Qaboobe Articles

It seems that Somalis attach more importance to their clan pride rather than offer loyalty to the leadership of the nation. The British writers in their days of occupying Somalia described the Somalis as a nation of bards and prideful. In fact prideful is useless in terms of building common goals and interest. Their should be loyalty and hierarchy for the common interest of the entire citizens. Personal pride is more destructive than building constructive goals. Pride is for individual lives, not for collective interest. We are all instruments, in the good sense, to be wielded in the interest of the national goals. Nomadic lives in the form of leading isolated lives may give good name to the concerned , but in the interest of collective goal, loyalty and hierarchy and rule of law are necessary factors that every individual is required to observe. As a civil value, cleaning together the street in front of the houses by all the residents is a necessary activity which serves all the residences. This is a part of needed cooperation and building civil values. Colleagues who attended courses at the college of education in early seventies narrate that the American man who was in charge of the college used to visit dorms and the adjacent areas and he used to collect and clear away garbage while students were in classes. This kind of simplicity based on discharging a task is needed to help us. It is not time to build individual goals , instead it is time to construct avenues of common values and collective benefit. Thanks. Anur

Clan And State , the Somali Context

IN function, organization, development, ambition, goals, aims, attainment, philosophy and growth, state and clan  are in a state of total  antitheses. Since  state originates from clan or say since clan is the mother of states or again say since state is the offshoot of clan ,they  are related and belong to each other in terms of social provenance. What I  mean here is that clans were primitive, divided and disintegrated people without singular leadership, but over time  after they become conscious of their weak and  disharmonious state, they stood  up to organize themselves, build institutions, elect singular leadership and go on in pursue of hoped-for development.

To be clear with what we are discussing, it is appropriate that we look for a source of written and researched document to help us understand the difference between a clan and a state. The Collins Cobuild English  Dictionary puts the difference of the two terms as follows:

Clan : Group of families that are related to each other because they are all descended from the same ancestor. And the definition of state is put like this. State : A country , usually when it is considered in terms of political organization and structure.

Here, the outstanding variance is epitomized by two terms: Organized and Structured and the opposite.

In fact a clannish environ is in a chaotic, lawlessness, divided and always in a situation of clangor and clamor, because the forceful job description, functioning discipline, documented law and order are totally absent, and the chief who claims to control the situation lacks institutions to keep situation under control such as security forces, courts, laws to be followed and socially binding and other acknowledged bylaws. Out of this lawless milieu, the chief uses his charisma, astuteness and sometimes resorts to his hidden and mystic power of being a saint and may call down God’s anger on the opponent, a claim of concealed extraordinary power. In contrast people normally give heeding to visible power and physical authority that the concerned is aware that if he does not comply with the established discipline, actions may be taken against him. That is how to keep harmonious social order, which is not known at the chief and his surroundings.

A clan usually remains a zero level of social development and organization where total transformation is inevitable to be launched if real leadership is to be used as a tool for change. An outstanding example of total social transformation can be taken what Prophet Mohamed(Peace be Upon) found in the Arabian Dark days, Jaahiliya,  where it  was normal that a father would bury his daughter alive because she was simply a female, to just mention one instance  in addition to the  myopic worshipping of  idols. The horrible situation was a clan killing another clan because they were divided into “they and we”. This was the highest mark of depiction of ignorance, shedding human blood for no good reason and always remaining in such a treacherous and malignant environ and senseless hatred.

But by the virtue of an ideal and single-minded leadership, with the help of Allah, and with the aid of the loyal men trained and oriented according to the teaching of  Qur’aan and  Hadith, in two decades time, there appeared in the place of  ignorance enlightened community  , worshippers in the night and mujahidin in the day time. The Prophet and his men did not use a single bullet to cower people. Instead they resorted to the purest method of teaching human, the way of Allah, and in a very short period of time they succeeded to launch a total social transformation in Arabia and other target area. This amazing achievement had never been attained through threat or violence, but through good will, good language, tolerance, consultation, mutual understanding and real portrayal cooperation and brotherhood in the path of Allah. There was no rich class or poor class; the rich were helping the poor and the poor stayed patients if resources were not in plenty. And removing people from the darkness of ignorance to the shining light of knowledge and the way of Allah, this complete transformation had been realized, with everlasting way of building ceaseless inspiration and aspiration.

   As Naima  Osman indicated in her recent essay published by Hiranonline, the problem of failure of leadership greatly contributes to and plays a great role in the ailing circumstance:

Over the past 32 years, Somali elites, politicians, educators, elders, and the public at large were seeking to find a stable Somalia that is at peace with itself. All attempts have failed to deliver a tangible and lasting solution. Renewed clan tensions and robbery of government meager resources dominated the news.

