https://qz.com/1267983/somali-architecture-3d-project-digitally-preserves-somalia-monuments-ruins/
Michael Mariano was buried from the Cathedral; but when the priest was done, the sheikhs took over.
Letter from John Johnson:
"Yes, the cathedral is where Michael Mariano’s funeral was held. I cannot remember if the sheikhs were present at the Christian funeral, but they were certainly there at the gravesite, both of which I attended. After the priest (was it the bishop?) finished the brief gravesite service, then the sheikhs took over, and it was Somalis that buried Michael, after which they characteristically covered his grave with branches and twigs. It was reported in the paper the next day that the sheikhs were asked how they could have recited Moslem blessings at a christian’s funeral, and one of them replied: ‘Michael did not abandon us in life, and we did not abandon him in death.”
The grave is in digfer cemetery, and just after the service, Michael’s brother, owner of Mariano’s Bar down by the sea at the end of the street leading to the post office, (darn, can’t remember his name), Michael’s brother took me over to see the grave of my Somali mentor Muusa Galaal, who was also given a state funeral. I was not present to see that one. For readers who do not know who Michael Mariano was, he was one of the founders of the Somali Youth League, which worked for, and ultimately secured, the independence of the British Somaliland Protectorate, which joined the Somali Republic 4 days later.
Michael was a friend of mine, and contacted me once about doing graduate school work at Indiana University. Unfortunately, he ended up not coming to Bloomington. RIP Michael."
Letter from Abby Thomas/Aamina Nuur:
"Yes, RIP Michael. I can't remember who owned the bar, but Anthony, a sociologist, was one brother. In 1986 I was at a dinner at Michael's daughter Norine Mariano's house, Anthony was there, and I asked him if Michael was depressed about the state of the country. (Michaael was at that time farmed out by Siyaad as ambassador to Zambia.) Anthony said yes, and confirmed my guess the assignment was "farming out" a difficult person even a dictator would have trouble tamping down, given Michael's national stature. The reason I asked Anthony was that I had met Michael by accident at the Curuuba Hotel earlier in the 80s--knew his family from the 60s. Bad at faces. I was breakfasting with a European fellow, and this older man comes up to me and says, "Aren't you Aamina Nuur?" I looked up, didn't recognise him, and my recollection is I had the utter effrontery to say "Yes, who are you?" He responded, I'm Michael Mariano. I jumped up, spilled apology all over myself, felt horrible. The next day, we breakfasted together and talked about a lot of stuff, including his concerns for Norine's happiness. Along with everything else, he was a gentleman to an unladylike lady. Call it humility, and ability to forgive.
Adding to John's explanation, here is my understanding: two orphans were taken into a Catholic orphanage during colonial days, baptised Michael and Anthony Mariano, grew up Catholic, and founded an important family that has been influential in Somalia while remaining Catholic. So I guess the bar owner was Anthony? As John says, Michael was a founder of SYL. He was the first SYL elected member of the pre-independence "legislative council" the Brits allowed and went on from there to become a highly respected national figure. Daughters Norine and Katherine worked for UN agencies all their lives. It has been rather the Somali equivalent of a dynasty, really."
Michael Mariano was buried from the Cathedral; but when the priest was done, the sheikhs took over.
Letter from John Johnson:
"Yes, the cathedral is where Michael Mariano’s funeral was held. I cannot remember if the sheikhs were present at the Christian funeral, but they were certainly there at the gravesite, both of which I attended. After the priest (was it the bishop?) finished the brief gravesite service, then the sheikhs took over, and it was Somalis that buried Michael, after which they characteristically covered his grave with branches and twigs. It was reported in the paper the next day that the sheikhs were asked how they could have recited Moslem blessings at a christian’s funeral, and one of them replied: ‘Michael did not abandon us in life, and we did not abandon him in death.”
The grave is in digfer cemetery, and just after the service, Michael’s brother, owner of Mariano’s Bar down by the sea at the end of the street leading to the post office, (darn, can’t remember his name), Michael’s brother took me over to see the grave of my Somali mentor Muusa Galaal, who was also given a state funeral. I was not present to see that one. For readers who do not know who Michael Mariano was, he was one of the founders of the Somali Youth League, which worked for, and ultimately secured, the independence of the British Somaliland Protectorate, which joined the Somali Republic 4 days later.
Michael was a friend of mine, and contacted me once about doing graduate school work at Indiana University. Unfortunately, he ended up not coming to Bloomington. RIP Michael."
Letter from Abby Thomas/Aamina Nuur:
"Yes, RIP Michael. I can't remember who owned the bar, but Anthony, a sociologist, was one brother. In 1986 I was at a dinner at Michael's daughter Norine Mariano's house, Anthony was there, and I asked him if Michael was depressed about the state of the country. (Michaael was at that time farmed out by Siyaad as ambassador to Zambia.) Anthony said yes, and confirmed my guess the assignment was "farming out" a difficult person even a dictator would have trouble tamping down, given Michael's national stature. The reason I asked Anthony was that I had met Michael by accident at the Curuuba Hotel earlier in the 80s--knew his family from the 60s. Bad at faces. I was breakfasting with a European fellow, and this older man comes up to me and says, "Aren't you Aamina Nuur?" I looked up, didn't recognise him, and my recollection is I had the utter effrontery to say "Yes, who are you?" He responded, I'm Michael Mariano. I jumped up, spilled apology all over myself, felt horrible. The next day, we breakfasted together and talked about a lot of stuff, including his concerns for Norine's happiness. Along with everything else, he was a gentleman to an unladylike lady. Call it humility, and ability to forgive.
Adding to John's explanation, here is my understanding: two orphans were taken into a Catholic orphanage during colonial days, baptised Michael and Anthony Mariano, grew up Catholic, and founded an important family that has been influential in Somalia while remaining Catholic. So I guess the bar owner was Anthony? As John says, Michael was a founder of SYL. He was the first SYL elected member of the pre-independence "legislative council" the Brits allowed and went on from there to become a highly respected national figure. Daughters Norine and Katherine worked for UN agencies all their lives. It has been rather the Somali equivalent of a dynasty, really."
