The Death of a Poet, a Philosopher , and Historian

[xiinfaniin]

The nature of Jubbaland initiative was fundamental to the stability of south Somalia, and my interest so undivided to it that weighty matters that would usually interest me have slipped from my attention. Now Kismayo's political equation with respect to central government has been greatly advanced, and the chance of its being reversed so effectively diminished, I find it quite fitting to conclude the Kismayo chapter with an obituary to the prolific poet who passed away this year, Macallin Cabdullaahi Dhoodaan.

 

Macallin Dhoodaan, and his Aaweeti verses

 

Dhoodaan was from a nomadic family who valued camel herding as the greatest thing on earth, who never produced poets ,from both his mother and father. When he was in his teens he spent most his time looking after camels. What is interesting about Dhoodaan is that though he was never to religious learning centers, his interest in Allah and divine powers never faded. In fact the first poem he produced was an eloquent supplication to invoke Allahs powers as a revenge of a lion that killed his a young she-camel of his. As soon as he recited the poem with the presence of other fellow camel herders (who knew him never as poet), his choice of words and narrative of Allah's divine powers commanded astonishment. Even more surprising was the fact that within hours the lion that killed his camel was shot by two traveling nomads who encountered it as they were searching lost camels of theirs. From that day , Dhoodaan's career as a poet has only gone up, his admirers increased.

 

His poems ranged from political critique against Barre's revolutionary regime, to social critiques on the urbanite Somalis and their diminishing traditional values. He was also known to be a creative and funny satirist; in fact he invented what has become to be known as 'Jacbur', a unique and peculiar mixture of comedy and traditional Somali poetry. But what I find most interesting in his poems is his tendency to resort and bring Allah's relevance in political and social events in the country. One of the most beautiful, linguistically richest of all of his poems (in my opinion), and with a depth of great religious scholarship is his Aaweeti poem. In a matter akin to a Muslim scholar didactically reading Abu Haneeefah's Aqeedah pamphlet, Dhoodaan describes in a rich language who Allah is, his attributes, his 'be-&-it-becomes' intentions and behaviors. He then proceeds to complain an undisclosed situation of his , asserting that Allah knows what it is , and that he (Dhoodaan) does not need to spell it out for Him.

 

Dhoodaan in his Aaweeti poem distinguished himself from the rest of his peers, even Sayid Mohamed never had a poem like Dhoodaan's regarding the descriptions of Allah and his attributes. When Dhoodaan died in JigJiga this year , a delegation of leading Somali literature community including Hadraawi went to his funeral to read obituaries. But as Ahmed Idaaja noted in his program at VOA , none of the attendees recited what should have been Dhoodaan's capstone poem; Aaweeti.

 

Here is yaa Jamaacah, the Aaweeti (Alla Bari) poem from the late teacher Dhoodaan:

 

 

Ilaahii Cirshiga nuuriyoow, waanu kuu cabane

Waxaad adigu caabiyi kartaa, ciidhoo noo taraye

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Adigaan cirriyo geeri iyo, cudur ka yaabayne

Adigaan cadrana guursan oon, ciyaal dhaline

Adigaa waxaad camal rabtaa, kugu cuslaanayne

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Adaan cudud laguu sheeganayn, amaan cabsoonayne

Adaan ciidan loo qayshadiyo, caawimaad rabine

Col wax yeelo gaystiyo adaan, cadaw ka yaabayne

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Cunto kaa dhamaatiyo adaan, caydh ka baqanayne

Calal xidhasho uma baahnid iyo, cuud la foofsado e

Ku cayiliyo adigaan ahayn, shay mar caato ahe

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Adaan canug lasoo dhalay ahayn, ama ciyaal reere

Adaan barina meel kula cawayn, cuur filkaaga ah

Cashiiriyo qaraabiyo adaan, ciirsi deydeyine

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Aan cabbaar tilmaamaha cuddoon, sii carcooriyo e

Caddaan fiila cawl iyo guduud, amaa cillaan miida

Casaan boosa maarriin canbara, ama cawiif booda

Madoow culaya sugul caynaba, oo ciiriyo bay leh

Xareed calasa ciid iyo asal, ama cagaar dooga

Caarcaar shabeel ama sidii, calawyo giirgiiran

Cir guduud qaboonoo kaliyo, cawo iyo maalin

Cadar ama cadceedoo kaliyo, sidii roobab curanaaya

Caadkiyo daruuraha dhulkiyo, ciirigii badaha

Codcod subaga caaniyo baruur, cuddo iyo jiidhba

Laan caaradeed shay ka baxa, ama curdaan yeesha

Wax la cuno ama aan calashaniyo, waxaan cabbaynoo dhan

Wax codkiisu yeedhiyo waxaan, ciyi aqoonaynin

Calaamiyo wixii midab ah ee, caalamka u muuqda

Cabbirkaaga shay lihi ma jiro, ood la caantahaye

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Adigaa cilmiga soo dajiyo, diin ciraab badane

