SEEING BEYOND THE EPIDERMIS

There is a lot of talk in the media nowadays that America’s image in the world has been tarnished by the way its foreign policy was handled. Now that a black man who is son of a Kenyan father and Kansan mother is vying for the Presidency, many want to know whether Americans have the moral fiber to see beyond the epidermis. There has been a lot of hubbub about Barack Obama’s ability to handle the highest office in the land. What these folks don’t understand is that graduating from Harvard, the most prestigious university in the world, is not peanuts. Furthermore women political aspirants have not been fortunate either. Geraldine Ferraro, Hilary Clinton, and McCain’s best pick, Sarah Palin, have seen the unbalanced taste of American politics. The only time humans will see each other as equals is when color and gender become things of the past.

AMERICA NEEDS MADAM PRESIDENT

To break the barrier to the racist sentiments, male chauvinism, misguided political phantasms, and macho that have been dragging on since 1776 when America declared independence from England, it is best we carryout a research into the world’s past and present historical perspectives to unravel the gigantic roles women painstakingly played to advance human civilization.

History is replete with awe-inspiring women leaders who left behind philosophical and immeasurable historical legacies and immense archeological treasures articulately illustrated in cuneiform, hieroglyphic, and scriptural writings and other ancient books and I wonder why the greatest democracy in the world, the United States of America, has never given contemporary American women the chance to hold the reins of power to exercise their inalienable rights as enshrined in the U.S. constitution.

The closest an American woman has been to the U.S. Presidency was in 1984 when Geraldine Ferraro, who represented New York’s 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, was appointed by Democratic Party Presidential contender Walter Mondale as his running mate. Just recently, New York Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, wife of former President Bill Clinton, conceded defeat in the 2008 Democratic Primaries in a tightly contested race that saw Barack Obama trounce her by a wide margin. The irony is that, Barack Obama chose Joe Biden, a man who has been in Washington politics for over three decades to fill the VP slot.

Whichever preceded the other, Mesopotamian, Persian, Yemeni, and Egyptian past antiquities highlight the existence of women queens who ruled with astuteness, uprightness, and fortitude better than their male partners of their time. Queen Hatshepsut, meaning ‘foremost of noble ladies’, a Pharaonic queen of judicious willpower has been mentioned in the writings of Manetho, a historian who lived during the Ptolemaic era, as having ruled Egypt for 21 years and 9 months.

The Queen of Sheba, a wealthy woman who lived the time of Prophet/King Solomon has been called by a variety of names by different people at different times. Her historical accounts have been cited in Egyptian, Hebraic, Christian, Qur’anic, Ethiopic and Nubian, medieval and renaissance accounts and also in popular culture, academic and archeological discoveries. It is said that she ruled upon a people who worshipped the sun instead of the Lord of the Worlds. In Christianity, Sheba is mentioned in a passage from Isaiah 60:6 that states: “and they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring forth gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord.”[1] Likewise, the Qur’an mentions the Queen of Sheba in the 27th chapter when a Hoopoe bird at the time of Solomon pioneered to investigate her palace and mighty rule supposedly located in modern Yemen. Upon returning to her departure point, the Hoopoe presented herself before Solomon with the following announcement: “I found them reigned over by a Queen, and she has been given abundance of everything, and she has a magnificent throne.” [2]

The United Kingdom, a monarchy separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel has had Queen Elizabeth II on the throne since 2 June, 1953, when she was coroneted in a televised ceremony watched by over twenty million people held at Westminster Abbey, London, when her father, King George VI, died of lung cancer. News of her father’s death was relayed to her while vacationing at Sagana Lodge, Kenya, a colony of England by then. Queen Elizabeth II is head of the Commonwealth, “…a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, most of which are former British colonies, or dependencies of these colonies (the exception being the United Kingdom and Mozambique).” [3]

Prominent women leaders of this century include Indira Gandhi, a former Oxford University graduate and former Prime Minister of India who ruled for three consecutive terms between 1966 until 1984 when she was assassinated by her own bodyguards. She was reputed for having nationalized her nation’s banking industry and for overseeing India’s inclusion into the nuclear fraternity. In Bangladesh, former Prime Minister Hazina Wazed spearheaded democratic institutions while President Chandrika Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka, a woman who escaped many attempts on her life in the pursuit of peaceful coexistence between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamil, served multiple terms between 1999 and 2005 as Prime Minister and as President. Her mother, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was elected first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on July 1, 1960; the same day my Horn of Africa nation of Somalia proclaimed independence from Italy and England respectively.

The fabulous input of women in global organization does not end there. Benazir Bhutto, daughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan at the age of 35 in 1988. She became the first woman head of state in modern history to lead a Muslim nation of over 100 million inhabitants. A graduate of Radcliffe College at Harvard University, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with cum laude honors in comparative government in 1973. Pakistan’s 12th and 18th Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto became a victim of assassination on December 27, 2007 while leaving a political rally in the city of Rawalpindi, two weeks before the general election of 2008.

Chronology of World Women Leaders

• 1916: Jeanette Rankin of Montana becomes the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
• 1930: Alexandra Kollontai of the former Soviet Union appointed ambassador to Sweden becoming the first woman in modern history to hold such a position.
• 1933: Frances Perkins appointed Secretary of Labor becoming first female Cabinet member in U.S. history.
• 1960: Japan’s first female cabinet member, Nakayama Masa is appointed Minister of Health and Welfare.
• 1960: Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka becomes the world’s first female Prime Minister.
• 1966: Indira Gandhi elected first female Prime Minister of India.
• 1968: Soong Ching-ling named Co-Chairwoman of the People’s Republic of China.
• 1969: Golda Meir becomes first female Prime Minister of Israel.
• 1974: Maria Estela Martinez succeeded her husband to become the first female head of Argentina and the first female head of state in the Americas.
• 1977: Patricia Harris becomes the first African-American woman to join the U.S. Cabinet becoming Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
• 1979: Maria Lourdes Pintasilgo named first woman Prime Minister of Portugal.
• 1979: Lidia Geiler becomes first woman President of Bolivia.
• 1979: Margaret Thatcher becomes first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• 1979: Simone Weil of France named first woman President of the European Parliament.
• 1980: Iceland’s Vigdis Finnbogadottir elected first woman President.
• 1980: Jeanne Sauve of Canada appointed first woman speaker of the House of Commons.
• 1981: Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes first woman Prime Minister of Norway.
• 1982: Agatha Barbara of Malta elected President.
• 1982: Milka Planinc becomes first woman Prime Minister of Yugoslavia.
• 1985: Maria Liberia-Peters becomes first woman Prime Minister of Netherlands-Antilles.
• 1986: Corazon Aquino elected first woman President of the Philippines.
• 1988: Benazir Bhutto elected first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan and the first woman Prime Minister in the Muslim world.
• 1989: Violeta Barrios de Chamorro becomes President of Nicaragua.
• 1990: Mary Robinson elected first woman President of Ireland.
• 1990: Ertha Pascal-Trouillot elected first woman President of Haiti.
• 1990: Carmen Lawrence becomes first woman Premier of Australia.
• 1991: Edith Cresson elected first woman Prime Minister of France.
• 1991: Khaleda Zia Rahman elected first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
• 1991: Rita Johnson of Canada elected first woman Premier.
• 1992: Hanna Suchocka becomes first woman Prime Minister of Poland.
• 1993: Tansu Ciller becomes first woman Prime Minister of Turkey.
• 1993: Sylvie Kinigi becomes Burundi’s first female Prime Minister. [4]

While the list could be endless, between 1993 and 2008; more than twenty nations have had women Heads of States while the strongest power in the world, the United States of America has had none. The U.S. has produced the likes of Condoleezza Rice who became the first black lady and the second female to head the Department of State after Madeleine Albright who served the Clinton administration.

Recently, Republican Party Presidential hopeful Senator John McCain picked Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as his Vice President and running mate -a choice that caused consternation among opposition Democrats. Bill Burton, Barack Obama’s spokesman, in a strongly worded statement, was quoted by the press as saying: “Today John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the Presidency”. [5]

Elisabeth Bumiller sent the following to the New York Times after McCain announced his choice of Sarah Palin for the VP slot: “In 1982 she was given the nickname “Sarah Barracuda” for leading her high school basketball team to the state championship, and in 1984 she won the beauty pageant-as well as the title of miss congeniality-in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. She is also a hunter, fisher, and member of the National Rifle Association. ” [6]

Many leaders who jumped on the bandwagon with tons of experiences in foreign policy, strategic military planning, economic emancipation and displaying credentials from distinguished institutions of higher learning failed in their endeavors to lead effectively either because they were short of personality perspectives, lacking focus of group processes and acts or behaviors that were the main leadership embodiments expected of by their body of voters.

Ironically, I find it absurd for any party member to point fingers at Governor Sarah Palin since her own political background clearly indicate how she has been a dedicated supporter of the democracy American forefathers championed. Writing in the NPR’s all things considered, Elizabeth Arnold had this to share with her radio listeners and web readers: “At first glance, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin comes across as a tough, independent-minded budget cutter and ethics crusader, a whistle-blower who has not been afraid to take on her own party leaders and the oil industry.” [7]

The male-dominated political apparatchiks in Washington are fearful of the takeover of politics by our women and that is why there is an outcry in the male circles whenever a female is elevated to a position of power and prestige. What they need to know is that history has evidently shown that women are as successful as men in leadership and that it is enough to look around the country to make sense of the number of women who held or hold great positions like Army generals, air force marshals, navy admirals, ambassadors, state governors, house speaker, and secretary of states.

