The death of an icon: Dr Mohammed Aden Sheikh

[Gabbal]

Alle hau naxariisto, Dr Mohammed Adden Sheikh has died yesterday in Italy. Dr Mohammed, while being the first qualified Somali surgeon, was a prominent dignitary having assumed the offices of the ministries of Culture, Higher Education, Health, and Information. He was instrumental in the "Bar ama Baro" literacy campaign which coincided with his tenure as minister of Culture and Higher Education and was the brains behind many attempts to advance the Somali people through literacy and advancements in science and arts. May God have mercy on his soul and samir and iimaan to his famiglia in Torino, Italy.

 

His obituary can be found here in the Somali BBC:

 

 

Somali BBC

[Muriidi]

انا لله و انا اليه راجعون

 

 

 

rest in peace doc.

[Jacaylbaro]

He spent Many years in Jail during Siad Barre time ,,,,, Ilahay ha u naxariisto.

[Qandalawi]

Ilaahay Ha'unaxariisto, Aamiin.

[N.O.R.F]

Allah yarxamu

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

DR Maxamed Aadan Sheikh, Ilaahay jannadii haka waraabiyo. He was a relative of mine and the family left London numerous times to visit him in Italy during the time he was sick. The whole family was by his side when he passed away. A giant has been lost indeed. A selfless man who did anything he could for his people, specially for his close relative.

 

London (where most of the family now lives) tacsi xun ayaa taalla maanta. Ilaahay jannadii ha geeyo marxuumka, dambigiisana ha dhaafo.

[Jacaylbaro]

Samir iyo Iimaan sxb ....

[N.O.R.F]

LST, sabr wa imaan to you and the family

[Gabbal]

Libaax I had no idea you were related to reer Aw-Maxamuud. Samir and iimaan to you and all your qaraabo brother. The Somali nation has indeed lost a giant.

[Legend of Zu]

Innaa Lillahi wa inaa ilayhi raajicuun. Sabar iyo iimaan asagana jannada ilaahay ha ka waraabiyo

[Somalina]

Allah u raxariisto marxuumka. Sabar iyo iiman Allah haka siiyo reerkiisa.

[Chimera]

Allahu Naxariisto, we are losing all of our great ones to early.

[General Duke]

نا لله و انا اليه راجعون , May Allah SWT bestow his mercy on the man and give his family strength in this time.

 

LST Sabir Iyo Imaan my brother, he was a legend indeed...

[Som@li]

May Allah have mercy on him

 

Samir iyo Iman to all his family

[Som@li]

In Memory of Dr. Mohamed Aden Sheikh

By Ahmed Abdi Hashi (Hashara)

Oct 03, 2010

 

 

I met the late Dr Mohamed Aden Sheikh in August 2010 in Helsinki. He at the time told me of his illness and its nature. As sick as he was, he actively participated in the conference on Somalia which we attended. At a more personal note together we reminisced about the old days, friends and the sad plight of the Somali people.

As sad as his death is, I ask all decent Somalis to join me in celebrating his achievements, his life.

 

As of his close friend for 40 years, I came to know Dr. Mohamed Aden very closely and intimately. He was a decent human being who cared about others and in most cases more than he cared about himself. His mantra was always “what about the others”. I remember many instances when he helped people in difficulties or in difficult situations.

 

He was a modest person. And while he could wear like his peers if he so wished the 1000.00$ silk suits, he dressed humbly like a shabby professor.

 

The late Dr. Mohamed was known as Mr clean. He was never corrupt in contrast to some of his contemporaries who looted the treasury with impunity. In fact, he never built or owned a house of his own.

 

Dr. Mohamed Aden advocated for justice for all Somalis. For example, he stood for the rights of the people in North-West region (currently Somaliland) and continued to speak against the injustices meted out to the people of that region.

 

For his strong stand against the atrocities that were being committed at the time, the late Dr. Mohamed Aden Sheikh paid the high price of long periods of incarceration in the 1980s. This adversely affected his heath as he was denied access to medical treatment.

 

The late Dr. Mohamed Aden Sheikh was a man of principle. He never wavered from his own beliefs and principles, never compromising on what he believed in. For example, he was one of those very few people who strongly advised against and objected to the rupture of relations with the Soviet bloc in 1977 and after the ****** war. For this he paid the price of being relieved of all Government positions followed by imprisonment which again affected his health.

 

While in Government in the early 1970s, his achievements were stellar. As Minister of Higher Education and Culture, the late Dr. Mohamed Aden Sheikh played a pivotal role in the selection of the current script for the Somali language.

 

He established the Academy of Somali Studies which brought together and for the first time Somali poets, plight rights, historians, academicians and other others.

 

The first ever Somali- Somali dictionary and the collections of poetry of famous poets were published under his auspices. He laid down the plans for reorganizing the National Museum and creation of a National Library.

 

He sponsored the first Somali Studies Meeting on Somali soil as well the first Pan African Film Festival.

 

And equally important, He fought very hard against vested interests to establish a truly Somali National University which flourished later as a credible institution.

 

It was my pleasure and duty to work with Dr. Mohamed Aden Sheikh during those years.

 

Dr. Mohamed is not only a loss to his immediate family and friends. The Somali nation lost one of its best sons, a visionary, true patriot and a humble decent human being. For me, his loss is greater as he was my friend, confidant and role model.

 

My heartfelt condolences to Chi Chi his wife, Idil, Kaha , Koshin, Abdulkader Aden (Jengeli) the rest of the AW Mohamoud family as well as his long time friend Petro Petrucci and the Somali people.

 

Amb. Ahmed Abdi Hashi (Hashara)

Email: Xasharo@gmail.com