Camels and Poets, opinion

Qaylo Dhaan: A dialogue between the Somali Flag and Dr. Abdirahman Beileh

December 8, 2007December 8, 2007
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Qaylo Dhaan: A dialogue between the Somali Flag and Dr. Abdirahman Beileh

Dr. Abdirahman Beileh

Dear Folks,

I would like to share with you this short note as a preamble to the song attached below called Qaylo Dhaan. Qaylo Dhaan is a culmination of a long dialogue, over a period of about 14-15 years, between the Somali flag (the Blue one with the white star in the middle) and Dr. Abdirahman Beileh (myself). This dialogue was taking place, intermittently, during occasions of important international/regional meetings, conferences, and summits where high level national representatives from Africa and from relevant institutions, seated gracefully behind their national flags, debated national issues and promoted their own respective interests. The dialogue took place in these meetings when the two of us met representing two different entities, the Flag representing the Somali Republic and me representing the institution I work for (the African Development Bank).

Somali flag

In these meetings, I often delivered statements and/or participated in discussions on behalf of the Bank. During the deliberations of each of these conferences, we would, once in a while, have eye contacts with the occasional nod or two signifying recognition of each other’s presence. The Flag would always be sitting there quietly and desolately, squeezed and barely noticeable, between the Rwandan delegation on the left, and that of South Africa on the right. You have to look hard to recognize its existence, especially as the seat is always empty. During the earlier years, say 1994 to just about 1999, various groups would show up, each one claiming the right to occupy the seat, with sometimes a scuffle or two between them over the seat, and in the process violently damaging both the flag and the chair. The organizers would then arrive, with security personnel, and decidedly order all groups to leave the premises. The flag would then be folded up and put away with the chair moved to a remote corner somewhere outside the debate area. This normally happened when such important meetings took place somewhere in the Horn.

More recently, however, the look on the face of the flag and the eye contact have appeared noticeably much more hostile towards me than before, to an extent that it made me nervous at the podium delivering a prepared statement or during my participation in discussions. He often frowned at me with visible anger and disdain towards me. I first noticed this in the Food Security conference held by the African Ministers of Agriculture and Water in Libreville Gabon on November 28-29 2006. In this conference, I spoke about what the African Development can do to assist African countries in their efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals on Food and Poverty reduction. The flag’s gaze at me was so intense that I had to disguise my discomfort by taking frequent sips of water with short coughs! I succeeded to restrain myself and the meeting was concluded without any physical contact between us. I occasionally concluded that this was harassment and that I should perhaps draw it to the attention of the organizers. But then, the better part of me commanded that I gave more credence to our blood ties, and thus I should refrain from taking any action against Him.

After the conclusion of this meeting, all delegations participating in the Libreville Conference moved to Abuja Nigeria, where Heads of State Summit was convened on December 4th and 5th 2006 to deliberate on and endorse the outcome of the Libreville Ministerial meeting. There we met again! But this time, because of the expectation of a Head of State, the Flag was mightier in size and more imposing. In addition, the Somali delegation (supposedly led by the head of state) was seated very close to the podium and the high table. As I took a position at the high table, I immediately faced the all-imposing blue flag with the big white, and very bright star, right on my left shoulder looking at me as more disdainful to me as ever.

This session was not a very productive one for me but, at least, I made an effort to concentrate on what I had to say. Within this session, I decided that as soon the session broke for coffee, I would politely approach Him and ask him what sort of problems He had with me!

So I did! as soon as the Chairman, adjourned the session, I got up and directly walked up to Him, very nervously, not knowing what His reaction would be towards me. I quietly shook his hand and hastened to assure Him that I was not there to fight Him like the others in the past, but simply came to say hello! As I sat down with him, we were joined by two ladies who later on told us they were refugees living in Abuja but recruited temporarily to assist in the organization of the meeting. We all talked and confirmed our origins to each other all speaking in the language: iska warrama? Waa nabade idinkuna? Alla mahaddii and so on and so forth..

I then said “ But, Flag, we have been meeting over the years without talking to each other”…” I am happy that we now started talking to each other”…. “Let me just ask you…”

And this song then started expressing these feelings. The ladies also took part in the song!!

