By Faisal A. Roble
On August 18, 2022, death finally came to the man Somalis have known by his seven-letter nickname, Hadrawi. Death comes for some early; for others it arrives late in life. Nonetheless, there is no perfect time. As Muslims, when death befalls our loved ones, we instructively lament “Inaa Lilaahi Wa Inaa Ilayhi Raajicuun,” “Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return.”
Described by some as our “shed,” “an illuminating light,” “a teacher,” “an entertainer,” “a river of wisdom,” and “a last resort counsel,” others read Hadrawi as a revolutionary poet, an anti autocratic rule, an environmentalist, and a conscious pan-Africanist.
To those in the niche of the art world, he was a Warhol type bohemian avant-garde playwrite who cared less for worldly wealth. It is no wonder, therefore, he died penniless. Thus go his words (translation is mine):
Waxan ahay Nin Hodanoo, Hayntana ka maranoo
Adoo igu hammiyayaad, waxba ii huraynoo
Halac laygu dhaafiyo, Gacan-haadis mooyee
Qofna iima hagar baxo;
Adduunyadu Hir weeyoo, Hanti uma dudaayee
Halse iga dardaarana, Nafta haysan maynoo
Mar quray hallowdaa, Furataa Hoggaankee
Dadka ii Han weynow, Marka aad i hoysaan
Waa in lay hagoogtaa, waxan Hiil ka geli jirey
ama Hoo ka tari jirey, Hengel lagu tix-geliyaa
Hadhow lay xasuustoo, Hebel lay yiraahdaa.
I am a wealthy guy, yet oblivious to the material world,
You claim to care for me, yet unwilling to treat me well,
No one offers me comfort, but fire and fake greetings;
Life is transient, lest I care less for its trappings,
When I uncermoniously depart for good,
sing my songs, then offer me a simple burial.
Owing to their Islamic faith and pastoral culture, mobility and simplicity are discernable attributes to Somalis. So did he desire us to not dwell on his death but instead bid him farewell with a nameless indistinguishable grave site. He wanted a common man’s burial event.
Irrespective of geography, gender and genealogy, Somalis celebrated his life and contributions to literature. By far, his songs are the most listened to and most recited. Every Somali could tell you when they first heard a song composed by Hadrawi.
For me, it was “Baladweyn.” In 1973, at a wedding in Jigjiga, the song was played multiple times. As a teanager, It took me a while to get it. Soon, I was hooked to it, and within days I was able to memorize the entire verses. It was and still is a song for love and romance.
Poetry is to Somalis what Jazz is to Americans.The eccentric 19th century British traveler, Sir. Richard Burton, called Somalis “a nation of poets.” The late I.M Lewis, while conversing with a bunch of Somali nomads, talked about Britain’s homage to Shakespeare. After listening to the bard’s accolades, one listener retorted “Sheikh Zubeyr,” Somalizing “Shakespear,” must have been Somali. Another Somali is reportedly wondering whether Shakespear could match “Hadrawi.”
An extraordinaire poet and a playwright, Hadrawi was at the top of the list of “nation of poets.” In person, he was not your electrifying speaker. Soft-spoken with simple words, he was humble and your typical story-telling African sage sitting under an acacia tree. In poetry and plays, though, he was complex, abstract, illustrative, and many a times as contrarian on Somali issues as was Zora Neale Hurtson on American race questions. He gave comfort to activists and with equal zeal discomfort to authoritarian rulers. He was our warrior in the spoken word.
In “Hooyoy la aanta,” or “Without you, mama,” Hadrawi was an advocate for women. Behind the lyrics of this revered song is a fascinating story which he described in an interview he gave several years ago. It is about a mother’s dignity and her resolve in a tough and hostile situation, and how she is able to safeguard her baby’s interest and dignity.
The piercing and powerful words by which he is paying homage to motherhood as the consummate creature to nurture us is unparalleled. Thus he says: “without mother, neither a hero, a scientist, an astronaut, nor a warrior will be celebrated amongst us.” With much adulation, he describes the majestic power of breastfeeding as the ultimate tool for calming a jittery child. God gave to women heavenly powers, he conveys.
To political junkies, he was the unyeiling revolutionary and anti autocratic rule. In the early days of military rule, Hadrawi foresaw the scramble and state capture by unscrupulous petty bourgeoisie leaders that may ultimately balkanize Somalia. In “Hal la qalay raqdeed,” or “a butchered she-camel” he was prophetic about the looming destruction of Somalia. His prediction came true in 1990 and beyond when Somalia fall mercilessly skinned off and parcel into self-destructing entities:
“Hal la qalay raqdeed baa
Lagu soo qamaamoo,
Qalalaasihii baa Ninba qurub haleeloo,
Laba waliba qaybteed
Qorraxday ku dubatoo,
As they rushed to get a bite of the carcass
The butchered she-camel is skinned off,
In the commotion of loot of her meet,
Each managed to gobble a piece of the pry,
To decidedly roast it in the hot blazing sun.
Poems like “Indhabadan,” or “The multiple eyed,” or “dhulgariir,” or “Earthquake,” are powerful epic poems left to be analyzed for years to come by literature students. His work is estimated to be over hundred songs, poems, and plays. Amaaguul.com indexed about 75 poems and songs of Hadrawi.
I will be doing a disservice to Hadrawi if I forget what I call the towering trio of Hargeisa plus one who introduced modern defiant literature. Four Somalilanders including Hadrawi, Mohamed Hashi Dhamac (Gariye), Abdi Adan Haad (Qays), and Said Salah pioneered the birth of what became Siinlay.
The epic poems of “Siinley,” which officially started in 1973 by a poem which was meant to respond to a song Abdi Qays coined as far back as 1970 marked the beginning of the end of an era – Military rule in Somalia.
With Hadrawi’s Saxarla, which was meant to respond to Qays’ mystical “Aakhirow Halkeebaad Naga Xigtaa?” or “where is the hereafter,” a national movement to undo Barre’s autocratic rule was set in motion. Aakhiro was a code word for Barre’s prison system. Sensing how damaging the words of Hadrawi were, Barre tried to silence him, but to no availe. Only he became silent when God’s siren called him to his ultimate home.
Rest in Peace our own Shakespear. We will keep your fire burning forever.
Faisal A. Roble
Email: [email protected]
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Faisal Roble, a writer, political analyst and a former Editor-in-Chief of WardheerNews, is mainly interested in the Horn of Africa region. He is currently the Principal Planner for the City of Los Angeles in charge of Master Planning, Economic Development and Project Implementation Division.
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