Cabdigaagii adigaa ka dhigay, nabi carfoonaaye

Cadadii qur’aankiyo adigaa, curiyey Liilaafe

Ilaahayow casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

Cindallaahi ruuxii qabee camal, fashee fiican

Een Nabiga caaradin unbaa, kheyr cantoobsada e

Halaag bay cantuugaan kuwii, aad u cadhootaaye

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Janna caaliyaad suubisay oo, laga cabbaayaaye

Cadaabkiina adigaa dhisiyo, naar ciqaab kulule

Ciyoon baad dhamaysaa wixii aad, cidhib tiraysaaye

Kaad caawinaysana dhaqsaad, u camiraysaaye

Cazaa Wajala waad og tahay, caynka aan rabo e

Adaa siiya laydh caafimaad, gaal ku caasiyeye

Caascaasna adigaa ku rida, sheekh ku caabudaye

Nina inaan cadaadshiyo ma rabo, inaan cidhiidhyaaye

Carrabna kuma idlayn karo waxaan, kaaga soo cabane

Rabbul Carshul Cadiim waad og tahay, caynka aan rabo e

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

Inkastoo cad shaydaan qalbiga, caajis galinaayo

Calooshayda kama goyn inaan, Eebe caabudo e

Citiraafay Nabigaygii oo, caashaq baan ahaye (csw)

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

Cimrigay intaan noolahee, aan carrada joogo

Ceebtiyo waxaan ugu necbahay, ciil na daashada e

Mana lihi awood celin kartiyo, xoog cadaadshaba e

Ilaahii Cirshiga nuuriyoow, waanu kuu cabane

Inaad adigu naga caawisaan, kaa codsanayaaye

[xiinfaniin]

This should have been one of the Hang Verses in the old Arab tradition

 

 

Aan cabbaar tilmaamaha cuddoon, sii carcooriyo e

Caddaan fiila cawl iyo guduud, amaa cillaan miida

Casaan boosa maarriin canbara, ama cawiif booda

Madoow culaya sugul caynaba, oo ciiriyo bay leh

Xareed calasa ciid iyo asal, ama cagaar dooga

Caarcaar shabeel ama sidii, calawyo giirgiiran

Cir guduud qaboonoo kaliyo, cawo iyo maalin

Cadar ama cadceedoo kaliyo, sidii roobab curanaaya

Caadkiyo daruuraha dhulkiyo, ciirigii badaha

Codcod subaga caaniyo baruur, cuddo iyo jiidhba

Laan caaradeed shay ka baxa, ama curdaan yeesha

Wax la cuno ama aan calashaniyo, waxaan cabbaynoo dhan

Wax codkiisu yeedhiyo waxaan, ciyi aqoonaynin

Calaamiyo wixii midab ah ee, caalamka u muuqda

Cabbirkaaga shay lihi ma jiro, ood la caantahaye

Ilaahayow Casiis baad tihiyo, caadilkii jira e

 

PS. and Ramdan Kareem, waryaaya ha lays cafiyo

[Baashi]

Allah yarhama. I like his jacbur pretty much.

 

Dhabayaco laad ku dhacay ooy ku yara liicday

 

Hee -- that was a nice and legendary dig against **ees and their never-ending tookh. The one he composed for Inna Siyad Barre will also go down in Somali Maano history.

 

Geedkii uu fuulaba, ninkaan badhi taaraayey,

Anna [something] ila gooyey baan gacalkay moodaayey!

[xiinfaniin]

^^

 

Markuu caga gubyeysnaa ninkaan jaamaha u galiyey

Isaguna kabtaydii gubaan gacalkay moodaayey

Markuu geed koraayaba ninkaan badhi-gantaalaayey

Isna laanta ila goynayaan gacalka moodaayey

Gabadhuu jeclaadiyo ninkaan gaaridaw mehershay

Isna taydii iga guursadaan gacalkay moodaayey

Guri aan furaashiyo ninkaan gogol macaan seexshay

Isna dhaxanta igu guuliyaan gacalkay moodaayey

Gurgurshaaga kii aan u rareen gabanada u saaray

Isna kaygii soo gowracaan gacalkay moodaayey