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Akash

ABDI SINIMOO and The Balwo Legacy

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ANAA ALIFAY IYO

AYBAN BAY BARATEE

USTAADKII A'ADA KEENAY

BAAN AHAY

 

...............

 

When ABDI SINIMOO (CABDI DEEQSI WARFA) first said these angry words,

he meant to dispel any controversy and remove all doubts about the origin

of the BALWO. He underlined his sole right to the creation of the BALWO and

warned that no other person could lay claim to it.

 

...............

 

ABDI SINIMOO was born in the 1920s at "JARA HORATO" a historical village about

eighteen miles to the north-east of BORAMA. He was the fourth son in a family of

eighteen children, nine girls and nine boys. His father married four times and

Sinimoo's mother was the first.

 

...............

 

One day, he decided to go to DJIBOUTI (FRENCH SOMALI COAST AT THE TIME). He was

fortunate to have a very good literary background that worked for him as a base

for his future creation of the BALWO. Although, he did not spend enough time in

the country-side to learn the rich oral literature and folklore of the people

he found the opportunity to meet many poets and Heelo Maalo in DJIBOUTI and elsewhere.

He memorised many poems. As there was not a distinct line of demarcation between the

town and country-side at the time, he became acquainted with many genres of Somali Poetry

like Gabay, Geeraar, Jiib, Jiifto and Buraanbur in Djibouti.

 

...............

 

*** SOMALI *** *** ENGLISH ***

1) HILLAACA BAD WEYN

KA BILING YIDHIYOW

XAGGAY BASRI CAAWA JOOGTAA

BALWOOY ...

1) O'LIGHTENING FLASHING

OVER THE WIDE SEA

WHERE BASRA

SPENDS TONIGHT ?

BALWO ...

 

2) SIDII HOORRIMAAD

HILLAAC KU JIRAAD

HABEENKII IFTIIMISAA HERER

BALWOOY ...

2) AS A LIGHTENING IN RAIN TIME

YOU IN THE NIGHT TIME

BRIGHTEN THE TOWN OF HARAR

BALWO ...

 

3) INTAAN BADDA IYO

BERRIGA MARAYOY

BULUUG LAYDH

BALAN WAA HALKEENII

BALWOOY ...

3) WHILE I AM IN THE HIGH SEAS AND

LANDS WONDERING

O' MY SPOT-LIGHT,

OUR PROMISE WILL REMAIN AS IT WAS.

BALWO ...

 

4) TIMAHA MADAXAYGA

TINKAAN U JACLAA

EE AAN HADBA TAABTO

BAAD TAHAY

BALWOOY ...

4) YOU ARE TO ME

LIKE THE ONE HAIR I LOVE

FROM ALL THE HAIR OF MY HEAD

AND WHICH I OFTEN CARESS.

BALWO ...

 

 

 

He travaled From Zeila to Borama (40 days, 154 miles) accompanied by four

of his fans from Zeila. There were Hussen Aare Meecaad, Koobali Caashaad

(of reer Seylac), Xaashi Warsame and a girl Nuuriya Catiiq.

Upon their arrival in BORAMA, Hajji Hersi, having heard about the story of

the Forty Nights, fired ABDI SINIMOO for negligence and extravagence. Bereft

of any responsibility, ABDI SINIMOO collected his friends, rented a house and

devoted all his time and energy to his songs.

He created the First Balwo Band (in Somalia and East of Africa) at Borama in

the year 1944. The members of the Band were :

 

 

1- Cabdi Deeqsi Warfaa (Abdi Sinimoo)

2- Koobali Caashaad

3- Hussen Aare Meecaad

4- Xaashi Warsame

5- khadiija Ciye Dharaar (Khadiija Balwo)

6- Nuuriya Catiiq

 

*Source Balwo Book*

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