In conclusion, American male voters have been unfair to Geraldine Ferraro in 1984; again, forthright Hillary Rodham Clinton was left humiliated and brokenhearted as majority of male votes went to the sweet-talking Barack Obama; and now, McCain’s best pick, Sarah Palin, is facing tough scrutiny from the side of the Democratic Party. The truth of the matter is we’ll taste the true meaning of democracy when an honorable lady becomes the President of the United States of America most likely in 2012 and beyond.


CITED SOURCES

[1] Byrd, Vickie, editor; Queen of Sheba: Legend and Reality, (Santa Ana, California: The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2004), p. 17.
[2] The Glorious Qur’an (27:23): Translated by Dr. Ahmad Zidan and Mrs. Dina Zidan. Islamic Inc., Publishing and Distribution. 1993. Cairo, Egypt.
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/commonwealth_of_nations
[4] http://www.iwdc.org/resources/timeline.htm
[6] http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes/2008/08/29/mccain_vice_president/
[7] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story/.php

UNDERSTANDING BUDDHISM

Buddhism, named after its founder Gautama Buddha, is an offshoot of Hinduism and a religion that sprung from the current modern nation of Nepal approximately 560 B.C. before spreading to Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia respectively. Buddhism became a religion after the death of Siddhartha Gautama in 480 B.C.
Siddhartha Gautama’s father was Suddhodana, chief of the Shakya nation, while his mother, Queen Maha Maya, was a Koliyan Princess. There were mixed reactions among the sages before his birth. Some thought he would become a great king while others foresaw in him as having the attributes of a great holy man. He was born in a place called Lumbini which was part of Ancient India under a Sal tree while his mother was on her way to her father’s Kapilvastu principality to conceive. His father, who chose for him a luxurious life as a Prince, protected him from being associated with spiritual wisdom and understanding of human affliction, though at a later age, Siddhartha felt material life was not his ultimate goal.

At the tender age of 16, young Siddhartha got married to Yasodhara, a cousin of the same age who gave birth to a son they named Rahula. When he was 29, Siddhartha began to visualize the material world after seeing an old man, a scene that disturbed him immensely. It was his charioteer, Channa, who broke the news that all people are destined to experience old age in later life-an alarming phenomenon that drove him to further explore the world until he saw a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. Embarking on a journey that became known as “The Great Departure”, Siddhartha escaped from his palace to become a mendicant. This is where he will discover what Buddhists refer to as the Middle Way-a path of self-control that dissuades the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi tree for 49 days until he experienced the Enlightenment while aged 35 years. From there on he was known as the Buddha or “The Awakened one” or “the Enlightened one”.

Unlike Hinduism with its millions of deities, Buddhism does not mention the existence of god; followers believe there is no life after death; no heaven, no hell, no paradise and that you are unto yourself. It has no central figure deserving direct worship. Set apart by the development of various movements and divisions within its adherents, Buddhism is today practiced as a central religion most notably in areas where a greater force of its devoted followers are concentrated including Nepal, Bhutan, China, Korea, Burma, Japan, and Vietnam. In Muslim Afghanistan, two great monumental statues of Buddha that towered above the cultural landscape in the sandstone cliffs of Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan northwest of Kabul were intentionally dynamited by the Taliban Mullahs in 2001, despite international outcry. It has since been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. Buddhism is based on “Four Noble Truths” namely:
1. Life means suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
4. The path to the cessation of suffering.

Suffering is the human condition; it is caused by possessiveness, greed, and self-centeredness caused by others’ selfishness. The origin of suffering is self-attachment; the cessation of suffering is attainable; and there is a path to the end of suffering-the first reserved communication after the great awakening that evolved as novel discoveries.

According to Buddhism, the main predicaments or root figments of the imaginations are: attachment, anger, and ignorance. On the other hand, Buddha summarized an eight-fold noble path that center on:
1. Correct thought: avoid covetousness.
2. Correct speech: avoid lying, harsh speech, and idle gossip.
3. Correct actions: avoid killing, sexual misconduct, and stealing.
4. Correct livelihood: make a living with thought, speech, and action.
5. Correct understanding: develop genuine wisdom.
6. Correct effort: continue with joyful perseverance
7. Correct mindfulness: Beware of “here and now.”
8. Correct concentration: have steady, calm, and attentive state of mind.

As is common with all humans, fragmentation in religious, philosophical, and idealistic thoughts have not been exempt from Buddhism as it broke ranks into what became known as Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism with Theravada becoming a so common in South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia while Mahayana Buddhism found a place among the nations of Korea, Japan, and Tibet. We will borrow a leaf from modern history to find out how the two sects differ in beliefs. In Theravada, the Buddha is regarded as a saint, supreme teacher, and inspirer while in Mahayana he is a simply a savior; Theravada’s key virtue is wisdom while in Mahayana the key virtue is compassion; Theravada minimizes metaphysics while Mahayana elaborates metaphysics. Theravada minimizes ritual while Mahayana emphasizes it; in Theravada practice centers on meditation while in Mahayana there is an inclusion of petitionary prayer.

A common form of Buddhism that has become widely accepted in the West is Tibetan Buddhism headed by its spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has become an admired figurehead for his unreserved struggle and fight against Chinese oppression of Tibetans and the forceful invasion and illegal annexation of Tibet by communist China in 1959 subsequently leading to his voluntary exile in Dharamsala, his current headquarter in India, with thousands of fellow Tibetan refugees. A Nobel laureate, the Dalai Lama has become a symbol of peace and a man who does not shy away from his pursuit of restraint and dialogue. The Dalai Lama is the Bodhisattva (“one whose essence is perfected wisdom”) known in India as Avalokiteshvara (“the Boddhisattva of compassion” or “the merciful lord of utter enlightenment’), Goddess of Mercy Kwan Yin in China (“Born of the Lotus” in Sanskrit), and Kannon in Japan. He has reincarnated himself for the last centuries to empower and regenerate Tibetan tradition.

What distinguishes Tibetan Buddhism from others is that it enables one to attain Nirvana in a single lifetime. Also, Tibetan Buddhism gave Tantra, derived from weaving, where strands warp and denoting interconnectedness, in its current pride and place.

UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM

Hinduism is a religion practiced in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Suriname, Canada, United States, and Trinidad and Tobago. Archaeologically, it is thought to be the oldest religion in the world as suggested by evidences of carbon dating experimented on artifacts unearthed in India and across the Indian Subcontinent(according to Archeologists). Also, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is a religion of many gods and complex religious practices, rituals, and traditions that is hard for a Westerner to comprehend.

From the daily reverent gesture of Namaste to the discipline known as yoga, Hinduism through its law, duty, and correct behavior of dharma unlike Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has seen changing dimensional religious postulations and the creation of gods and goddesses reaching a staggering 33 million mark and increasing. In Hinduism, the mantra is the sacred word or formula while moksha denotes to mean liberation from cycle of rebirth. Wherever one belongs in Karma, the cause/effect criterion remains solely responsible for the reincarnation of the soul.

Jnana yoga is the path of knowledge while tantra implies visual focus. The pivotal sacred text of Hinduism written in Sanskrit, the language of the Hindu scriptures, is the Vedas, epitomizing knowledge. Brahmins, Hinduism’s doyens of religious propagation, are proficient at the dissemination of the sacred word for the varied temples dedicated to particular gods of one’s choosing. Thus, depending on one’s proclivity to a particular deity, the modus operandi of the congregation pinpoints to where one belongs in the caste system-a level in society as a result of Karma.

Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism

Hinduism’s three most revered gods include Brahma the creator god, Vishnu who is the preserver god with 10 avatars, and Siva or Shiva, the god of destruction. Brahma is often identified with Prajapati, a Vedic deity, while Saraswati, the goddess of learning, serves as his consort. Brahma is thought, according to myth, to have been self-born having sprung out of the lotus flower in Vishnu’s navel at the beginning of the universe while another legend says he was born in water. Despite being one of the major gods of Hinduism, few temples have been dedicated to Brahma in present-day India.

In Vaishnavite tradition, Vishnu is the supreme god who epitomizes the five primary forms of god. He is the master of the past, present, and future. He is the creator and destroyer of all beings. He supports, sustains, and governs the universe. He is the originator and developer of all elements within the universe.

Followers who focus worship upon Siva or Shiva, the god of destruction, and over and over again called Shaivites or Shaivas, worship him in the form of Shiva Linga having the attributes of being in deep meditation and refer to him as the lord of the dance. Besides the gods, Hinduism has many goddesses having female forms. One example is Ganesha, the elephant-headed goddess whose original human-head was severed by Shiva; Annapurna is the goddess of food and cooking; while Maya is another goddess whose literal meaning of the word is “illusion”.

The Caste System

Hinduism, according to one’s Karma, categorizes society into four distinct groups. This structure of organization or criterion has been in use for centuries, and is strongly held by its adherents without distortions serving as a decisive factor for the continuation of a historical and religious legacy the Buddha, Dayananda, Gandhi, and even the British colonial administration failed to obliterate. A traditionally held theory is that a group of immigrants known as Aryans possessing unusual culture, tradition, and physical features settled in India in the second millennium B.C. imposing the current caste system in place. A fifth group or untouchables emerged afterward to add up to the number. Despite the outlawing of the caste-based system by the Indian Constitution to keep in touch with the socialist, secular, and democratic principles of the world’s largest democracy, the order still stands tall among Hindus of contemporary India. Going by the old adage ‘old habits die hard’, critical politics and social perspicacity continues to degenerate the system into marvelous dimensions throughout India.

The caste system identifies superiority through behavioral observations, purity of character and traits, food consumption associated with caste, limpidness of body and clothing, polluting substances, and traditional observations. It is a hierarchical system based on quintessentially identifiable or relative ranking chiefly beginning with the visible priestly Brahmans who are knowledgeable in the propagation of the Holy Scriptures and are adept at serving the gods.

