture a nearby district.”
“Did you meet any resistance?”
“Not at all, we didn’t meet any resistance. It was like a walk to the park – all the way to Jigjiga. The Ethiopian army were overpowered, simple as that. We collected their weapons whilst we swept the ground. They had the numbers but we had the morale and skill and we got our morale from the Somali people. The Somali nomads inside Somalia use to slaughter their precious livestock just to feed us – simply out of love.”

(London, United Kingdom)

“Waxaan ka mid ahaa ciidankii xoogga dalka Soomaaliyeed ee qaybtiisii 21aad ee xoogga dalka Soomaaliyeed waagi u socday dagaalkii dhex maray Soomaaliya iyo Itoobiya 1977. Guutadeena waxaa loo xilsaaray inaan qabano Qabridahare, Wardheer ilaa Jigjiga. Unugyada ciidanka, laga bilaabo Saylac (Awdal) ilaa Doolow (Gedo), isku maalin baa la geeyey soohdintu, isku maalina wey ka wada gudbeen. Arin cajiib ah bey ahayd runti, intaaso ciidan ah oo hal waqti si qorshaysan loo gudbayey iyadoo cadowgiina uusan ogaanin. Maalin Axad ayey ahad. Ciidan mideysan, min waqooyi ilaa koonfur, oo hal mawqiif ku socda. Dhaqdhaqaaq ciidan noocas abidkey uma maleenayo inta nolosha ii harsan inu Soomaalidu so marayo ilaahaysa waxba uma ahan. Ujeedo cad beynu ku soconay. Waxaan sameen jirnay, guuto kasta waa inay sugaan guutooyinka kale. Haddii ay midi degmo qabsato, waa inay sugtaa guutooyinka kale ee ka ag dhow oo degmooyinka u dhow kaabiga ku haaya ilaa ay gacanta ku dhigaan.
“Wax iska caabin ma la kulanteen?”
“Iska caabin aa? Ciidanka Itoobiyaanka wey carareen. Waayo, awood aan caadi ahayn bey la kulmeen. Xitaa hubkii bey ka tageen. Itoobyaanka tiro ahaan ku dheeraa, anaguna dhanka xirfadda iyo niyadda. Niyadda dadkeena ka keenay oo nagu tageeri jiray. Xitaa Soomaalida reer guuraaga ee gudaha dhulka Soomaaliyeed oo dhan baa xoolahooda noo qali jiray biyana nala daba socday, runtii dareen jacayl oo ay noo qabeen bay arintaasi ku dhacday.“

(London, Boqortooyada Ingiriiska)
http://www.somalifaces.org/post/142...1st-division-of-somalias#.WSt_T1ilV5s.twitter

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

When I was 25 years old (I’m 95 years old now), a Somali companion and I lost some of our camels near the town of Wardher. They escaped to a nearby well in Dhusamareb. The distance between the wells of Wardher and Dhusamareb is 300 km. In between these two wells, there are no other wells; it’s a dry land. We were walking and chasing after the missing camels for 6 straight days. On the 6th day, my companion fell ill and was exhausted. He couldn’t go on any longer and just told me to leave him behind. I couldn’t leave him behind, but at the same time, I couldn’t carry him on my back. We had no water and no food. So I grabbed him from under his arm and supported him. We took breaks every 100 metres. It was the Jilaal (dry) season. To keep him hydrated, I would pluck dried-out leaves from the trees that we passed and wet his mouth with it so that he wouldn’t pass out from the thirst but the leaves were inconsumable. When we entered Dhusamareb, they rushed us with a bucket of water, but his body kept rejecting the water. So they used an old traditional Somali method which was to mix tea with butter and force him to drink it. It worked, and he recovered that day. Until this day, he shows me his gratitude, but I tell him if we don’t support each other, who will. When I talk to you about the Somalis of old, when a Somali that you have never seen before, whose name you don’t know nor which area he hails from but comes to you and asks you for something, you will give it to him/her without questioning it. That’s the Somaliness of old.”

(Abudwaq)