 Most politicians run for an office to accumulate wealth. They have no mercy on the plight of the people. The root cause of the entire leadership failure is related to the culture of nominating unqualified people to lead government institutions.

   Wanting to just add some comment to this very good expression, I may go back to 1980s when the ministry of health came under the leadership of three generals as : Abdalla Fadil, Musa Rabbile Goot and  Omar Hagi Masalle. At the same time, there were qualified doctors who were ready to take up the leadership of the ministry of health, one of the most important institutions of the country.

This simple account is in depiction of how human being can make change, if they want to and act accordingly seriously.  And this is an example of how to build a state, regardless of its methodology and means and depending on the aim and purpose behind the action to be taken, anyway let’s say a social service and delivery of message, each one’s message is the goal.

Clannish countries like Somalia suffer a kind of confusion of leadership, because clan leadership and national leadership cannot remain as a espoused couple. A clan leadership and national leadership work in opposite ways. While the national leadership fights for uniting the nation, the clan leaders battle for dividing the nation and each clan chief takes a part of the people to let them remain under his loyalty.  This tenacious confusion is a real challenge to the management of the country, in particular these days where political crises are created by locals and foreigners for Somalia according to each part’s interest.

As a  Sudanese thinker referring to the absence of the central government of Somalia pointed out years back,  a nation without central government is nothing but a human being without backbone,, because those who secede from the central government on the basis of tribal cause will finally disintegrate into smaller cleavages, much less than a state. The point these guys are missing is that if every clan leader is given political recognition, then Somalia will at least disintegrate into 35 clan families, which is more of a headache than a solution.

Since the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991 power of chieftaincy increased taking advantage of the absence of the central authority. But obviously, this is at the expense of the national interest, a country without security forces to defend it where foreigners, civilians and otherwise, just enter freely and exit the country freely. The present central government, with its inherent weakness, at least enjoys the voice and say of a legitimate central authority. When some years back the Kenyan government launched its rapaciously illegal desire to annex part of the marine territory of Somalia, the government of Somalia submitting a complaint about the Kenyan encroachment to the International Court of Justice which ruled the disputed territorial water in favor of Somalia. This means that the voice of the Somali government was heard and respected.  What no Somali with right conscience will never forget and forgive was that Abdiwali, the then leader of the Northeastern region of Somalia threw his support behind the Kenyan claim, showing his arrant hatred towards the Somali people and their rightful territorial integrity. This is also part of the adversary tendency of clan against another clan. In fact, the case in dispute is not an argument among Somali clans, but between Somalia and a foreign claim, an enemy already enjoying and ruling part of the Somali territory, taking advantage of colonial misdeeds.

As a complex example out of secessions and lawlessness, three parties laid claims to Las-Anod town:  The North Western region, the Northern Eastern region and the late Dr. Galaydh at the time fighting for getting recognition for Khatumo. Can we have a fair-minded judge to study the complex case and impart a just verdict?

One extremely complex scene could take us back to recall the conflict for power sharing among clans. The Keyan hosted Somali clan conference which kept continuing for 24 months starting in 2002 and ended in 2004 was astonishingly complex scenario.  This was a conundrum. If we fail to deliver ourselves from the shackles of clannish fiefdom, then we will end up in a ceaseless struggle and permanent accusation and counter accusation and the world will view us as strange people who are fond of disputes and pugnacity and fruitless discussions. And under this cantankerous and ever increasing argumentative negative portrayal will put into question if the sovereignty and true governance of Somalia can any longer exist. A serious warning. And this milieu will forever go on until we will be able to come to the grip with  reality and choose the right path of leading a country , not a clan, where personality of  cult will  have a  vital position, but  where  discipline, job description, mutual understanding, tolerance, law and order will dominate our environment, and as a result we will be able to build a structured and institutionalized  offices  whose singular objective and target are to serve the modern state of  Somalia, with empowered  single-minded leadership , trustworthy  , selective and  mandated by the people . To accomplish a modern task of a modern state, we must separate   the conflict-ridden notion of the clan leadership and the chief and the national leadership of the daily executive task and the statesmen whose job is focused on uniting the nation and providing citizens with the service they deserve, health, education, employment, accommodation and security. Nations are built by committed statesmen, not by clan chief.

Ahmednur Sheikh Ali.

This is a short story about social events, what can happen in our everyday lives.