Thereafter, the level of human arrangement drops down to a degree of depreciation. The Kshatriyas who are warriors and landowners and typically known to be vegetarians fall second in rank only to the ceremonial Brahmins. Hinduism’s most venerated Lords Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Mahavira belonged to the Kshatriyas social order as outlined by the Vedas and the Laws of Manu. Classified as the elite military and ruling order, Kshatriyas symbolize fearlessness and vigor, forethought and formidability, and are empowered with absolute authority and reins of power to galvanize resources for the command of the armies, protection of territorial and national borders, overseeing social order, and offering top echelons with the necessary tools and means needed to govern the nation meticulously.

The third group is known as Vaishyas and they are the producers who are the skilled artisans and farmers competent at making material things. The fourth is the Shudras categorized as followers and servants. A fifth category known as untouchables or ‘Dalits’ (oppressed people), emerged a few centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi, father of modern-day India who has been recorded in history as the first leader to usher a nation to independence without shedding a drop of blood through non-violence applications, named the Dalits ‘Harijans’, which stands for ‘god’s people’. Mahatma Gandhi went a step further raising the status quo of this oppressed people by founding the Harijan newspaper printed in English, Gujarati, and Hindi respectively.

Hinduism, known for its massive temples of awe-inspiring architectural designs, unlike Abrahamic Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that are known to be missionary, is a non-missionary religion. Surprisingly, a good number of the 33 million gods and goddesses of this faith have taken leaps and bounds breaking global barriers. It has millions of adherents in almost every continent of the world who have taken with them gods and goddesses, the dharma and mantra, gurus and Gandhis, Vedas and Upanishads; and the most important holidays of Diwali and Holi and the philanthropic occasion known among its devotees as Dasehra. With India expected to become the most populous country in the world any time soon, demographers aren’t sure where Hinduism will stand in the global religious setting in terms of size within the next half century.

From Machiavelli to Meles Zenawi, the Prince of Addis Ababa

Part I



Dear beloved disciple,

I have been observing your unseemly political career with fascination for the past three decades. Your astute political maneuvers have the hallmark of my half millennium old scriptures. Your capacity to outmaneuver your political peers and hoodwink the unsuspecting public; your rhetorical eloquence and the unsightly perversions of your regime had always captivated my attention. I am very grateful to know that you have been using as a reference manual, The Prince - one of my best writings on preserving and exercising brute power.

For the past three decades, I assigned Prince Enver Hoxa, one of my beloved surrogates, to enlighten and groom you as you keep climbing up the ladder. However, as you are approaching the end of your two decades term in office, I felt the need to become your minder for the way forward. On the eve of your re-election as the chairperson of the EPRDF party for the seventh time in a row, I wanted to provide you some guidance in executing and maintaining your power.

Throughout the annals of world history, greed and self-indulgence had been the cornerstone of political ambitions and policies of self-centered absolute rulers – the high and mighty who keenly adhere to my ideology. Greed is what prompted Prince Blair and Prince Bush to conquer Iraq. Greed is what impelled you to invade Somalia. In politics, greed and autocracy are intertwined and no tough and self-regarding leader can afford to forgo the expedient tools for self-enhancement. That's why I am so enthralled with your self-absorbing, condescending and patronizing style.

I dealt with ruthless and power-crazed monsters of every epoch. But my fascination with you is indeed unequaled. Remember the Commission for Africa? That was my Idea. I was the one who convinced Prince Blair to invite you to that short-lived Commission and to the influence-wielding Plutocratic Club – the G8. From a firebrand radical guerrilla fighter with no political credence, I leaped you into the limelight. Now you are a flamboyant aristocrat - a member of the glitterati, the well-heeled filthy-rich.

Your track record is somewhat extraordinary. You will go down in history as the first Ethiopian ruler to conquer the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. You have realized dreams that evaded your equally ambitious predecessors; Menelik, Haile Selassie, and Mengistu Haile Mariam. You will also go down in history as a ruler who unraveled the archaic medieval nation into fragmented and ill-governed, ethnic-based satellite regions. Your archenemies are envious of your impressive feat in vanquishing the irredentist Somalis while keeping Eritrea and the internal opposition at bay. Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam, one of your worst nemesis and author of Somalia: The problem Child of Africa is full of admiration for you these days. Thanks to the eminent professor, the Amnesty International – the renowned human rights watch-dog, is presently on your side, keeping lip-sealed silence on the appalling human rights records of your regime.

I understand that you are preoccupied with and haunted by feelings of guilty of the thousands of innocent persons murdered, incarcerated, maltreated and molested in your notorious torture chambers which are now widely known as “Africa’s Guantanamo”. I am aware that the boomerang of your profound and prolonged mission to silence dissent has had adverse effect on your rickety, paranoid throne. Reports of summary executions, electroshocks, grisly torture and terror in your detention camps and institutionalized brutality against your political opponents may ultimately effect spontaneous universal condemnations. But that is not something to be worried about. Your benefactor Prince Bush who committed similar crimes in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib is on your side and shall forestall any attempt aimed at putting you on trial for crimes committed against humanity.

To my delight, you have snatched the spotlight from other autocratic rulers, including your political ally - Omer El Bashir, who was found guilty of genocide by the International Criminal Court. Some in the West are already calling you the “world’s worst dictator” an accolade befitting to your narcissistic, egotistical disposition and ruthless temperament. Some in the West are also becoming acquainted for the first time with your primordial machinations, curmudgeon character and deeply ingrained genocidal passion.

High-placed officials of your key Western allies are quietly accusing you of committing war crimes and collective punishment in your “dirty secret war” in the restive Somali region. Your ethnic cleansing, scorched earth programs and shockingly heavy-handed tactics in that beleaguered region had alarmed the international court of public opinion. International aid agencies and key Western donors are accusing you of showing lack of concern in respect of the unfolding famine in the Somali region where your “troops are destroying villages and property, confiscating and forcing civilians to relocate”, according to Human Rights Watch. Your inhumane and brutal collective punishment against your own Somali population has been described by New York Times as “a starve-out-the-population strategy. If something isn’t done on the diplomatic front soon, we’re going to have a government-caused famine on our hands.”

Well, your honeymoon with the West seems over. At this point in time, do not try to play hardball to secure concessions from Washington or London. You have to look to the East for a new saviour – China. You need to backtrack on promises you made to the West in ensuring transparency, human rights observance, freer and fairer democratic practice, decentralization of governance and economic reform.

Unleash your propaganda machine! You need to revamp your political formula for manipulation of quasi-autonomous regional states in Ethiopia which has already served you well for most of your 18 years in office. Your life time acolytes, Addisu Legesse, Abadula Gemeda, Shiferaw Shigute, Abbay Sehai and Bereket Simon are already experts in the fine arts of the EPRDF’s monkey business – the expedient strategies of manipulation, divide and conquest and gerrymandering of regional elections. Remember that the end justifies the means. You have to do everything possible to get “re-elected” for another term of premiership.

Though Ethiopia’s Moslem population accounts to more than half of the population, you have successfully held them at bay throughout your reign. You have done well in making the EPRDF - your ruling party, an exclusive Christian Club. Prince Bush and I are thrilled to see that there are no Moslem names in the central committees of the TPLF and the ruling EPRDF party. As long as you continue treating your Moslem population as second citizens, the West will look the other way. You will not be made accountable to your war crimes and crimes against humanity.

And what is all this ridiculous babble about famine? You have better things to worry about than the dying of the impoverished, poverty-stricken, deprived, disenfranchised, systematically neglected poor peasants and nomads. Ethiopia was already synonymous with famine even before you took the reins. At Arat Kilo you are already far away to notice the lean, emaciated and starving fellow countrymen who are distressed by the sheer weight of the ongoing enormous natural calamities in Ethiopia. Honestly the only thing that I would like to caution you is the handling of the dead bodies. Avoid organizing mass graves for the deceased. Intrusive Satellites with powerful and penetrating lenses are hovering over Ethiopia ever since you started burning villages in the Somali region.

Beloved disciple, keep reading The Prince.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Dean, Machiavelli School of Leadership

E-mail: followmetohell.tohell3@gmail.com

More African Union Troops for Somalia

Whenever the African Union sneezes, it is either Burundians or Ugandans who flock to Somalia as peacekeepers though for the many splinter groups fighting in Somalia, their presence ignite more violence, bloodshed, refugees, internally displaced, and political instability. Just yesterday, 400 well-armed and well-trained troops meant to boost Somali peace efforts arrived the city of Mogadishu in high spirits from the tiny landlocked central African nation of Burundi. The good thing is that, the international airport in Mogadishu that had been nonoperational for 20 days because of a decree by the fundamentalist religious group Al-Shabab opened doors a day earler allowing even deported Somalis from Saudi Arabia land safely, according to local Somali media reports.

For the past few months, armed resistance groups in Mogadishu and troops from Uganda had been engaged in bitter firefight after contingents from the Ethiopian army paved way for what is thought to be preparations for a complete withdrawal from Somalia of Ethiopian forces pursuant to agreement reached in neighboring Djibouti between the Asmara group and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) that calls for the complete withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia within 120 days.

However, many Somalis are pessimistic and an equal number remain optimistic about the change of affairs in this volatile region. For some, the arrival of Burundians means the world has at last heeded to calls by concerned groups for the pacification of Somalia and the complete withdrawal of Ethiopian forces. For others, the departure of Ethiopian forces from the Somali political spectrum will lead to further divisions and protracted enmity among tribal groups.