“Markii da’daydu ahayd 25 jir (hadda 95-jir baan ahay), aniga iyo nin kale oo Soomaaliyeed waxaa naga baxsaday geel meel u dhow Wardheer oo uu baxsaday ceel ku yaala Dhusamareeb. Ceelka Wardheer iyo Ceelka Dhusamareeb waxay isku jiraan hadii la qiyaaso 300 KM. Labada ceel inta u dhaxaysa waa dhul oomane ah mana laha ceelal kale. Intii aanu ku jirnay raadcadda geela waxaanu soconay muddo 6 maalmood xiriir ah. Maalintii 6aad ayaa ninkii ila socday xanuunsaday, daal awgii ma uusan socon karin. Wuxuu igu yirii iska tag anigu ma socon karo. Aniguna kama tagi karin, hadana awood aan ku qaado maan lahayn. Biyo ma haysano, cuntana haba sheegin. Marka waxaa sameeyey in aan garabka qabto si aan u caawiyo qiyaastii marka aanu socono ilaa 100 mitir, waanu nasanaa. Xiligu waa jilaal aad u kulul. Si aanu ugu dhicin haraad xad dhaaf ah waxaan samayeey in aan geedo mayrax ka so jarro kadibna afka ugu qoy qoyo si uusan afkiisa u qalalin. Laakiin caleenta ma ahayn mid la cuni karro. Markii aanu gaarnay magaaladda Dhuusamareeb, waxay naga la carareen biyo laakiin ninkii biyihii baa mari waayey. Marka waxay sameeyeen qaab Soomaalidii hore samayn jirtay oo ah in subag iyo shaah la isku darro kadibna qofka lagu khasbo inuu cabbo, oo maalin dhan lagu haayey. Si wacan ayeey u caawisay wuuna ku caafimaday. Ilaa hadda markaanu is arkno wuu ii mahad celiya, laakiin waxaa ugu jawaaba hadii aynaan is caawinin yaa kale ina caawinaya? Hadii aan ku sheego dhaqankii Soomaalidii hore, marka qof ku yimaado adigoon aqoon magaciisa, meesha uu ka yimid hadii uu kugu yiraahdo waxaas baan kaa raba, rag iyo dumar ha noqoto, markiiba waa siine, ay su’aal lagama keeni jirin . Soomaalinimadu qiimahas bey u joogtay Soomaalidii hore.”

(Caabudwaaq)

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

“Erigabo has always been inhabited by four Somali clans. Clans that intermarried and lived together for centuries in brotherly harmony. Shortly after the civil war, Erigabo became a ghost town where one group occupied it by force, forcing others to leave the city. Every clan was armed to the teeth. However, some people from the Diaspora belonging to these four Somali clans were stoking the fire and keeping the conflict alive. Back then there was a lack of communication between the clans, and since it was a conflict zone, the elders of the clans had no way to tell whether the others they were ready for peace. Everyone was afraid to enter the other clan’s territory. I’ve lived all my life in Mogadishu, and it has been ages since I saw Erigabo but the civil war forced me to return. I was there when the elders from my clan were debating how to get information from the other clan. I then made a decision to be the first one to enter Erigabo and start the reconciliation process. If I die, then I die. This was at a time where fear and hatred reigned supreme. I walked 60 miles to Erigabo, on foot. Somali families that I met on the way hosted me even though they didn’t know me. I arrived in Erigabo and was brought to the elders of the clan that occupied it. I conveyed the message: ‘Choose peace or hostility, but we want peace’, and they all shouted ‘peace!’ Whilst we were discussing the reconciliation process, an old man entered the place lamenting how Erigabo became a ghost town and started reminiscing of the good old days. Days when the brotherly clans in Erigabo were living in peace and how he would do anything to return to the pre-civil war state or at least see someone from one of the clans that were chased away. Once they told him that I represented one of the clans that was chased from the town, he cried and hugged me. After that, elders who represented the four clans came together in a neutral place and peace was signed. Since then, Erigabo has never seen a conflict and the Somalis that were chased away returned to their town.”

(Erigabo)