Omar had been a very efficient and dutiful clerk. He was shy and drooped his eyes down whenever one of the astute old female staff members who did not like his long aloofness gazed at him. His diligence and honesty paid off. His boss had entrusted him to take over the financial section, probably the most important part of the whole institution. Omar’s colleagues were not very pleased with him since he was one of the relatively new staff members who joined the department late, and took a main post before his most senior clerks did. When he took the post on, his position increased as he found himself  the center of the whole department’s staff. Each person who was in need of advance payment or other financial advice had contacted him quickly. The most important of Omar’s  customers and one of the first who, immediately after his nomination, introduced herself to him was Shamis, a senior clerk and an woman in her early forties. She had a very smart character and hypnotizing image, with a rare, curious, broad laughter who, as Omar noticed later, would not chat easily with people junior to her in age nor in less  imposing position. Despite such a reputation, Shamis treated Omar nicely and lovingly. Unlike any other place, Omer’s office appeared to be her favourite place to sit down when she was empty-handed. Gradually she developed a habit of caressing Omar, showing special tenderness toward him. This produced another point which put Omar one more step away from his male colleagues who had longed to put Shamis closer to them but had failed. This is not to mentioning some of the opposite sex who tried to buy Omar’s attention but became in vain. Shamis had one outstanding characteristic; the lucky man to whom she would extend her hand would be a boss with a car. Some of the staff made their final judgment that Shamis loved Omar, a young man in his late twenties in their opinion who would be her much junior brother in age. Shamis had been a woman of ideal shape and decorum. Her main disadvantage was that she had been divorced for a long time; probably because of her air of superiority she would not select easily a man she considered an appropriate match. She had left her previous husband because she thought that she had married too early. Because of her felt dignity and prestige, even the managers were ashamed to call her to their offices when they needed her to do certain assignment. Instead, they preferred to walk to her place. Remarkably, with all her noted aloofness of manner, no one of the staff or any guest had ever filed a complaint against her misdemeanor. She was always elegant and polite and her chat was short and quite selective. People had never taken any definite stand regarding her behavior. Some would say she was rude. Others suggested she was foolish and others put it that she was suffering from conceitedness. But ultimately, some of the staff viewed Shamis that Omar had become her final choice after lonely years of wandering and wondering. As many would do, and doubtlessly many did, Omar traded what was under his command for the sweet words and soul appealing conversation of Shamis.As a result he became too kind and polite to say no for what Shamis asked. As time went by, she had become a self-appointed worker, and assistant to Omar. Now it was up to her preference to ask him to transfer to her account some cash she needed or if she would do it by herself. This was part of the deep confidence she won over him. One thing was certain, however, that she would not sign a receipt nor be expected to repay the loan. Omar was too shy to ask for the money. And he would not ask Shamis whether her love was for him as a person or simply for the property that fell under his controlling. One morning when Omar had sat down at his desk two security men stepped into the office. They were two of the three who had visited him the day before and identified themselves as simply undertaking some routine audit controls. After they produced a warrant ordering his immediate arrest, Omar’s boss intervened and asked them to be sure of their charges against the cashier. The two men were quite judicious and were different in many ways from their colleagues. They listened well to the manager’s remarks and convinced him. They took some time in checking once again their work of the previous day. The charges stood. The money was missing and Omer’s arresting seemed inevitable. Most of the staff gathered and filled the space of the one-room office. Among those present was Shamis. As if she had never known the man in trouble, she showed no sign of emotion nor  being even slightly shocked. Omar trembled in front of her. Both she and he knew where the money had gone. He expected Shamis to say something at least or show some emotional sobbing, even superficial. Actually, she was unmoved as if nothing had ever happened. At last when Omar was hustled unto to the waiting car, he stuck his head out of the window. With spontaneous drops of tears rolling down his chin, Omar withdrew his head and said audibly, “Shamis and Omar knew where the money had gone, but is it time?” Omar’s manager, a rare light-hearted man who could not afford losing a man like Omar in such a way said, “ it is too late and most unfortunate, but, if I had known before this disastrous moment that three honesty men perished in this same way, Shamis would not have remained here, but when Curious eyes turned toward Shamis and the impression that she bad previously exploited men quickly prevailed. Worried helplessly, the  manager paused, thinking and searching his mind for the easiest possible approach to the solution of Omar’s case added, “strange; a snake under the skin of a sheep; one of us must take a permanent leave from here. Omar raised plaintive hand to his colleagues saying, “Goodbye.” The on-lookers  were too shocked to respond to the man who went widely into the lion’s mouth. But Shamis said smiling, “see you again in a better place on a better occasion.”