An-all out War Against Piracy in the Horn

Since her capture by a dozen well-armed pirates a few weeks ago off the coast of Somalia, the Ukrainian cargo ship MV Faina remains guarded on all fronts by a squadron of foreign navies each there to safeguard the dangerous cargo of ex-Soviet era T-72 tanks, rocket launchers, and thousands of ammunition whose destination remain a mystery. Because Somalia is perceived by the West as a haven for terrorists and their sympathizers, caution is being taken to ensure these dangerous cargo falls not onto the hands of terrorists.

The man who blew the whistle as far away as Kilindini in Mombasa, Andrew Mwangura, has been released on bail by a Kenyan judge a few days ago. Mwanguara's only crime is that he let the worms out of the can and revealed to the world what was expected to have been probably a top state secret. As head of the Sea farers Association, Mwangura carved out for himself a world grounded in secrecy. He has been a well known negotiator and well informed about the underworld of piracy in this part of the world. The claim by the Kenya Police that he was in possession of four rolls of Marijuana at the time of his arrest, has left many Kenyans laughing for weeks. It is common for the Kenya Police to frame whoever is in their list for eradication. One of the most corrupt nations in the world, Kenya's image in the world continues to dwindle drastically. What they want to tell you is that, Mwangura did not speak his mind freely, but was made loquacious by the puff of Cannabis sativa retrieved from his pockets.

Right now, Somalia's Red Sea coast has become a trouble spot where friends and foes feel it is time they join hands and rub bows so as to defend the world's oil energy passageway at a time when every nation is experiencing the worst economic gloom. Despite demanding $35 million at the initial hijack of the ship, the pirates have softened their stance and now demand a staggering $8 million ransom. Even as the world's most sophisticated navies gather in this dangerous waters of the Horn to deter further oil spill and energy hijack, what is being relayed by the media is nerve cracking: a couple ships have become victims while all eyes were turned on MV Faina.

Never have so many ships from an amalgamation of nations with differing ideologies and philosophical foundations gathered at a single spot since the end of the Cold War. While the nations of NATO have just announced that they will be sending a flotilla, the Russians, Kenyans, Malaysians, South African, and the Spanish have also embarked on the same efforts and level. Thus, the Horn of Africa will undoubtedly experience the greatest naval concentration of the century. Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Destroyers, Frigates, Submarines, Auxiliaries, Mine Sweepers, Mine Layers, and Corvettes of all makes will perhaps converge sooner or later to clean the Red Sea of the most monotonous pirates of the 21st century.

For Ali Sugule, the pirates' spokesman and his henchmen, there is a shadow of doubt whether the allies of the French commandos who wrecked havoc on your pirate cousins a few months ago, will ever fulfill any promise and deliver a suitcase containing $8 million without a thorough fight. Finally, after the dust settles, navies from all walks of life will eventually regroup to have naval exercises of the century where pirates once ruled undisturbed.

My best bet is that these navies will turn their radars on to the west coast of Africa where Africa's giant, Nigeria, remains a victim of piracy that has failed to grab international attention after Somalia is cleaned of piracy. A nation that has been at the mercy of dreaded generals since independence, Nigeria, a nation of over 100 million people, should not be left to suffer the pains that had Somalia capture international media the past few years.

Horn of Africa Weekly Review

A Ukrainian cargo ship laden with 33 Russian built T-72 tanks destined for the port of Kilindini in Mombasa, Kenya, is the latest victim highlighting the enormity of piracy in the beautiful Horn of Africa. Earlier, as reported by the Egyptian news agency, Mena, an Egyptian ship and its crew hijacked off the coast of Somalia has been released without mentioning whether ransom demands have been met.

According to the New York Times, the ship that has attracted international media attention, MV Faina, is owned by an Israeli, operated by a Ukrainian, registered in Belize, has 17 Ukrainian sailors, 2 Russians (one died of hypertension), and a Latvian. It is laden with 33 Soviet-era T-72 Tanks, 150 grenade launchers, 6 anti-aircraft guns, and lots of ammunition. The ship was hijacked off the coast of Somalia on the 25th of September, 200 miles off the coast of Somalia. The international maritime agency reports the hijack of 18 ships in Nigeria and 26 in Somalia this year alone. Piracy has become a lucrative business especially in Somalia where it is managed by a well organized syndicate traversing a 200-mile deep sea territory.

Meanwhile, the Russian Navy has sent a Frigate to secure the release of the ship carrying the Kenya-destined tanks. Also, San Diego-based destroyer U.S.S Howard is within watching distance of Faina-the Ukrainian cargo ship under Somali pirate control. Besides, a man claiming to be the spokesman for the piracy group that is holding MV Faina, Ali Sugule, has issued a stern warning to any power that may attempt to use force to release the said cargo liner.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s out spokesman representative for seafarers union, Andrew Mwangura, has been placed in custody by a judge in Mombasa for sounding the alarm about the ship’s cargo and destination. The government of Kenya earlier claimed ownership of the consignment though western intelligence sources have highlighted to that effect that the arms were destined for southern Sudan. On the other hand, Kenya police claim to have arrested Mwangura while in possession of four rolls of marijuana, a claim refuted by Mwangura.

Earlier this year, French commandos raided a luxury yacht to free 30 crew held hostage by Somali pirates. French commandos captured half-dozen hard-core criminals who terrorized the luxury yacht off the Red Sea coast sending them to France for prosecution.

Whether the rest of the world will mobilize to fight a few hungry Somalis to safeguard international trade in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean is now a burning desire for many affected shipping magnates.

For a long time pirates in this part of the world played into the lives of Somalia’s hungry population by disrupting food supplies and killing dedicated aid workers struggling to make changes to the starving millions. Right now it is the Canadian Navy that is responsible for escorting bulk carriers transporting food for the World Food Program (WFP) and other humanitarian agencies working in Somalia. But still, the waters off Somalia is a risky adventure even for the most advanced navy.

Somalia’s coastline may invite a new Cold War phenomenon as old rivals gather in these untested waters to deter belligerent pirates who claim to be responding to overfishing and damping of nuclear wastes along their coastlines by callous outsiders.

CUDURKII FILANWAA

Kuusow wuxuu ahaa wiil xarago badan dhallinyaronimadiisi; inkasto uu qooqanaa, haddana hablaha isagama dhici jirin. Taxadar iyo feejignaaan, deganaansho iyo qunyarsocodnimo, aftahannimo iyo sheeko macaani ayaa kamid ahaa calaamadaha lagu yaqiin. Wuxuu ahaa baarri yar iyo waayeelba utura. Waxaa lagu yaqiin xoog iyo itaal dheeri, xarrago iyo labis wanaagsan, salaadana kama tegi jirin. Haddaad eegto muuqaalkiisa, wuxuu umuuqday ragga ka dhexmuuqada goobaha lagu jimicsado ama jirka lagu dhiso. Bidhaantiisa keliya ayaa cajebin jiray dumarka guur doonta ah siiba kuwa tirada badan ee kunool galbeedka ee loo yaqaan ‘single mothers’. Waa naago aan laqabino haaysta carruur.

Hablahani Soomaaliyeed ee lagu soo daadgureeyay Mareykanka ayaa ahaa kuwo ragoodii la dilay ama iskood ugeeriyooday kadib dagaaladii sokeeye ee kaqarxay Geeska Afrika markii Maxamed Siyaad Barre laga tuuray xukunka sannadkii 1991. Mid waliba waxay muujinaysay hannaan quruxsan sifa mar un ay uhesho nin uqalma oo lakoriya ubadka.

Kuusow guri kasto cagta uu dhigo wuxuu kala kulmi jiray martiqaad xoogan, heeso dabacsan, maaweelo aan kala go’ lahayn, qosol iyo maamuus, cunto macaan, iyo ayadoo hablaha kukala tartamaan hanashadiisa. Dabcan nin kasta wuxuu leeyahay habdhaqan ugaar ah. Kuusow wuxuu umartiyi jiray Owliyo oo cabaar ujirtay halka uu deganaa iyo kuwo kaloo tiro badan. Waxaa shukaansaday Cabdiya, Calaso, Caasho, Istarliin, Baarliin, Barwaaqo iyo weliba ina adeertiisa Fartuun. Intaaso hablood kuma uusan arag mid uqalanta. Guri kasto uu galaba waxaa kadhexdhawaaqi jiray heesooyiin macaan oo ay qaadayeen hoboladii caanka ahaa. Ha ahaato Maxamed Saleebaan tubeec, Sahra Ahmed Jaamac, Kiinsi Aadan, Cabdi Tahliil Warsame, Cumar Dhuule iwm. Wax kasto lagu qanciyaba, Kuusow ujeedadiisa ma ahayn inuu faraha lagalo naag ilmo haysata. Wuxuu uhanweynaa gabadh ay isla soo koreen oo kunooleyd magaalada Xamar berisamaadkii. Waa Ambiya qoordheer.

Kuusow iyo Ambiya waxay wadadhigteen hal dugis Qur’aan burburkii kahor; waxay ahaayeen deris; labadooda waalidna waxay ahaayeen qaraabo iyo saaxiibo. Kuusow wuxuu go’aansaday inuu soo guursado Ambiya inta goori goor tahay. Intuusan Afrika u ambabixin ayuu sannad idil tumaayey labo shaqo. Wuxuu isku mushquuliayay lacag uruuris iyo dadaal dheeri ah. Habeen iyo dharaar ayuu telefoonka kula hadli jiray Ambiya. Ayadana waxay kuriyoon jirtay habeenka ay aqal geli heesta loo qaadi doono oo ahayd “hibo iyo ducaba naga hooya” iyo weliba “calaf lama dago lama diidi karo waa deeq Ilaah”.