“Magaalada Ceerigaabo markasta waxay ahayd magaalo ay si wadajir ah u degaan afar qabiil, waa afar reer oo kala guursada wadajirna u deganaa qarniyo badan si walaaltinimo ah. Kadib dagaaladii sokeeye, Ceerigaabo waxay noqotay magaallo cidla ah taas oo keentay in hal koox kusoo hadho kuwii kale ku kalifto in ay isaga guuraan magalaada. Qabiilkasta mid kale ayuu wakhtigaas la diriray. Si kasta ha noqote’e, dad u dhashay degaanka oo kasoo jeeda afartaas qabaa’il oo reer qurbo u badan ayaa sii huriyaayey colaada. Xiligaas majirin isgaadhsiin wacan, waxayna ahayd meel rabshado ka jiraan. Odayaasha beelahaas ka kala soo jeeda majirin qaab ay ku wada xidhiidhaan isla markaana isugu sheegaan in ay rabaan nabada in laga shaqeeyo. Qofkasta wuxuu ka baqayey inuu tago meel aan tolkiisa ku badneen . Anigu noloshayda inteeda badan waxaan ku nolaa Xamar, wakhti fog bay ahayd markii igu danbaysay Ceerigaabo. Laakiin dagaaladii dhacay kadib waxaan kusoo noqday Ceerigaabo. Waxaan nasiib u yeeshay in aan goobjoog ka noqdo markii odayada qabiilkaygu ka doodayeen side ku heli karnaa xog ku saabsan qabiilada kale si nabad loo helo dadkuna nabad ugu wada noladaan. Dood dheer kadib waxaan qaatay go’aan ah in aan noqdo qofka ugu horeeya ee taga Ceerigaabo, kadibna bilaaba jidka dib u heshisiinta beelaha walaalaha ah, wakhtigaas waa markii ay jirtay cabsidu, waxaan kasoo lugeeyey meel u jirta Ceerigaabo 60 mayl anigoo intaas oo dhan ku soconayey lugahayga. Qoysaskii soomaaliyeed ee markaas deganaa jidka aan marayey si wacan bay ii marti geliyeen inkastoo aysan i garanayn anigu qofka aan ahay. Waxaan soo gaadhay Ceerigaabo, kadib waxaa la ii keenay goob ay joogaaan odayaasha dhaqanka ee beesha magaalada haysata. Kadib waxaan soo gaadhsiiyey fariintii ahayd nabada ama colaad anagu waxaanu rabnaa nabad. Intaas kadib dhamaantood waxay markeli ah isla oogsadeen nabad ayaanu rabnaa anaguna. Intii aanu ka wada hadlaynay jidka loo marayo dib u heshiisiinta beelaha,waxaa goobta soo galay nin wayeel ah, kadib wuxuu ka hadlay sida maanta Ceerigaabo u noqotay meel cidla ah iyo wakhtigii berisamaadkii siday u ahayd magaalo nabadeed dadka deganaa si walaaltinimo ah ugu wada nolaaayeen. Iyo jida loo mari karo in magalaadu ku noqoto wakhtigii wacnaa ee dadkuna wada noolaayeen. Kadib markii loo sheegay in aan anigu wakiil ka ahay qabiilka magaalada laga saaray, wuu ilmeeyey si wacana wuu ii salaamay aniga. Maalintaas kadib, odayaasha dhaqanka oo kasoo jeeda dhamaan afarta beelood ayaa goob isugu yimid waa meel dhex dhexaad u ah dhamaantood kadibna heshiis nabadeed ayeey halkaas ku gaadheen kuna saxiixdeen si wadajir ah. Ila wakhtigaas, Ceerigaabo kama dhicin isku dhac beelaha dhexdooda ah. Dadkii wakhtigaas ka qaxay magaaladuna dib bey ugu soo noqdeen.”

(Ceerigaabo)

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

“After graduating from high school in the 1970s, I was sent to Halane training camp as part of a national service. After completing the national service training, one of the worst droughts, nicknamed the ‘the incessant drought was forming in the north and central regions. I initially wanted to become a teacher, but the government found it more fitting to send me the rural area and help the Somalis. I was sent to a place called Jehan in the Galgadud region, where 24,000 Somalis who were affected by the drought were housed. When I went there, I could see the Somalis were not equipped to reduce the death rate. There was a big hospital, but people were still dying. The world abandoned us, and we were trying to help our people. The first day, around 50 Somalis died. Can you imagine, an 18-year-old seeing the death of 50 of his people. I started vomiting all day. Until to this day, it haunts me and I never told this to anyone. So what we did was come together and find ways to intervene and reduce the death rate. I suggested, instead of waiting for affected Somalis to come to us, let’s go to them and create mini relief centres in their villages. The government immediately assisted us with resources. A month after implementing the suggestion, the death rate was reduced from 50 to 5. The president awarded us a medal for our remarkable efforts.”

(New York, United States)

“Markii aan dhamaystay dugsigii sare 1970-yadii, waxaa la ii diray xaruntii tababarada qaranka ee Xalane. Waa qayb ka mid ah shaqada loo qabto qaranka. Kadib markii aan dhamaystay tababarkii shaqada qaranka, waxaa waddanka ku haybsaday abaartii ugu xumeyd dalka so maray , waa abaarta loogu magacdaray Dabo-dheer. Waa abaar ka dhacday dhanka waqooyi ilaa gobolada dhexe . Marka hore waxaan doonayey in aan noqdo macalin, laakiin dawlada u aragtay in aan ku fiicanahay in aan caawiyo dadka reer guuraga ah ee Soomaaliyeed ka hor. Kadib waxaa la ii diray meel la yiraahdo Jeexaan ku taala gobolka Galgaduud, waa goob la dejiyey 24,000 oo ah dadkii ay abaartu saamaysay. Markii aan tagay goobta waxaan ogaaday in aysan Soomaalidu u diyaarsanayn in ay yareeyaan dhimashada dadka abaartu aafaysay. Waxa jiray Isbitaal wayn oo ku yaalay goobta hadana dadku waa dhimanayeen. Aduunku inama caawinayn markaas laakiin inaga, qaasatan dawladii baa xoogga saartay, si aan dadkeena u badbaadino. Waxaan xasuusta maalintii ugu horaysay een goobta tago, waxaa maalintii dhiman jiray ku dhawaad 50 ruux. Ma qiyaasi karta 18 jir goobjoog u ah dhimashada dadkiisa? Waxaan bilaabay matag maalintii oo dhan. Ilaa maanta way I saamaysa waligayna cidna uma sheegin. Marka waxaa aynu samaynay waxay ahayd, dhamaanteen waynu isku nimid isku tashanay si aynu dadkeena u badbaadino, dhimashada dadkana loo yareeyo intii la awoodi karayey. Waxaan ku taliyey in aan samayno xarumo yar yar dadka lagu caawiyo intii la sugi laha cid inoo timaada si loogu caawiyo goobahaas ku yaala tulooyinka yaryar iyo xaafadaha. Dawladda wey na taakuleysay. Muddo ku siman hal bil, dhimashadii waa yaraatay waxay noqotay oo hoos ugu dhacday 5 ruux, markaas ayuu madaxwaynahu nagu sharfay abaal marin sababto ah dadaalkii aanu samaynay.”

