galbeedi Posted November 23, 2015 Landcruiser Gado soo bari galeey ( begging for corn while buying land cruiser-SUVs) This Somali classic song was composed by one of the greatest Somali composer of our times (Allah ha u Naxariistee), abwaan Cabdi Muxumed Amiin. He was born in Gabiley town, in the north west of Somalis. Although he was born in that city, his ancestral homeland stretches from Wajaale to Jigjiga. He is a close relative of another great singer and Somali patriot , Saynab Xaaji Cali Baxsan. Waa da lagu yaqaano wadaniyada iyo Soomaalinimada. He moved to Mogadishu in the middle of fifties. Unlike many composers and playwright creators of his era, he was both an actor, singer, composer and activist. He acted and sang on many famous playwrights like "Shabeel Naagood" and others. He started making lyrics and sang them in early sixties to encourage the nascent Somali state. He was a typical Somali with unlimited pride , generosity and courage. On the other hand, he was unpredictable and with a lot of contradictions. You could describe him: very bright, proud, challenging, naive, nomadic, unstable and patriot who cared a lot about his country. Higher expectations and unearned material gains sought by the public ,frustrated the early leaders of the new Somali government of 1960. Almost everyone wanted quick progress and the easy life style without working hard. The famous poet Qasim from Hargeisa said " Isma Doorin Gaal kaan diriyo Daarta kii Galaye", many others compared the new government as fat cats whom are not that much different from the old colonial era regime they have replaced. In his last interview, he said " we all thought that gaining independence and the formation of the Somali state was just the icing of the cake . " In la Barwaaqaysanayo oo sida Raha loo damaashaadayo iyadoon la daalin ayaa lawada sugayey". That sentiment was almost universal among the Somalis of that era. Unlike many intellectuals of his era, Muxumad Amiin encouraged the nation to move forward and composed his early songs which he called : keep the caravan to victory " Guulaystayaalow Gediga Wadaay". Dadki nala gudboonaa dayax hiigsadac Guulaystayaalow gedigaa wadaay. When the revolution of October came to power 1969, he overjoyed like most Somalis of his era,and considered the military government as the ultimate revenge of the people against the corrupt civilian government. He expressed his joy and feeling toward the revolution and it's leader by composing the famed song " Caynaaka hay". Wadadii Cadayd Cagta Saarnayoo , ku caraabiyoo cimirigi jiryoow, jiryow jiryow, caynaaka hay haay haay weliga hay , hay hay hay. President Siyaad Barre, called him after he heard the song from the radio and asked him what he wishes to get from the government. Unlike many Somalis of his era, he refused any special treatment or material gifts fro the state. In the early years of the revolution, a lot has been achieved throughout the country. both the prestige of the nation and it's people peeked. Somali artists and composers led the cultural and propaganda of The Kacaan. A progressive and outward looking Somalia was emerging. . Almost everyone was proud about the Somalia of nineteen seventies. Among his famous patriotic songs he composed were: hadaanay geesiyaal u dhiman xornimo kuma dhawaqaneen hadaan dhimasho loo marin jamuuriyad ma dhalinineen Alaa Allaa Allahu Akbar.. Baxsan sings.... Dhalin yahay dhmaanteen dhulka maw shaqaynaa ha ha dhalin yahay dhamaanteen cududa ma isu dhiibnaa ha ha dhalin yahay dhamanteen dhagxumada ma diidnaa ha ha Alaa Alaa allahu Akbar. Ahmed Naaji answers... shanta in lays dhex keeno, dhashooduu wada ciyaartyo gumaysigana diidno , aduunkana u dhaxayno ayaa inoo dhignaan. hadaan murtida la dhuuxin oo an la dhigin afkeena oo aan shishiiye dhawro dhana u ciirsan mayno Dalxiis kaagamaan iman dalkaygow. The late Fadumo Qasim sings this song.. dalxiis kaagaman iman dalkaygow meel aan kugu doorsanaayo dalkaygow miyey dunidaba ku taal dalkaygow dabshaadu way udgoon tahay dalkaygoow in aan dibedha wareego dalkaygow Qaxooti in aan ahaado dalkaygow Then, the debacle and the defeat of 1977 war changed both the moral of the army and the nation. The dormant opposition tried to take advantage of the situation by launching a coup against the regime. That coup was aborted and the instigators were crushed. That event of April 1978, started the beginning of the decline and the Somali quagmire that we are all trying to sort out up this day. The great artists and many of his contemporaries felt disillusioned with the October revolution. By following their emotions, and without careful consideration of their actions, , they decided to cross the border and oppose the regime and join the Ethiopia based movements of SSDF and SNM. While opposing Siyaad Barre was a logical move, the idea of being hosted by Menguistu , the bloodiest dictator in Africa was absolutely the biggest blunder the Somali opposition groups had made. Menguistu was in a league with ruthless dictators of the twentieth century. He murdered more than sixty generals in one day, killed two presidents and massacred 90 Somali businessmen and elders in Jigjiga alone in 1977.. That shows how some of the opposition movements were not interested in reforms or democracy, but tribal hegemony to replace Siyaad Barre. They left a benevolent , some what ruthless dictator and joined a real blood thirsty dictator of their time. Abdi Muxumad Amiin was not among those disgruntled for tribal reasons. He said " I made a contract with revolution to build the country with justice , fairness and move forward, " I felt the October revolution was not living up to his side of the bargain". Another two patriots who felt that the revolution was leading in a wrong direction were Iikar Xaaji Mohamed Husein and C/Raxman Aideed. The later was the architect of the scientific socialism in Somalia. iikar was the son of the former leader of SYL Xaaji Mohamed Husein from Benadir. In Somalia of sixties and seventies, being the son of one of the founding members of the 13 SYL members, was something special. Also, unlike public perception, the Benadiri community were always at the for front of the Somali independence movement. Among the 13 SYL founders, three were Benadiri, among them, the first leader of SYL: Chairman C/qadir Saqawadiin, Dhere Xaaji Dheere and