Waa labo hagaag kuheshiiyaye dooqoodaa isku keenay. Markuu sannadkii udhammaaday ogaadayna inuu uruursaday lacag kufilan, ayuu Kuusow goostay tigidh diyaaradeed iyo weliba wax iibsi. Kabo nooca casriga ee loo yaqaan Nike, Reebok, Adidas, dhar cadaan iyo carbeed, barafuuno, iyo waxa dumarka lagu qurxiyo ayuu labo boorso kabuuxshay. Dabadeedna maalintii duulimaadka lagaadhay ayuu ukicitimay garoonka diyaaradaha ee baaxadda weyn ee New York-waana halkii uu deganaa muddo toban sannadood ah. Waa garoonka loogu magacdaray Madaxwynihii J.F. Kennedy. Tigidhkii ayuu dhiibtay mar allaale markuu yimid xafiiska laga maamulo shirkadda diyaaradaha ee Pan American Airlines ama PAN AM.

Ambiya xilligani waxay kusugantahay magaalada Nairobi ee ah caasimadda dalka Kenya. Waxay degantahay mid kamid ah hudheelada ugu qaalisan magaalada Nairobi. Qarashkeeda waxaa hore loga baxshay New York. Waxaa intaasi usii dheer gaari qaali ah oo laga soo kireeyay shirkadaha baabuurta raaxada ijaara. Wuxuuna ahaa baabuur nooca loo yaqaan Renault ee lagu farsameeyo Faransiiska. Muddo toddobaad ah ayaa Ambiya lagu qurxinaayey goob ay leeyihiin gabdho Hindi ah, waana goobaha loo yaqaan beauty salon. Kuusow markuu soo maraayo magaalada Qaahira ee waddanka Masar, ayuu soo laliyay telefon. Waxaa kaqabtay Ambiya. Wuxuu usheegay inuu kuso fool-leeyahay Nairobi muddo lix saacadood kadib. Dhammaan eheladiisa iyo saaxiibadiisa ayaa isasoo dhoobay garoonka diyaaradaha ee Jomo Kenyatta International Airport sifa ay usoo dhoweeyaan. Tiro badano shaxaad doon ah ayaa kadhexmuuqday garoonka.

Qaddar yar kabacdi waxaa garoonka soo cagadhigtay diyaarad baaxad weyn. Ambiya oo aad moodo boqoradii Bilqiis ahayd ayaa loo xilsaaray soo dhoweynta Kuusow. Diyaaradii ayaa albaabada loo furay. Hal mar ayaa waxaa kaso yaacay dalxiisayaal, khubaro, safareey, madax dawladeed, caruur iyo waayeel. Dhammaantood waxaad moodaa in abidkood aysan arag dhibaato adduun. Kuusow wuxuu ahaa qofkii 105 ee soo dega. Waalidkiisa ayaa utilmaamay Ambiya muuqaalka Kuusow. Wuxuu ahaa nin dheero dhisan, midabka maadhiinka leh, laafyo qurux badano dhoolo caddeynaya. Ambiya waxay isku martay Kuusow intuusan waalidkiisa gacanta lagaadhin.

Waxaa meeshi kadilaacay mashxarad iyo oohin is dabajoog ah. Hadal iyo dhammaantii, waxaa laysku guray kolonyo baabuur ah waxaana loo kicitimay hudheelkii Ambiya deganeyd. Gabbalka intuusan dhicin ayuu Kuusow kala qaarijiyay wixii shaxaad doon ahaa. Waxaana lagu balamay in meherka iyo arooska laqaban doono isla maalin-waana saddex maalmood kadib. Qayilaad iyo quraafaad ayaa socday dhowrkaasi maalmood. Arooska wuxuu dhacay habeen dayaxa uu ahaa shan iyo tobnaad. Waxaana laysugu tagay hool weyno kudhexyiil hudheelka oo laga baxshay lacag badan.

Waxaa habeenka arooska laso ijaaray koox muusikada tunta, baabuuro tiro badan, cuntadana waxaa diyaariyay maqaaxid Soomaaliyeedo kutiil xaafadda Eastleigh ee ay Soomaalida kubadantahay. Waxaa gabadha meheriyay Sheekh Macoow oo caan ka ahaa culimada Soomaliyeed dhexdeeda.

Todobo habeen iyo todobo maalmood ayaa ladamaashaadaayey. Waxaan maleynaya dhowrkaa maalmood cid gaajo kusexatay inaysan jirin. Arooskii kadib waxaa isku dhamaaday buuqii iyo sawaxankii. Labo todobaad kadib intuu Kuusow ladardaarmay waalidkiisa, walaalahiisa, iyo cagaladiisa Ambiya, ayuu dib ugu soo laabtay magaalada New York illeyn fasaxii baa kadhamaadaye. Wuxuu kuso laabtay New York wuuna soo wacay dadkii uu jeclaa ee uu kaga soo tagay Nairobi. Wuxuu xaaskiisi cusbaa udalbay fiiso ay kutimaado Mareykanka. Muddo kadib, Kuusow waxaa kuso booday xanuun uusan hore uqabin. Feerihii ayaa isku dumay; wuxuu dareemay daal xad dhaaf ah, dhidid fara badan habeenkii, iyo dhadhanka cuntada oo kalumay. Wuxuu utegay dhakhtarkiisa waxaana lagu sameeyay baaritaan adag. Waxaa laga baadhay cudurada dilaaga ah ee Maleeriyada, Qaaxada, Sonkorowga, Dhiig karka iyo kuwo kale oo faro badan. Jawaabtii sheybaarka waxay soo celisay inuusan qabin intaasi oo cudur.

Usbuucii labaad ayuu kunoqday dhakhtarkiisa waxaana lagula taliyay bal in mar kale laga qaado dhiig sifa loo ogaado waxa sidaasi ugalay. Labo maalmood kadib ayaa jawabtii lahelay. “Saaxiib waxaad qabtaa cudurka AIDS-ka” ayuu dhakhtarkii kuwargeliyay Kuusow. Hal mar ayaa Kuusow lagu soo booday. Dhowr daqiiqadood ayuu miyir beel ahaa. Markuu soo miyirsaday kadib ayaa waxaa dood dheer dhexmartay asaga iyo dhakhtarkiisi. “Goorma kuugu dambeysay naag aad laseexato”, ayuu dhakhtarkii weydiiyay Kuusow. “Labo bilood kahor” ayuu Kuusow ugu jawaabay. “Tumey ahayd naagtaasi” ayuu haddana dhakhtarkii weydiiyay. “Waa xaaskeyga oon kaso guursaday Nairobi, Kenya” ayuu Kuusow kujawaabay. “Haddaba ayadaa cudurka kuugu riday” ayuu dhakhtarkii hadalkiisa kuso gebagabeeyay.

Waxaa Kuusow loo qoray dawooyiinka loo yaqaan anti-retroviral drugs oo kacaawiya ladagaanka jeermiga faraha kulul kuhaya caafimaadkiisa. Intuusan gurigiisa tegin, ayuu Kuusow kawacay naagtiisa Ambiya telefoonkiisa gacanta. Sheeko kuma uusan furfurine, waxaa un keliya uu usheegay inay tagto rugta caafimaadka ee uqaabilsan arrimaha qaxootiga loo qaado debedaha siiba Mareykanka. “Haa xabiibi anigaaba balan kuleh halka aad ii direyso” ayey Ambiya si asluub kudheehantahay ugu jawaabtay gacalkeeda cusub.

Ambiya waxay tagtay halkii Kuusow udiray oo ayba balan kulahayd. Baaritaan dheer ayaa lagu sameeyay. Kadibna waxaa loo sheegay in lagu soo wargelin doono muddo dhow. Waxaa kaso wareegtay saddex asbuuc markii warqad looso diray loona sheegay inay qabto cudurka dilaaga ee AIDS-ka. Gabadhii way qaracantay waxayna gashay sariir.Habeen iyo dharaar waxay kuheesi jirtay "haddii aanay xabashiyey xoolaha lamaaliyo tahay dawlad xor ah, calankaa idiin xidhan Afrikada laheeryahay midka idin xasuuqe xulufada lahaysto, Xaayle maad iska qabataan" iyo weliba "hooy hooy Amxaaroy, inaan hadhay imoodaye, hadda waa ikano, haddaba waa anigu".

Kuusow markuu ogaaday xaaladeeda siday tahay ayuu kawareystay sidii cudurka AIDS-ka ay ku qaaday waxayna usheegtay in hadda kahor askar Itoobiyaan ah kukufsadeen xaafadda Kaaraan. Labadooduba waxay geeriyoodeen sannad guuradii koowaad maalintii ay aqal galeen oo kale ayagoon dib dambe ukulmin ubadna kala helin.

Sheekh Daahir’s Mystic Powers

They call him Kitaab-dheere not because he hangs around long holy books. No, it is because of the depth of knowledge he acquired in the quarters of divinity. Sheekh Dahir is unrivalled in his translations of dreams, presentiments, auguries, and the obvious. That he uses his powers punitively is not because he wants to. He often says he would rather promote people to high offices and riches than make one of their siblings sick. But the people are ‘headstrong’. And they leave him with no option. Soofe, for instance. What was he doing in telling Sheikh Dahir, “if you were responsible for the coming of the rains this season, then me and you have nothing to talk about! You skipped my farm and I won’t give you a kilo of grain.” He said that, when the good Sheikh triumphantly told him he brought the rains. Greed got the better of him. He just wanted a pretext not to give the Shiekh his due.

And look how he was punished. Sheikh Dahir didn’t even use his favourite ‘Bara bisin la’ to stop his heart. He could have done that. Instead, he opted for ‘Al-qaarica’ which he says is literally ‘ta wax gar garaacda’ and he paralysed one-side of him. That will serve the purpose of dissuading potential rebels and any attempt at Iconoclasm. For it was the established norm that no one challenges the Sheikh.' Somaliland ', they call him as well. They say the two have much in common in the pursuit of recognition. But that is what they talk in under wraps. The last time he addressed a crowd, he said, “ Somaliland oo kale angia ha imoodina’. Recognition of my powers are sent from up. I don’t seek that from the hands of infidels.” Pity that people still call him that tag, after all the attempts to dispel the existence of a common denominator!

