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Bandhigga buugga Taariikhda luqadda bulshada Soomaaliyeed oo lagu qabtay magaalada London.
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Waxaa magaalada London ee dalka Ingiriiska lagu qabtay kulamo labadii maalmood ee la soo dhaafay ay ku lahaayeen qoreyaasha Soomaaliyeed. Kulamadaasi oo lagu kala qabtay xaafadaha Southall & Bethnal Green ee magaalada London taariikhduna ay aheyd 18 – 19kii bishan June ee sanadkan 2011. Kulamadan oo ay soo qabanqaabiyeen Naadiga Qalinleyda iyo hal-abuurka Soomaaliyeed ee PEN, laguna soo bandhigayay, buug uu dhawaan soo saaray Prof. Cabdalla Cumar Mansuur oo ka yimid dalka Talyaaniga, Max’ed Sh. Xassan Nuur oo ka socday shirkadda buugaagta ee Scansom Publishers, C/casiis Cali Ibrahim “Xildhiban” & C/raxmaan Max’ed Abtidoon iyo zanab haji adan jawaahir xaji abdalah oo deggan magaalada London ee dalka Ingiriiska. Muddadii ay socdeen bandhigga buugaagta iyo hal-abuurka Soomaaliyeed ee PEN halkaasi hadallo ka jeediyay Prof. Cabdalla Cumar Mansuur oo buuggiisa cusub uu ka hadlay Taariikhda luqadda bulshada Soomaaliyeed, iyadoo labadaasi maalmoodba uu uu barnaamijkani isku xiriirinayay Qadar Dirir oo ah tafaftiraha Guud ee ku baxa luqadaha Somaliga & Ingiriiska ee Somali Eye ee ka soo baxa magaalada London. Dhinaca kale labadii maalmood ee uu socdeen kulamadani halkaasi goobjoog ka ahaa Siciid Jaamac oo ah guddoomiye ku xigeenkii hore ee Naadiga Qalinleyda & Hal – Abuurka Soomaaliyeed iyadoo intii ay socdeen bandhigyadaasi goobahaasi lagu qabtay doodo ku saabsan afka Soomaaliga, iyadoo halkaasi ay fikradahooda ka jeedinayeen dadweynihii ka soo qeybgalay bandhigga buugaagta & qoraalka afka Soomaaligaba. Ugu dambeyntii waxaa goobahaasi hadallo guubaabo & dardaaranba isugu jira ka soo jeedisay guddoomiye ku xigeenka Naadiga Qalinleyda Soomaaliyeed Aamina Muusse Wehliye isla markaana ammaan & mahad ballaaran u jeediyay dowladda jamhuuriyadda Djibouti, gaar ahaan madaxweynaha jamhuuriyaddaasi MD. Ismaaciil Cumar Geelle & dadkii Soomaaliyeed ee gacanta ka geystay horrumarinta afka Soomaaliga, iyadoo naadiga Qalinleyda Soomaaliyeed xaruntiisu tahay magaalada Djibouti ee dalka jamhuuriyadda Djibouti. Dadweynihii ka soo qeybgalay carwada Dadweynihii ka soo qeybgalay carwada Guddoomiye ku xigeenka Naadiga Qalinleyda Soomaaliyeed & Qoreyaashii Soomaaliyeed ee ka qeybgalay bandhigyadii shalay & maanta lagu qabtay magaalada London. soures Xildhibanpublications. London
By Adam Dirir
“Every day is a long day in what I do!” laughed Shamsa, who is a psychotherapist, singer and photographer. Although she originally planned to go into business, using her undergraduate degree, her passion lay in psychotherapy.
“I’m a good listener and I suffered deep depression after the civil war, but I was unable to talk about it. So I followed my urge and began studying psychotherapy and counselling.”
“I wanted to understand people’s emotional needs. This was very personal for me, as I lacked knowledge of my surroundings and I was very naïve when I came to Britain. It was a cold, alien culture with rigid social structures which took time to understand and appreciate.”
Somali women have many family commitments which occupy most of their time. Shamsa explained the challenges she faced. “Breaking into psychotherapy was difficult because very few people from ethnic minority backgrounds pursue it as a career; it’s usually associated with the middle class. However I was determined to succeed because people from different backgrounds should be represented in all professional fields.”
“When I was young I dreamed of establishing my own business on my Dad's farm, but the civil war tore everything apart. So many dreams were shattered. I had to refocus and build a new life and new dreams in a new country. It’s been hard and I’m still learning about myself. I often felt depressed but never felt I could talk about it. This is why I want people to understand the importance of psychotherapy.”
Shamsa is a dedicated song writer. “Singing helped me understand myself. It is my freedom of expression. I write and sing about what is important to me: the love of my family, the memories of my grandmother’s poetry, the places I visited as a child. It’s my personal therapy, allowing me to remember my past and understand who I am.”
Shamsa and her husband run a photography company called ‘Eye for Photo’. According to their website, “We aim for contemporary and relaxed styling and always try to capture the essence of the day, looking for those important and special moments that you will want to remember.” Shamsa has a great catalogue of pictures that show the beauty of Somali culture and Somali women’s heritage.
“I admire Somali women in general, and how they always seem to pick up the pieces. They have struggled as well as achieved. I would like to encourage Somali women to always look to the future and never look back.”
Shamsa lives in London where she is a psychotherapist and a singer.
In this issue Somali Eye investigates untold stories from Somali women,
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In this issue Somali Eye investigates untold stories from Somali women,
this issue is dedicated to Somali women who are the backbone of our community..