(New York, Maraykanka)

 

[XamarCade]

“After graduating from high school in the 1970s, I was sent to Halane training camp as part of a national service. After completing the national service training, one of the worst droughts, nicknamed the ‘the incessant drought was forming in the north and central regions. I initially wanted to become a teacher, but the government found it more fitting to send me the rural area and help the Somalis. I was sent to a place called Jehan in the Galgadud region, where 24,000 Somalis who were affected by the drought were housed. When I went there, I could see the Somalis were not equipped to reduce the death rate. There was a big hospital, but people were still dying. The world abandoned us, and we were trying to help our people. The first day, around 50 Somalis died. Can you imagine, an 18-year-old seeing the death of 50 of his people. I started vomiting all day. Until to this day, it haunts me and I never told this to anyone. So what we did was come together and find ways to intervene and reduce the death rate. I suggested, instead of waiting for affected Somalis to come to us, let’s go to them and create mini relief centres in their villages. The government immediately assisted us with resources. A month after implementing the suggestion, the death rate was reduced from 50 to 5. The president awarded us a medal for our remarkable efforts.”

(New York, United States)

“Markii aan dhamaystay dugsigii sare 1970-yadii, waxaa la ii diray xaruntii tababarada qaranka ee Xalane. Waa qayb ka mid ah shaqada loo qabto qaranka. Kadib markii aan dhamaystay tababarkii shaqada qaranka, waxaa waddanka ku haybsaday abaartii ugu xumeyd dalka so maray , waa abaarta loogu magacdaray Dabo-dheer. Waa abaar ka dhacday dhanka waqooyi ilaa gobolada dhexe . Marka hore waxaan doonayey in aan noqdo macalin, laakiin dawlada u aragtay in aan ku fiicanahay in aan caawiyo dadka reer guuraga ah ee Soomaaliyeed ka hor. Kadib waxaa la ii diray meel la yiraahdo Jeexaan ku taala gobolka Galgaduud, waa goob la dejiyey 24,000 oo ah dadkii ay abaartu saamaysay. Markii aan tagay goobta waxaan ogaaday in aysan Soomaalidu u diyaarsanayn in ay yareeyaan dhimashada dadka abaartu aafaysay. Waxa jiray Isbitaal wayn oo ku yaalay goobta hadana dadku waa dhimanayeen. Aduunku inama caawinayn markaas laakiin inaga, qaasatan dawladii baa xoogga saartay, si aan dadkeena u badbaadino. Waxaan xasuusta maalintii ugu horaysay een goobta tago, waxaa maalintii dhiman jiray ku dhawaad 50 ruux. Ma qiyaasi karta 18 jir goobjoog u ah dhimashada dadkiisa? Waxaan bilaabay matag maalintii oo dhan. Ilaa maanta way I saamaysa waligayna cidna uma sheegin. Marka waxaa aynu samaynay waxay ahayd, dhamaanteen waynu isku nimid isku tashanay si aynu dadkeena u badbaadino, dhimashada dadkana loo yareeyo intii la awoodi karayey. Waxaan ku taliyey in aan samayno xarumo yar yar dadka lagu caawiyo intii la sugi laha cid inoo timaada si loogu caawiyo goobahaas ku yaala tulooyinka yaryar iyo xaafadaha. Dawladda wey na taakuleysay. Muddo ku siman hal bil, dhimashadii waa yaraatay waxay noqotay oo hoos ugu dhacday 5 ruux, markaas ayuu madaxwaynahu nagu sharfay abaal marin sababto ah dadaalkii aanu samaynay.”

(New York, Maraykanka)

What is this guys name?