But the Sheikh is unlucky. Luciano Pavarotti would have sought apprenticeship from Sheekh Dahir [who prior to his beatification to ‘awliyo-hood’ was born Xaashi Madaxeey]; had he heard his voice when he let out the sublime Qasiido- in the company of four or so women who untiringly put foox into the fire. The aroma, the spirituality and the tranquillity is mirthful. As the Shiekh, tall and graceful, reclines on several pillows, the melody flows like milk from the breast of Gobaad to the metrical reception of the possessed women:
“Mandad yaaaaaaaaa
Awliyo Alaay
Mandad mandad
Awliyo Alaay
Mandad mandad
Yaa jalal anbiyaa
Yaa suufiyaal”

But Cali Mataan –the frail and sick old man living next to his house, neither accepted the Sheikh’s powers nor understood why the Shiekh threatened to smash his small house when there is a big Axmaaro liquor house next to his. That Sheikh Dahir does not object to the presence of that ungodly edifice lit lights of suspicion in the heart of the old man. Yet, he saw what happened to others who trusted their hunch and dared to speak out. And word was out Sheik Daahir has acquired new strong verses that will wipe out all the descendents of transgressors at one go. They say it is a hybrid of verses from Qulu-cawdu birabil falaq, wa shamsi, and the deadly Cama indha’la. He prays that gossip he made the other day about why Kitaaab-dheere wouldn’t fight the occupying Xabashi’s and evict them from the land through a combination of landslides and storms never reaches the pious man's ears. But who knows? Maybe he is perfecting his techniques for a devastating hit when he gets the green light from the Almighty? After all, who can fathom what is going on in the minds of ‘people of God’?

When Sheikh Dahir’s wife asked why he doesn’t take care of his own kids, while he promoted Ilma Cumar-Jabane (who he claims to have made them successful in their schools and gave them Ministerial positions); he replies that what she saw as an apparent lack of concern for his family is the defining feature of ‘awliyadda dhabta ah’. But Sheikh Dahir is angry of late. All kinds of blasphemies are being reported to him by his ‘quruumo’ mainly coming from kids who frequent Internet sites (which he calls Xoolo Shaydaan) and [advised against its use long ago] and from some self-declared ‘educated’ youngsters.

That is why tonight, he is working in high secrecy to come up with the deadliest weapon ever produced by an Awliyo. His mentor-Mo’alin Timoweyne will congratulate him from the grave. Fittingly, it was at that point when he heard the news that Iran is accused of developing nuclear weapon [he later learned it has the power to exterminate the human race from the face of earth] in underground tunnels. He laughed. They had no idea the one he is just to bring to being. "They better call me Iran ", he mused.

Horn of Africa Weekly Review

The past two weeks has seen the Horn of Africa plunge into a new cycle of violence with the southern Somali port City of Kismayu falling into the hands of a new militant group. On the other hand, the city of Baidoa, the seat of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has seen an increase in turmoil with the latest incident highlighting the killing of a Member of Parliament. Also, Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, is no exception with political schisms, assassinations, and sporadic gunfire becoming the order of the day. Should we glimpse at what is transpiring off the coasts of the Horn of Africa, we see nothing much has changed expect piracy and the demand for more ransom. So where is this region headed? Is there any conceivable light at the end of the tunnel?

These questions and many others are hard to decipher. The most shocking news on the internet today details starving Oromo refugees in Mogadishu who originally escaped war in Ethiopia reportedly feeding on grass and leaves. There is a humanitarian disaster that calls for immediate international attention here. The lives of millions are at stake; aid agencies are unable to penetrate war zones to reach the suffering; blood is being shed mindlessly; millions are dying of starvation; rains have made roads impassable; there is an outbreak of contagious diseases; fleeing migrants loaded onto ramshackle boats are perishing at sea enmasse; pirates are wrecking havoc along the coasts and in shipping lanes thus disrupting international trade; and above all arms shipments arrive on a daily basis without control.

The leaders of the region have gone into protracted political coma while their poor citizens perish indiscriminately from natural phenomenons and artificial creations. With no industries and agriculture, coupled with natural hazards like deluges, soil erosion, shortage of rains, locust invasions, maladies, and other factors, the rate of human decimation has entered a dangerous precedent.

Factors that will slow down concerted human efforts in the fight against hunger and HIV/AIDS in the Horn of Africa include: Horn of Africa's ineptitude leadership, the American election fever, and the war between Russia and Georgia. Until then, peaceful expectations will remain at a low ebb.

Piracy off the Coasts of Somalia

The collapse of any form of administration leads humans to resort to chaos and competition for available scarce resources ultimately spearheading survival of the fittest. The aftermath of Somalia's collapse in 1991 saw the proliferation of premeditated murders of foreigners especially employees of AID agencies and international correspndents on a wider scale.

The most lavish business in Somalia today is not only kidnapping or killing of foreigners working in the country but a new art of war known as 'piracy'-where a cluster of pirates armed with rocket propelled granades (RPGs) and AK 47s transported by speed boats hold merchant ships in shallow and deep waters ransom-a thriving business that brings in millions of dollars to the paymaster and the pirate in every encounter.

Applying commando-raid styles, pirates laden with explosives and brandishing Kalshnikovs of all makes board any conceivable object in sea waters including scooners, yachts, petroleum tankers and cargo ships with lightning speed thus causing panic among crew who may have little or no readiness or experience tackling unexpected dangers. Sailors who attempt to resist pirate assaults are dealt with mercilessly by being shot at close range.

Hardly any ship held ransom escapes the wrath of Somali pirates. Masters at boarding even the highest bow of modern carriers, they prudently with tactical force commandeer any ship to their preferred safe destinations before start of negotiations with the owners or the maritime representative in Mombasa, Kenya. As if having prior knowledge of crew amalgamation, pirates often go for ships predominantly manned by poor Asian nationals.

Upon receiving word that contact has been made with the owner and that ransom negotiations have gotten of the ground, pirates who had earlier espoused barbarian tactics and Herculean force, end up at the close of a deal, displaying kind acts that leave abductees in utter bewilderment.

Moreover, piracy in this part of the world is limited to a small stretch of the Red Sea and not the entire 3300km coastline of Somalia. It is a distance of calm waters that allow the pirates a quick run for their lives should they be pursued by a much stronger force. Experience and tenacity is the force behind their many escapes from dangers. The most these pirates have come along harms way is when the captain of a luxury cruiser used debilitating sonar to deter would-be attackers. In one incident, a foreign navy used attack helicopters to destroy the core of some savage pirates who hijacked a cargo liner.

The money skillfully generated from piracy has flooded Somali warlord coffers having tremendously altered the market economy of many regions. With brideprice paid in U.S. dollars, young women wedding pirates have alot to display in their jewelry boxes. They get anything their eyes covet: gold bought in Dubai, diamond polished in Paris, Lapus Lazuli mined in the mountains of chaotic Afghanistan, brightly colored Saris from India, shoes crafted in Italy, Japanese cars, mansions, electric generators, Arabian sofa, Syrian drapes, DVD and CD players, and assortment of goods not even available to the hard working Somali from the Diaspora.

Besides, not a penny of the pirate's hard currency goes to the dogs as many have embarked on novel business ventures. Qaad, a chewable stimulating herb known to generate hefy income and cultivated in the highlands of the Arabian peninsula, Kenya, and Ethiopia, is a new business undertaking pirates cherish most. Using Land cruisers and other means of quick transportation, young and old pirates have found a new way of generating extra money while the other party invades the Red Sea for fresh vessels.

The international maritime agency has voiced concern over the escalating piracy in the Horn of Africa though nothing much has been done to bring it to an end. Despite a few navies attempting to patrol Somali coastal waters, still, alot remains to be done. Had the international community played its rightful role of bringing peace to Somalia, there would never have been piracy off Somali coasts.

I think the few men who wade into the dangerous waters of piracy are on the payrolls of paymasters who are luxuriously sunbathing somewhere along the Somali coast and perhaps meticulously executing other dreaded future plans. The way I see it, piracy is connected to Somalia's instability. Until a stable and strong government is created in Somalia, the piracy business is their stay with us for sometime.

Bloodshed in Kismayu

Kismayu is Somalia's southern port city and also the third largest city. Since 1991, when the central government collapsed, there has been bitter rivalry between warring clans for control of this strategic city bordering Kenya's northern border coastline. Before 1991, it was home to a squadron of the Somali Navy and infact had its port rehabilitated by George Fuller Company in the early 80s. Known for clean and beautiful beaches, tropical weather, serene atmosphere, and peaceful locals, Kismayu had her image boosted by the Italian colonial administration before Southern Somalia unified with the northern British Somaliland in 1960 to form what became known as the Republic of Somalia.

The city of Kismayu is located in the productive Juba Valley with surrounding towns of Jilib and Jamame collectively serving as farming centers while many other bordering regions produce the bulk of livestock for sale in Arabian markets. Thus, whoever is in control of Kismayu pockets all the hard currency generated by the port through taxation of goods and services. On the other hand, there is agressive charcoal burning desperately needed for Arabian fireplaces. Also, the area around Kismayu is rich in agroforestry while the coast, despite overfishing by unlicensed foreign fishing trawlers, is home for many fish species.

The combined forces of the militias of the United Somali Congress (USC) under the supreme command of General Mohamed Farah Aidid, together with the Somali National Movement (SNM) under the chieftainship of Abdirahman Tuur of the nothern Somali regions, and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) led by Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess devised the initial plot in Ethiopia to overthrow the government of Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre with a view to establishing a power sharing government though everything fell in disarray.