“A STRONG WOMAN WON’T LET ANYONE GET THE BEST OF HER , BUT A WOMAN OF STRENGTH GIVES THE BEST OF HER TO EVERYONE”
To get this issue of Somali Eye and read similar stories that reflect the quote above, Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Experiences of a free and fair election in Somaliland
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Experiences of a free and fair election in Somaliland By Adam Dirir
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“Xisbiga UDUB waa horseedka mustaqbalka dhalinyaradda” with the Kulmiye one stating “UDUB waa tagatsaaye ha tahriibin walaale.” There was a party atmosphere in the town, cars were full of people, and loud music was everywhere.
Editor Somali eye Magazine London UK
One Saturday evening in May, I was in Shepherd Bush, West London, with a friend who is also the secretary of the Peace, Unity and Development Party (“Kulmiye Nabad, Midnimo iyo horumar”), Mr Ahmed Adare. He asked me if I wanted to do some work for the party, that they needed some videos produced to spread the word about their new policies - the message of change that was needed in Somaliland, he said.
My first instinct was not to answer right away, but to think about it and get back to him. While I was returning home that evening in a hot and packed Underground train, thoughts of my motherland came to me: of beautiful scenery, and delicious food. As soon as I was out of the Underground I texted Mr Adare to accept his offer, and to travel to Somaliland.
On 14 July I was on a flight from Heathrow airport to Dubai, and the next day flew from Dubai to Egal International Harges. My older brother came to pick me up at the airport, and said that it had been a major campaigning day. When we reached the town centre I saw big posters from all parties on the campaign trail, with messages like
I arrived at the Grand Crown Hotel and met its owner, Abdillahi Muse, who ordered a dish of camel which he said was as soft as a lamb. When I heard those words I suddenly remembered how hungry I was.
Next day I met up with Ahmed Adare at 5.30am. He told me that we were going to Tog Wajaale (also known as Wajaale) in the West of Somaliland, to start campaigning for Mr Mohmed Abdilahi, who was in charge of foreign affairs for the party. On the way we passed a beautiful farm amid the rolling countryside. Our first stop was Arabsiyo, which is known as a major farming area. It is also a resort town popular for special occasions such as weddings and Eid celebrations.
There was a big gathering and a warm welcome waiting for us, with people lined up on the street. You could see from their faces and hear from what they were saying that they wanted change. Our second stop was Tog Wajaale, a major hub city situated on the border between Ethiopia and Somaliland. It is now the busiest city linking the two countries. All cargo destined for Ethiopia from the port of Berbera goes through this strategic border city.
Ms Marayan Mohmed, a local resident who attended the election campaign rally, told me that she waited for more than six hours for the delegation to arrive. Then a flock dance began.
Next on the itinerary was Erigavo or Erigabo (Somali: Ceerigaabo), a long journey to a high mountainous area which the local road conditions made a nightmare. We crossed many towns and cities before reaching the Daallo and Surad mountains.
Both are popular as tourist destinations, offering scenic views, as does Mount Shimbiris, the highest peak in Somalia at 2,450 meters above sea level, and part of the Surud mountain range. A frequently quoted height of 2,416m is wrong – and it offers one of the greatest views you can ever witness.
At Erigavo the roads were full of people waiting for our delegation to arrive. And I had thought Somaliland was a small country!
The day after, on 26 June, we arrived at Somaliland’s second city, Burco, where we were offered fresh camel milk. Burco is famous for its animal market, which exports to the Middle East.
On the day of the election people started queuing outside polling stations from 7 am. I asked a young man who was waiting why he had to come so early. He said that it was a day he had been waiting eight years for, to see change, and that he wanted to express his wishes through voting.
I went in to almost all of the local polling stations, and saw long queues, with most of the people there being women who had even left their children at home to be able to come and cast their vote.
Most of the polling stations were opened on time. People in the queues discussed any and all topics under the sun - apart from who they were going to vote for, of course.
The day after the election day I left Burco for Hargeisa, passing through Berbera on the way for a few hours to enjoy the splendid beach, seeing as the temperature was 35 degrees.
In Hargeisa, the capital city, everyone was talking about who was going to win the election. The counting had started, but we would have to wait two weeks to know the final result. It was the longest fortnight I can remember.
Four days after the election I received an email stating that international observers had declared the elections in Somaliland to be free and fair and congratulated voters and election organisers in the autonomous state, which split from mainland Somalia in 1991. Progressio, a UK-based organisation with experience in international observer missions, said in a statement: "The elections seem to have met conditions for a free and fair expression of the popular will of the people of Somaliland.”
Voters also went to the polls to elect a new president, with incumbent Dahir Rayale running against three other candidates. That the vote count and tally would satisfy all the political parties involved was a key concern for the international observers.
The big day was on 1 July. It was 7.30pm and everybody in Somaliland was awaiting the results.
The Electoral Commission prepared to make the announcement. The main hall of the Monsur Hotel was full. The head of the Electoral Commission, Cise Yusuf “Xamari”, announced that the winner of 2010 presidential election in Somaliland was Mr Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, of the “Kulmiya” political party. His supporters erupted in celebration.
Few states on the African mainland – Benin, Senegal and Zambia – have seen incumbent presidents stand down after being defeated in elections. Unrecognised internationally as a separate state, Somaliland has developed its own democratic traditions without outside pressure.
The next morning, Somaliland woke up to a new government and a new leading political party. Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo had been a long-serving leader of the former Somali National Movement, and an active opposition leader in Somaliland for the last eight years. His journey to the presidency is considered to be a new path to freedom.
