Kismayo and the Myth of Somali Homogeneity

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Kismayo and the Myth of Somali

Homogeneity

 

By Sadik B Abdullahi

Nov. 01, 2012

 

My recent piece on Kismayu was mostly as a response to an article that I thought had two derogatory words that should not be used by any sane person in the 21st century. More importantly, I thought, and this is where I agreed with Dubet, that the clan supremacy wars that have dogged Kismayu for years now is nothing but a meaningless struggle that only seeks to make Somalis lose focus on the bigger picture. Yes, the same big picture that Warsame talks about in his article.

However, I realize Somalis still have a long way to go in learning about the people of Somalia and the meaning of the word Somali. Actually, the name Somali has two meanings that refers to people that may both not be apparent to all - even to many Somalis themselves. What I mean here is that there is the Somali that refers to nationals of Somalia; essentially, anyone who is a national of the land in between Ras Kiamboni and Ras Aseyr. So, even before we go to the second meaning of the noun Somali; who are the residents of Ras Kiamboni, what language do they speak? I think these are important questions worthy of reflection for any Somali - in whatever sense of the word Somali.

 

Secondly, the name Somali applies to people like me who are not nationals of Somalia but rather are ethnic Somalis. This is where you have the likes of Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti; Mohamed Yusuf Haji – the Minister of Defense for Kenya; the disgraced Abdi Mohamed Omer (Iley) of Ethiopia; and many other Somalis who are mostly nationals of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. So, a distinction needs always be made between the two meanings of the word Somali regardless of whether one subscribes to the irredentist notion of a Greater Somalia or not.

 

I am particularly concerned about the differentiation of the two meanings of the word Somali because of what usually happens to the minority Somalis groups and especially those who live within Somalia itself. Of course, we are all aware of the much circulated myth about Somalia portraying the same as one of the most homogenous societies in Africa. However, we all know that among the Somalis we have Somalis who are essentially not Somalis in the second sense above but are nonetheless Somalis in the first sense above; these are the Somali Bantus and other similar groups.

 

Also, not all Somalis speak the mainstream Somali dialect – ‘ Maxaa Tiri’, rather we have the ‘Maay’ speakers as well. The Maay language probably has different sub-dialects that might not be mutually intelligible to each other just like the mainstream Somali speakers would not understand the Maay speakers. Other languages spoken in Somalia and are native to the same include Bravanese (also known as Chimwiini or Chimbalazi), Bajuni (also known as Kigunya).

 

I am trying to explain all these so that we appreciate, take pride in and celebrate the heterogeneity of the Somali people. We can only do these by firstly unlearning the myths that we have been fed over the years. For, in our ignorance about the Somali peoples and languages that seems to be inherent in most Somalis (in the second meaning of the word Somali as explained above) lies the main cause of our prejudice and maltreatment of many a minority group in Somalia especially the Bantus.

 

It is indeed disheartening for one to try and set the record straight regarding a particular issue and warn others not to commit an offence in the same light only for the same mistake to be committed by a member of the audience that received the previous message. It was in Garowe, I said, when I met someone who manifestly proved his ignorance about the existence of a Somali community that, even though the majority lives in Kenya, calls Kismayu their home. This is the Bajuni community and whether it is pleasant to our ears or not lives in many coastal towns in the southernmost part of Somalia. As I said before they happen to be the community that bequeathed the name Kismayu to the city plus the adjacent islands that also bears their name. Thus, they cannot in anyway be referred to foreigners or foreign powers - something else maybe but that description can certainly not apply to the Bajunis. This actually reminds of a famous Somali Bajuni singer Asha Abdow Saleeban who is known as Malika Mohammed in Kenya.

 

So, while we fight for supremacy in Kismet, let’s not blind ourselves from historical facts. And, we should also not try to revise a well known history of southern Somalia.

 

Anyway, another clarification that I need to make is that when I said it is the Bajunis who own Kismayu, I never in anyway was alluding to the fact that no other Somali clan has the right to fight for the emancipation of Kismayu. My aim, rather, was that these supremacy wars are just but meaningless fights that only distract Somalis from overcoming their bigger enemies; insecurity, underdevelopment, poverty, sickness and hordes of many other underperforming indicators that places Somalia at the bottom of many a list published internationally.

 

Lastly, as regards the administration of Kismayu and managing the affairs of the same, I somewhat agree with both Muktar M Omer and Osman Hassan in their recent articles also published in WardheerNews..

 

Sadik B Abdullahi

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

Pseudo Somali historians will leave no stone unturned in trying paint Somalia in whatever morbid fashion they see fit. Just because we have few minorities doesn't mean that Somalia is not the most "homogeneous" country in Africa, in fact one of few countries in Africa that are Nation states. It's ludicrous to say that two different dialects such maay and maxa tiri are not the same languages. There are Gosha, and bravanese and Bajuni people but honestly, what percentage of the country do they make. The case needs to be made to extend extend robust equal rights to smaller groups among the Somali but through subverting basic facts.

[Somalia]

We cannot ignore the plight of the minorities. I do not believe Somalia is the homogeneous country some of its inhabitants claim it is. Just turn on the TV, all you see are starving Somali Bantu, where is the skinny starving Somali?

 

This is why it is important that a census is made as soon as the country is freed of Al-Shabaab. Kismayo belongs to reer Waamo.

[oba hiloowlow]

who are reer waamo somalia?

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

^southern puntlanders lol

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

FYI Somalia, those are kids u see because that's where the media goes.

[oba hiloowlow]

LOL there are puntlanders in southern somalia? Cajaaib didn't know

[Somalia]

Naxar, the overwhelming majority are Bantu, I think many Somalis have relatives abroad at this moment.

 

Reer Waamo is not just Puntlanders, they are the indigenous people of the region, many clans including the big foot and others are included.

[DoctorKenney]

Somalia;884993 wrote:

We cannot ignore the plight of the minorities. I do not believe Somalia is the homogeneous country some of its inhabitants claim it is. Just turn on the TV, all you see are starving Somali Bantu, where is the skinny starving Somali?

 

This is why it is important that a census is made as soon as the country is freed of Al-Shabaab. Kismayo belongs to reer Waamo.

Maybe this is because the Somali-Bantu don't have many diaspora members as the rest of the Somalis. So therefore they don't have a well-off cousin or Uncle in Australia or Canada willing to send them money. So they starve to death. It's unfortunate

[Coofle]

Finally someone have said it......In badan baan uurka ku hayay arrintan.....

A distinction between SOMALI NATIONALITY and SOMALI ETHNICITY is inevitable

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

What I mean here is that there is the Somali that refers to nationals of Somalia; essentially, anyone who is a national of the land in between Ras Kiamboni and Ras Aseyr. So, even before we go to the second meaning of the noun Somali; who are the residents of Ras Kiamboni, what language do they speak?

Nationals of Somalia between raskambooni and raas caseer

 

Ethnic Somalis live in Djibouti Somaliland Kenya Ethiopia

[DoctorKenney]

Xaaji Xunjuf;885225 wrote:

Nationals of Somalia between raskambooni and raas caseer

 

Ethnic Somalis live in Djibouti Somaliland Kenya Ethiopia

What about me Xaaji? I am a Somali living in the United States with a US Citizenship.....Do I count as a Somali National or .....?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

DoctorKenney;885288 wrote:

What about me Xaaji? I am a Somali living in the United States with a US Citizenship.....Do I count as a Somali National or .....?

Well it depends are you're parents from Somalia?

[DoctorKenney]

My Dad lived in Dhagax Buur and my Mother lived in Beledweyne. And I live in the United States....

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

You are not a Somali national but you belong to the peoples of the Somali