Abdirahman Tuur moved to the northen part of the country in what is now Somaliland while Aidid and Jess continued to wreck havoc in the South of the country unabated. Within a short time, a new character emerged. It was General Said Hersi alias Morgan. General Morgan moblized an army of clansmen from the south, east, and the central regions in an attempt to curve a new administration for himself. For a while, General Morgan, who is son-in-law of the overthrown President, captured Kismayu. Thus began a prolonged period of josstling for power in Kismayu between southern Somalia's two most political rival clans-the Hawiye and Darod.

In the end, Colonel Jess and General Morgan became persona non grata as a more powerful force in the name of Juba Valley alliance under Colonel Barre Adan Shire in collaboration with a sub-section of the Hawiye clan, took over power in Kismayu laying foundations for a rule that lasted almost a decade.

In 2004, a Transitional Federal Government was formed in Mbagathi, Kenya, with Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as interim President. Colonel Jess, Colonel Barre Adan Shire alias Barre Hiiraale, and General Morgan were appointed to the legislature as parliamentarians. General Aidid died in 1996 and is depicted in the movie black hawk down.

In June of 2006, a new breed of fighters under a Jihadist umbrella known as the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) overthrew the warlords that ruled Mogadishu for over a decade only to be routed by Ethiopia's intervention. It was this misadventure that brought back Colonel Barre Hirale to the peripheries of Kismayu again with a new alliance and political force. Since no condition is permanent in Kismayu and Southern Somalia, just recently, an amalgamation of guerilla movements aimed at introducing Islamic Sheria to all of Somalia and pledging allegiance to a cluster of alliances within Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea, and bitterly opposed to the presence of Ethiopian forces and the TFG in Baidoa, meticulously executed a resounding blitzkrieg that saw them put Kismayu in their newly created realm.

The whereabouts of colonel Barre Hirale remain a mystery though a few conflicting internet sources report him to have been sighted in the town of Qoqani or as others cite otherwise, in the village of Fafaxadhuun, where his militia exchanged a few salvos with the local inhabitants. He is said to be besieged and unable to venture into Baardheere-his clan's territory-for fear he might be perceived as an uninvited guest as religious funtamentalism has infiltrated every corner of his homeland and beyond. But the latest reports say he has two bullets to the abdomen and that he is in Baardheere town itself awaiting medical evacuation to Addis Ababa as the Kenya government has refused him entry on the grounds his presence may incite social violence.

As the clock ticks and as the deadline for the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia approaches, Islamist forces seem to be expanding their tentacles. They have captured Kismayu; more firepower is being seen and heard in Mogadishu and its environs; Baidoa, the seat of the TFG, is shaky and the central regions seem be getting out of control. Whether Ethiopia redeploys her troops to retake Kismayu is yet to be seen. For now, despite the deaths of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, the Sheikhs are busy cleaning the city with full force.

Which is your Favorite? Coffee or Tea?

Before the advent of modern thermos flasks, the most famous container for the preservation of beverages in Africa was the gourd or Calabash followed by the clay pot then the tea kettle. The origin of tea may be disputed, but in East Africa, it originated in the Kenya highlands before finding its way in England and then to other parts of the world. English barons or English settlers to East Africa, were the first to establish large cultivations of the tea plant around Mount Kenya. That is when the area around the Rift Valley in Kenya came to be known as 'the White Highlands'- -or in other words the highlands of the white man or the highlands that best suit the white man's lifestyles.

The scientific name for tea is Thea (Camellia) sinesis. It was not until 1922 when tea found its way in the Northern Frontier District (NFD)-a land predominantly occupied by Somalis and annexed by Kenya in 1953 with the help of the strong British colonial administration that had the upper hand in East Africa. It was in 1953, when the current Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II of England, succeeded the throne while vacationing in Kenya.

In many Somali narratives, tea has been the cause of many divorces. A woman who fails to serve her husband on time becomes a victim of a quick divorce. A poorly lit fire or an old fashioned brewing container known as goofoow is often blamed for the divorce. Tea is to Somalis and the English people as coffee is to the Arabs and Americans. To a Somali, tea is more than a beverage. To some communities, it deserves more respect than beer or whisky.

Among the locals in Southern Somalia and Northern Kenya, the time tea was introduced is known as 'sannadkii biyo fuud' which refers to 1922. From there on, tea became a prominent beverage consumed on a wide scale. The inhabitants of the NFD region concocted the name 'warikow'-a name that exists to this day. A wide scale consumption of tea reached Southern Somalia and beyond, perhaps, afterwards.

Worldwide, the English people hold the record for tea consumption. Because of the absolute ownership of the big farms in East Africa, Britain became its major consumer, financier, and supplier. The major distributor of tea in Kenya until recently was an English owned company called Brooke Bond Liebeg. On the other hand, Britain played a major role in the colonization of Asia. That is why countries like Japan, India, and Sri Lanka play a major role in the world tea market.

Inside tea processing factories in Kenya, the tea leaves pass through five different categories or qualities known as 'sheaves'. The first, second, and third sheaves are of the best quality and major sustainer of the economy or hard currency earner; these three sheaves find their way in the shelves of major shopping centers in Europe, Middle East, and North America. The remaining two-actually of low quality-remain consumed locally.

From a historical perspective, coffee consumption predates tea consumption. The history of coffee is very old as it was consumed for milleniums in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and East Africa to due Arab influence. Coffee is thought to have originated in Ethiopia where coffee berries have been used for medicinal and ritual purposes for centuries. It is thought that the first person to have discovered Coffee was an Ethiopian herding goats. The value of coffee was brought to his attention by a goat that consumed the berries and leaves of the plant and then suddenly broke into dance.

In many English speaking countries, a break from work is known as coffee break. Italians call coffee caffe; in Turkish it is Kahve; while in Arabic it is qahwah, and in Kiswahili it is Kahawa. The scientific name for coffee is Coffee arabica and c. canefora. In the United States, a place where ready made coffee can be found is called a coffee shop whereas in other countries it is the coffee house. The machine that grinds coffee is a coffee mill while the one that brews it is a coffee maker.

After the defeat and collapse of the mighty Ottoman Empire, retreating Turkish soldiers left behind some of their food rations including ground coffee in Italy. An Italian priest named Cappucin stumbled upon an area where Turkish soldiers had abandoned. The most important commodity that captured his attention were packets of ground coffee which he began to experiment by brewing over fire. Upon tasting, he found it tateless and then added some cream and from there on evolved the name cappuccino.

Besides Kenya, tea is grown in India, China, Japan, and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). With the exception of Arab North Africa, Africa south of the Sahara is much dependent on tea as a preferred beverage. With no coffee makers, Africans are dependent on tea kettles for brewing varieties of teas. Those who assume starbucks coffee as the best beverage may be mistaken. A taste of warikow will surely reveal the contrary.

For Somalia, it is tea as usual-every minute, hour, or day-whether at home or away socializing in the Diaspora. Whether served with milk or in black form, the aroma and taste is what consumers give considerable delight. Without tea, there is no cocooing for visitors. Guests feel exuberant welcome with a cup of warikow-the best brew on earth. Regardless of whether tea or coffee is your favorite, one thing is certain: besides soda, the two remain the most consumed beverages worldwide.

Ethiopian Occupation Forces Ready to Leave Somalia

Once again, the mighty forces of the ancient Axumite Kingdom, the Lion of Africa, and the flag-bearers of the Lion of Judah, have been defeated by the Dervishes-Somalia's war-hardened soldiers of liberation. The withdrawal of Ethiopian occupation forces from Somalia coincides with the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia. For both Russia and Ethiopia, withdrawal means a disgraceful historical event while for the people of Georgia and Somalia, it will connote supremacy and valor.

Recent news splashed on many web sites relate Ethiopian forces loading heavy artillery pieces, tanks, soldiers, and other military hardware on to cargo ships ready for departure from Somalia. This is good news for the people of Somalia who have been victims of Ethiopian interference since the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991 when Militia forces trained and armed in Ethiopia overthrew the junta of Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre culminating in the dismemberment, displacement, and cantonization of a once peaceful nation.

At the time of writing this article, the top three leaders of Somalia that include the President, Prime Minister, and governor of Banadir region are in Addis Ababa having consultation with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, strongman Meles Zenawi, over the ousting of Mohamed Omar Habeb as Governor of Banadir region by Somalia's Prime Minister-an act that angered Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed who is a close friend of the governor in question.

Also, Djibouti, a neighbor of Somalia, is hosting a reconciliation conference for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the combined opposition forces opposed to the TFG-a group led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Djibouti held several reconcliation conferences and all ended in failure.

In conclusion, the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia is truly a resounding defeat for the people of Somalia. For now, it seems, the problems caused by the lion of Africa in Somalia, has been laid to rest forever. What Somalis need to do is to come together and sort out their differences and create an all-inclusive government based on liberty, peace, and justice.

Prognostication of Acculturation in the Somali Diaspora

Maulana Al-Maududi (may Allah admit him to Jannatul-Firdaus) was a prolific writer and Islamic theologian who spent a greater part of his life disseminating Islamic ethics and values . Writing about the importance of Islamic dress, he had this to say about those Muslims who dress up in Un-Islamic ways: "the psychology of imitation suggests that it has sprang from a sense of inferiority and abasement and its net consequence is the cultivation of the defeatist mentality."

Since 1991, millions of Somalis have been dispersed to every sphere of the globe; many children were born outside of Somali borders; many Somalis have married foreign nationals; and undoubtedly many have renounced Islamic teachings since the Qur'an (Koran) states that "there is no compulsion in religion, truth is clear from error." Al-Baqara.