vice chair Mohamed Husein. A/raxman Aideed founded one of the movements called SDF. For these groups, the revolution was not living up to it's founding principle of equal justice and meritocracy for all. These three were true patriots who made big miscalculations. They were different from those who motivated by " Rag Ciil Cadaab Buu ka Doortaa". In October 18, 1984, these innocent men, who were trying to change the direction of the country, were shot in Harrar, Ethiopia while walking. An assassin's bullet killed C/raxman Aideed and Iikar Xaaji Mohamed while Abdi Muxumed was left for dead but survived. No one knows who did it, but definitely SSDf leaders were accused of the crime. A prolific writer by the name of Boobe Yuusuf Duale, who was present in the neighborhood, said that A/laahi Yusuf was the culprit. After he survived three bullet wounds, he went to south Yemen in exile. Bored, disolutioned and devastated, he composed a song called " Maxaan Kaligay Hamiyey" Maxaan Kaligay hamiyey Kuwii hill iigu xigay Hareertay maxaan ka deyey Muxuu igu dumay habeen Maxay Ilmo hibiq I tidhi. Why would a Somali artist with relatively good life and fame , enjoying what ever perks the nation offered, decide to abandon stability and join a bloody dictator like mengistu?. It is a question many have asked throughout the years. Every historian would probably answer with his own conclusions. I never have seen anyone do a credible research on the subject , but my few senses tell me that each group or opposition has it's own reasons. While tribal grievances always lead to the formation of guerrilla movements , others have their own personal reasons to wage war against the regime. One could say that those who where persecuted and humiliated , like members of the coup, could be justified to seek outside help, although going to Mengistu was the biggest blunder ever made by Abdilahi Yusuf and others. For Abdi Muxumad and IIkar, who were not part of coup leaders , it was probably the naiveté of that era which led them to abandon the Kacaan and team up with Mengistu. we all call that time " the age of innocence". Also living in Mogadishu probably blurred their vision. One who is sipping coffee in the relatively upscale neighborhood of the capital, might not realize the consequences of their actions or the challenges the Somali nation was facing in the horn of Africa. Even today, A person who spends great deal of his time in Xamar , could not have the big vision of seeing, Hargeisa, Jigjiga, Ceerigaabo and Zaylac , or the greatness of the vast land of the country. The same goes with Hassan Sheekh ,who is content to be called President while hiding inside the Amisom Tank. As he narrated, he left Yemen for Djibouti in 1987, coinciding with the visit Siyaad Barre made to Djibouti that same year. The Somali intelligence service in Djibouti made the necessary arrangements and finally Abdi Muhumad met Siyad Barre. They chatted for few minutes and the President told him that every thing is forgiven and forgotten, so he asked him to come back home. In fact, he told him to ride with him on the same airplane the President was travelling. Muhumad accepted , but since he was away from home for almost seven years with no money, he wanted to scrap some money in Djibouti. But, The President insisted and asked the Somali ambassador to give him some pocket money. finally he flew back home. While Siyaad Barre was ruthless in so many ways, he wasn't someone who holds grudge against those who opposed him. As history has shown , he appointed ministers, even Prime minister for those same guys he imprisoned. Abdi Muhumad started a new life in a country that changed since he left in the early eighties. Inflation was rampant, those who were connected with the government were getting rich. The value of the Somali shilling was reduced ten times to encourage export , while the IMF auctioned American dollars were looted and flooded to the market. From 1981 to 1990 , Somalia received almost $ 2Billion of foreign loan. The five regions of the Somali speaking world ascended to the nations capital. Mogadishu became the place to be. By 1989-90, While security was deteriorating in some regions , the streets of Mogadishu were filled by latest luxury cars : land cruisers, Mercedes's , and all models of SUVs. Yet the country was begging stable foods like corn and canola oil. As geneis as Muhumad was, he composed the now famous song " Land cruiser Gado Soo barri Galay". The late Somali star Saado Cali Warsame sings the song. Land Kuruuser gado Soo Barri galay. Gacal iyo tolow ma gudoonsateen bahida gudbani gurigeena tall inagoon ka guban ka guban gaadhi raaxo iyo land kuruuser gado guuxiisa mood mood mood Gob in add ku tahay geeska Afrikoow. Waa maan guracan iyo garasho jaahil Land kuruuser gado Soo barri galay. After twenty five years , this song is timeless. Fat Somali leaders are ridding land cruisers while the Somali soldier is without salary. In memory of Abdi Muhumad Amiin who passed away November 2008. Allah ha u Naxariisto. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mooge Posted November 24, 2015 galbeedi, welcome niyoow. niyoow, my opinion is that Siyaad was opportunist who has no good for somali people. he was power hungry, he wanted to rule hard and silence everyone else and he never hid that from anyone. he did nothing to stop corruption. the highest corruption somali people can experience is the corruption of conscience and siyaad's era was the worst. everyone was out to get something and this time, one president empowered his small clan and let them go unchecked to abuse everyone else niyoow. it is almost like nobody else was allowed to live niyoow. lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
galbeedi Posted November 24, 2015 Mooge waan ku salaamay. as I said before, the corruption thing was in the mind of the people. Under the civilian government, people were free and there was slow and steady progress. There were disconnection between the people and the government. Communist influences also exasperated the issue. people demanded illogical things and the Kacaan took advantage of the grievances. At the end, the looting of public funds and the impunity of those connected to the ruling class brought down the system. That is what MUhumad was talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