QAYLO-DHAAN

Beydkii koobaad

Dr. Beileh (1)

  1. Calanyohow qanddoodaa
  2. Sida qaanso roobaad
  3. Amma kaynta qadawgoo
  4. Inta uu qayood helay
  5. illimuhu qulqulayaan
  6. quruxdaadu badanaa
  7. maxaa qiimo kugu ladhan
  8. in aad qaayo leedahay
  9. qalbigaygu kula jiro
  10. anaa kuu qiraayoo
  11. naftu kuu qushuucdee
  12. bal qabsoo ha yeeshee
  13. qambaruursigaagiyo
  14. isha qoodha daymada
  15. igu soo qallocdiyo
  16. qoolaabnidaadaa
  17. qulub igu abuurtoo
  18. igu dhalisay qarowgee
  19. anaa kuu qareen ehe
  20. maxaan ku qabtaa sheeg

Calanka (1)

  1. waxan qoomameeyaa
  2. weli quuddarreeyaa
  3. qun-u-dhalasadaydii
  4. ballantii ad qaaddiyo
  5. qorshahaan samaynniyo
  6. hilbahaygan kala qalan
  7. quruxdiyo hankaygii
  8. qolqollada magaalada
  9. waxan qoorta fidinjiray
  10. xiddigaha ku qaydnnaa
  11. qarinjiray daruuraha
  12. hadba laanta qawlka ah
  13. qoollaalligaygii
  14. debintoon qaniiniyo
  15. ma qaxootibay xigay
  16. maxaad haatan ii qaban
  17. ma adaan ikala qubin
  18. qudhu ha’iga socotoo
  19. maruun aan qarsoomee
  20. qarka ma’iska tuuraa

Hoorintii Hablaha

  1. calankan qaayaha lahoow
  2. qudhada badhkeediyoow
  3. waxaan kuu qabo jacayl
  4. qiyaas kuma koobi karo
  5. hadday caanuhu qubtaan
  6. illayn dabadood la qabay
  7. waxaan diray qaylo-dhaan
  8. saadaal wacan baan qabaa
  9. sidaa ku-calool qabow

Beytkii Labaad

Dr. Beileh (2)

  1. shirkan qaabka loo wacay
  2. qasdigiisu uu yahay
  3. quruumaha adduunyadu
  4. danahooda qaaska ah
  5. in ay wada qorsheeyaan
  6. qaadaa-dhigaan talo
  7. arrimo isla qaataan
  8. qaran jira in aad tahay
  9. hadday kugu qiyaaseen
  10. sidaa kugu qadariyeen
  11. madal kugu qotomiyeen
  12. haddaad qaawantahay weli
  13. qaladkooda maahee
  14. waxa guuldarrada qaba
  15. qoolkuna dulsudhanyahay
  16. qoonkaad u dhalatee
  17. qaybsani ka doorbiday
  18. qarannimada wadareed
  19. garoo qoontu waa taa
  20. maxaan kuu qabtaa sheeg

Calankii (2)

  1. Qaran jabay miyaan ahay!
  2. Waxaan beero qodanjiray
  3. Quudinjiray adduunyada
  4. Qaddarkay* ma liicoo
  5. Qayrkay ma tuugsaday
  6. Qaraamaad ma urursady
  7. Qacda waranka feedaha
  8. Qaniinyada halka I mudan
  9. Weli maan qandhaysnahay!
  10. Sida qaanso oo kale
  11. Ma u soo qallocasamay
  12. Qufac ioy xanuun iyo
  13. miyaan qaaxo weheshaday
  14. ma qaxootigiibaa
  15. bahaluhu ku quutaan!
  16. maxaad haatan ii qaban
  17. ma adaan ikala qubin
  18. qudhu ha’iga socotoo
  19. maruun aaan qarsoomee
  20. qarka ma’iska tuuraa

Hoorintii habalaha

  1. calankan qaayaha lahoow
  2. qudhada badhkeediyoow
  3. waxaan kuu qabo jacayl
  4. qiyaas kuma koobi karo
  5. hadday caanuhu qubtaan
  6. illayn dabadood la qabay
  7. waxaan diray qaylo-dhaan
  8. saadaal wacan baan qabaa
  9. sidaa ku-calool qabow

Beytkii 3aad

Dr.Beileh (3)