Because those who seek refuge outside of violent Somali borders fortunately experience freedom of movement and of expression, they also become exposed to what sociologists and anthropologists refer to as acculturation. This new phenomenon opens up an atmosphere laden with unique modes of transactions, novel communication systems, a melting pot of new dwellings and neighborhoods, new language , alien foods, new fashion and clothing styles that lead to changes in inner life and cultural lifestyles. These connote assimilation or integration.

In most cases, parents become citizens of their adopted country whose laws and regulations require they transform for the better or adopt the language of the host nation-that is adjust to the prevailing conditions and live by the rules. Adolescents enroll in schools whose medium of instruction reflect alien syllabus while those born in foreign lands automatically pick up languages other than their mother tongues.

On the other hand, the old will become impotent or eventually die such that their children will be left to fend for themselves in a new environment. Those oldies who succumb to death will be buried in the host country and their children will look to their graveyards for solace and for historical and genealogical traces.

Many in the Diaspora will have a taste of crime and ultimately end up in jail where they will pick up new habits that will transform them partially or completely. All in all, every household will be affected in one way or the other. Even those who beat up time to relocate and retrace their roots will arrive Somalia somehow if not outrightly transformed . A few will cling to past experiences as old habits die hard.

To better understand the impact of acculturation, readers will need to read novels in the African Writers Series editions written by African writers like Nurudin Farah, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Elechi Amadi, Taban Lo Liyong, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Alex Laguma, Peter Abrahams, and Okot P'Bitek where each gives his or her version of events.

Those who remained in Somalia at the height of the civil war will perceive the newly arrived as adulterating their old customs while the newly arrived would endeavor to entice them to abandon their old lifestyles and embrace theirs. What a conflict? Could this erupt into a new cultural war?

When one neighbor barbecues in the open and another basks in the sun with a bottle of Budweiser in hand, while another supplicates with the holy Koran besides him, there ought to be cultural commotion. Also, a conflict of language will flicker when
the returnee from the Middle East speaks in Arabic while the girl from Stockholm addresses him in Swedish. A neighborhood could house speakers of Yiddish, Swahili, Amharic, Russian, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Kikuyu, English, Flemish, Dutch, Somali, Kinyarwanda, and a score of other languages each unintelligible to the other.

Even if peace arrives now or at a later date, a new breed of Somalis carrying dozens of conflicting identities, different religious beliefs and practices, and a plethora of educational credentials, repugnant cultural lifestyles and unique eating habits will flood Somalia-all competing for space where they would want to release their distinct ideological trade marks. Only then can we determine the superiority of one ideology, race, or language from the other. Over to you for comment.

Seyyid Muhammed Abdulle Hassan

All nations, whether big or small, colonized or uncolonized, poor or affluent, pride in their past and present historical events with heroes and heroines, legends or legendary figures, nationalists and freedom fighters revered as role models in commemorative events and national celebrations. No wonder Kenyans celebrate Kenyatta Day and Moi Day in honor of the first and second Presidents respectively.

In Somali written and oral history, Ahmed Gurey, also called 'Gran' or the left-handed, is reputed to have been the first Somali freedom fighter to repel with decisive force against Abyssinian imperialism and European colonialism of Somali inhabited lands in the run up to the 15th century. However, many loquacious Somalis, devoid of creative research skills or ignorant and biased in nature seem not to understand the historical significance of the wars fought by this brave man who fought with valor. On the other hand, Seyyid Muhammed Abdille Hassan, a man named 'Mad Mullah' by the British occupation forces based in northern Somalia at that time has not been given the credit he deserves simply because a dangerous cancer in the minds of many Somalis-a disease that has afflicted the young and old in equal proportion and known as tribalism-has tragically swept the faculty of thinking of many into disrepair and dissuaded them from grasping the truth.

Since our discussion today is mainly centered on Seyyid Muhammed Abdille Hassan and his skirmishes against the combined Abyssinian-Italian-British forces and local Somali Askaris in the payroll of the occupation forces, it is equally important we mention that the Dervishes-the gallant forces of the Seyyid-were the first to be bombarded by aircraft in the history of Africa. Also, it is worth comprehending that the Seyyid was the first Somali to graduate from an institution of higher learning and the first to object to the payment of poll tax imposed on his people by the British colonial government. He was the first Somali to construct a garrison at Taleex which is visible to this day. Students and admirers of Somali history need to be reminded of how he contracted a German engineer to lay down the foundations of this massive garrison which up to now stands as a landmark of Somali history.

It was Seyyid Muhammed Abdille Hassan who revived the struggles of Ahmed Gurey and also taught Somalis the importance of self-rule or self-determination. The offspring of the horses and mules he abandoned when he betook himself to the jungles of the Ogaden region-especially in the village of Iimeey-his final death bed- remain visibly scattered in the countryside-a testament to the majesty and prowess of a bygone hero. Never in the history of Somalia has a man so eloquently created a living genesis of poetry and prose that still begs for publication and translation. The letter he wrote to the then British colonial administration protesting against proselytizing, indoctrinating, and brainwashing his people must be put be put into context.

Perhaps, it is wrong to associate or measure or place in par the heroic struggles of the Seyyid with modern African freedom fighters like Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, Kwame Nkurumah of Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Gemal Abdelnasir of Egypt, and Haile Selassie of Ethiopia-because the techniques the Seyyid applied and the era and duration of his struggles are incompatible with the struggles of modern African freedom fighters.

Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre, President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991, deserves a pat on the back for introducing the Seyyid's struggles into Somali schools curriculum. On the other hand, President Barre left a historical legacy by having statues erected in Mogadishu in honor of the Seyyid and his predecessor-the legendary Ahmed Gurei even though we are told that callous warlords in cahoots with a few misguided militias have uprooted them for sale as scrap metal in the Arabian Peninsula.

It is almost 18 years since General Barre departed the political spectrum and to date, with the exception of a few rapacious hooligans who carved out the nation into Cantons, killed thousands, and displaced millions, what Somalia awaits to see is a leader who will unite the people and rewrite a novel history without distortions.


If there are any Somalis denying Seyyid Muhammmed Abdille Hassan his place in history due to their protracted paucity and meagerness of historical integrity, I would suggest they delve in to the golden pages of living history splashed across encyclopedias in modern libraries or most importantly present their queries before the numerous internet search engines like Google and Yahoo that never shy away from uncovering the truth.

Tubeec: A Look at Somali King of Music

Popularly known in Somalia and in the Diaspora as the 'Boqorkii Codka' or 'King of Music', Mohamed Suleiman (Tubeec) has the qualities of a modern musician. A soft-spoken man who polished his career through hard work in the Somali music industry, Tubeec has to his credit almost half a century of singing with numerous collection of songs in tapes and CDs. With the advancement of technology and communication, many of his songs have been converted into music videos available in VHS and DVD forms. His meteoric rise saw him play in Pan-African conventions most notably in Nigeria where he sang with the famous Magool (deceased) in the then capital city Lagos.

His captivating voice aired in various radio stations including the BBC Somali Service, Voice of Kenya, Voice of Addis Ababa, Radio Moscow, Radio Hargeisa in Somalia, Radio Djibouti, Voice of America Somali Service, Radio Mogadishu and the list could be endless. For the four decades the Somali music industry has been in existence, none among Somali male vocalists has been fortunate enough to shatter the golden voice of Tubeec though a few dared come too close. Omar Dhule and Abdi Tahlil Warsame are the only musicians with voices comparable to that of Tubeec.

Tubeec has been a source of inspiration among the young and old of Somalia in theatrical performances and in many popular social gatherings, in cafes, shops, in open and closed markets, in cars and in buses, in private homes and playgrounds. He could always be seen surrounded by uncountable number of fans who josstled for a glimpse of his natural image during national celebrations, Eid festivals, international events, and commemmorations in the heydays of the central government.

His fascinating and titillating voice instilled love and affection in many raptured hearts; his articulate mention of events audible in his songs rhymed with the musical love of his audience, his rambunctious character attracted throngs of admirers who would be seen giving him rapturous applause, clapping hands, dancing to the tune, and even demanding a rerun of a just concluded performance. The famous Hobolada Waaberi or the Dawn Troupe had been his base for many years. Housed in the famous Mogadishu Theatre, Hobolada Waaberi entertained the Somali nation until the collapse of the military junta.

Bespectacled Tubeec had a host of female vocalists including Sahra Ahmed Jama and Halima Khalif Magol-a duo described by many as the 'Queens of Somali Music'. When on stage, Tubeec is known to hold the microphone in his left hand while at the same using his right hand for making gestures. He often appears on stage in smart suits though he would doff off his coat when the room temperature rose to a boiling point-that is when the audience got out of control-agitated by the tremendous sounds of the instruments played in the background by a select group of well-rehearsed guitarists, trombonists, and pianists.

Some of his songs include 'Hooyo'-a tribute to the importance of our mothers in mothering and motherhood; he delves into the general character of a mother, her aspects of raising children, and her place in our life. I think no musician, living or dead has covered the broad role of a mother in musical form. 'Deeqa'-the name of another prominent song refers to a Somali mademoiselle to whom he showers praise.

As Somali music is tasteless without mentioning the beauty of the fauna and flora, Tubeec's song 'Jaawo Geel' describes the beauty and grandeur of a female lover that he compares to the Camel-an animal referred to as 'the beast of the desert' by an early European traveler through the Middle East and Africa-even though the song is primarily about love.

Tubeec will continue to reign as the 'Father of Somali Music' until such a time when an overwhelming new voice emerges within the Diaspora or inside of Somalia-a voice that will unanimously appeal to all Somali speaking people and permeate the hearts of the young and old, men and women alike.