This page is for cultural and education meeting. Today in this occasion, I want to give a short explanation of the what we call Writing Short Story. The time that short story continues should be quite short, about 24 hours or less. The characters or cast should be few, two to three persons. The theme must be about a single item. A short story should not take place in different places. It just takes place in a single setting , not two or three places like long stories. If you read an example, Othello, Shakespeare’s play, one of the latest plays written by Shakespeare, takes place like Cyprus and Italy. A short play is a pleasure reading piece of literature which impresses the readers and its magnitude is quite short. It is just a type of current conversation between two people. That is the best one. If someone wants to read a typical short story , the best example Luncheon by Summerset a British celebrate short story writer. The shortness, the short magnitude and direct conversation is what makes a short story alluring and enjoyable piece of literature.

From different perspectives, Somalis are a quarrelsome nation. It is difficult to have a social group wanting a peaceful discussion about their issues. The politicians, the Sheikhs, and the media groups all have big tensions among themselves. Why don’t they try to have socially attractive and peaceful meetings instead of shouting at the faces of each other? Why don’t they behave differently in creating a better and more peaceful social environment?

As very constructive and well-meaning advice, Somalis need to review their social behavior and start over their social building and behavior. Issues are better settled in a quite and well-thought-of means of social respect. Unless we respect each other and keep thinking well about the benefit of good social relations, our situation will never change. We have to note that good relations are the root of building social coexistence and better solidarity. Unless basic social relations are built well, progress is almost impossible. Quarrelsome behavior destroys the positive roots of life and togetherness. Let us review our way of social behavior and think more about our being a connected community rather than being scattered and fragile people’s advice.

Men like Hadrawi has no clan to claim he is theirs. May Allah rest him in the depth of Firdowsa. Somewhere 2002, the day he decided to create peace among the warring factions in the south, Media asked him about his salaams to the Somali nation. He uttered words like: I want to salute every Somali and would like to visit them wherever they are. This man carried a great hurt unlike people of his age or older who take pride in creating wars and battles among the Somali nation. The old people who know that their days are numbered should go back from the evils and sins they had committed previously. They should repent to Allah and beg HIM forgiveness in creating problems the brotherly Somali nation. Every human being will be asked of what he did for the same of Muslims. Hadrawi will have thousands and thousands who never met him but heard about him who would ask Allah to bless his grave and put him among those who would go to the paradise freely. Old people be like Hadrwai, enlarge your view and vision. You will be removed from this world soon, even if you complete one hundred years. Leave back something good behind you. Young generations, ask Allah to brighten your future and always do some thing that will help your brothers and sisters. Thank you. Ahmednur Qaboobe.

And as everybody can imagine solutions just don’t come by. It is men who make them come through strong determination and commitment. Great nations and progressing countries are built by strong and great men who have the guts of devoting much effort for the development of their countries in a good path and peaceful way. Note, disintegrated people are made by disintegrated leaders. Unless leaders take prescient decisions and work hard and unite their nation development is impossible to be realized. So united leadership is a precondition for building a united country with people who can forget their personal pride and give the first priority to the interest of the country.Ahmednur Qaboobe

As a such, the Somali people are required by their moral obligation and by their own national responsibility to cooperate in the protection and rebuilding of their own civil war devastated country. Crises like civil strife do not volunteer to go away. They are made to go away by, with the help of Allah, patriotic and committed citizens who are consciously aware that it is their own country that is at stake and thus should be saved. It seems that many citizens are unaware of where the country is heading to and the situation under which Somalia is going. Please, note that the absence of rule of law and lack of orderly system of government is a prove that the country is in a chaotic situation, and civil strife produces anarchic and chaotic circumstance. That is the time the compatriots are required to combine their intellectual and muscular powers and stand up together to help their country. Thank you. Ahmednur Qaboobe, Qaboobewordpress.com

friends , good afternoon. This is my time in Columbus, Ohio, USA. However, this blog is new and joining now to other Somali media outlet. This page will concentrate on writing about articles about Somalia, culture and history, may be poetry and other stuff about Somalia. As it is written by a teacher, a writer and thinker, the page will try to be more polite and observe good ethics. The stuff to be published will be more about constructive information which may give direction to the Somali community wherever they are. The expectation of the page is that we all write and talk about useful matters without offending anyone. Provocations and jokes with ulterior aims have no room on this space. Our appointment is that we all work together to shoot out mutually beneficial goals and purposes with significant and well meaning aims. Thank you very much. Ahmednur Qaboobe- Qaboobewordpress.com