  1. wax la yidhi qiyaamuhu
  2. marka uu qariib yahay
  3. qaab lagu gartaa jira
  4. hadal aad ku qanacdiyo
  5. qiso aan ku siiyoon
  6. kuu qaboojo laabtee
  7. qun-u-dhalashadaadii
  8. nimankii ku qaabbilay
  9. qalbigooga kuu furay
  10. kuwii dhiigga kuu qubay
  11. kuu qaaday heesaha
  12. qof hadduu ka noolyahay
  13. sedan uma qatalanteen
  14. qaawanaan ma mudateen
  15. ilmo kaama qubateen
  16. qawyada majebiseen
  17. qandho iyo xanuun iyo
  18. jirro kuma qardoofteen
  19. anaa kuu qareen ehe
  20. mxaan kuu qabtaa sheeg

Calankii (3)

  1. qoran weeyi geeridu
  2. qofna waari maayee
  3. qabri lama huraayee
  4. haddii qaamudkood galay
  5. qiso ma aha yeeblee
  6. maxaa qaatay ubixii?
  7. qalinkiyo tawaaddii?
  8. qorijirey ummuuraha
  9. qarankiyo dadkisii
  10. qarada iyo laxaadkii
  11. quwaddiyo itaalkii
  12. la’igu wada qaddarinjiray
  13. qoomiyad jacaylkii
  14. Qarshe iyo dirkiisii
  15. qasiidooyinkoodii
  16. qawlkii halyeygii
  17. qammaammuurtii waberi
  18. qabanqaabadoodii
  19. maxa qaatay ee helay?
  20. miyay iga qatoobeen?

Hoorintii habalaha

  1. calankan qaayaha lahoow
  2. qudhada badhkeediyoow
  3. waxaan kuu qabo jacayl
  4. qiyaas kuma koobi karo
  5. hadday caanuhu qubtaan
  6. illayn dabadood la qabay
  7. waxaan diray qaylo-dhaan
  8. saadaal wacan baan qabaa
  9. sidaa ku-calool qab

Beytkii afraad

Dr. Beileh (4)

  1. Talo wey qallibantoo
  2. waxa qaatay beledkii
  3. qasnadihii la oogsaday
  4. qawleysataa timid
  5. yamyam iyo qadaad weyn
  6. quraafaadka beenta ah
  7. qaybqaybta maahda ah
  8. qalbiyada daciifka ah
  9. ku qadhaabanaysoo
  10. qofna aan canyn iyo
  11. ilma qaabaqowsyeyn
  12. qisadeennu waa taas
  13. waxan kugu qancinayaa
  14. qiil kaaga dhigayaa
  15. in kastooy qadhaadhahay
  16. Qadder weeye eebbee
  17. inaad qaadataa furan
  18. anaa kuu qareenoo
  19. kula qaadi heestii
  20. maxaan ku qabytaa sheeg

Calankii (4)

  1. waxaan quudhsanjirey beri,
  2. ka qashaafijiray hore
  3. qasab ma igu noqotoo
  4. dani ma igu qabatoo
  5. dullinimo ma qaayibay !
  6. qayrkay ma tuugsaday!
  7. ma hantiyay cad* (hilib) quudheed
  8. Qacda waranka feedaha
  9. Qaniinyada halka i mudan
  10. Weli maan qandhaysnahay!
  11. Waabay qadhaadh iyo
  12. ma qantuugay jahanama
  13. wakhtigaa is qallibayee
  14. anay qoontu igu taal
  15. maxaad haatan ii qaban
  16. ma adaan ikala qubin
  17. qudhu ha’iga socotoo
  18. maruun aaan qarsoomee
  19. qarka ma’iska tuuraa

Hoorintii habalaha

  1. calankan qaayaha lahoow
  2. qudheyda badhkeediyoow
  3. intaan kuu qabo jacayl
  4. qiyaas kuma koobi karo
  5. hadday caanuhu qubtaan
  6. illayn dabadood la qabay
  7. waxxa diray qaylo dhaan
  8. aadaal waxcan baan qabaa
  9. sidaa ku-calool qabow

Dr. Abdirahman Beileh
———————————————–
*Qaddar: hadhuudhka beerta ku yaal ee laqanka ah ee aan weli bislaan
*CAD: Hilib and CAD (caddaan)

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