By Soleiman Egeh

May 21, 2006

I would like to start my Somaliland Independence commemorations with Mohamed Suleiman's 1960 Master Piece-song.

Waa Mahad Alee Malalootigii Meesha Daran Ka kimid Maantaba Haday Ina Magan Sadeen, Wa Mahad Alee Madaxeen Banaan, Wa Mahad Alee Madaxeen Banaan.

"Quotes"

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed-else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots., it will wither and die" Dwight D. (Eisenhower-president of the United States).

"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious than to be able to decide" (Napoleon Bonaparte).

18th of May-1991, Is Another 26 th June-1960!

Introduction:

1960 was an era of huge jubilation, bondless joy, spirit of communities, tribalism was almost on a precipitous wane. it was time of unprecedented solidarity which if nurtured, channeled and properly exploited, may be within 10 years of 1960, clannism may have evaporated altogether. It was a time when people have unlimited energy enthusiasm amid motivation to change their nations and the world.

In 1960, six years passed since the transfer of Haud and reserved to imperial Ethiopia, about 400 years since the fall of the Adel empire and its legendary king-Imam Ahmed Bin Ibrahim(Gurey), Sayla was in a rapid decline for about 20 years. India, Great Britain's imperial big ticket became has been an independent country for 12 years. Prior to 1960, only Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Liberia were the only independent countries in Africa. A huge junk of countries became independent in 1960. Somaliland was among those countries

This was a time of great optimism, hope, euphoria and huge expectations. The love of liberty, fraternity and equality was vivid in the lyrics of all the songs and the great poetic works of the day.

The wind of independence was also blowing through the length and the breadth of the vast African continent. From Cape town to Cairo, Cape Verde to the Comoros, People were gripped with an aura of independence fervor and were engulfed by jubilation, joy and superfluous happiness. The tectonic plate tremors of freedom and the demand for justice and equity for all have shaken the whole landscape of the continent.

That spirit vividly expressed in Mohamed Suleiman's afore-said lyrics, was unfortunately dashed by a 30 years of corrupt governments and absolute dictatorship. The people of this land finally succeeded to regain their independence in the 18Th of May, 1991, following a long and bitter struggle, where thousands of martyrs lost their lives. The struggle for independence turned vicious when the ousted despot Siyad Barre have mercilessly bombed Somaliland's large cities into a rubble.

In 1960, the legendary Walaala Hargeysa Artists were at the pinnacle of their career, and composed an unprecedented chain reaction of award winning songs. Nobody has composed of such high quality, and high volume songs after the independence era of 1960.

In general Somali Nationalism was also at all time highs in every corner of the Somali-inhabiting lands of the Horn of Africa. This was a time of great superfluous joy and great delight and limitless energy. It was a time of tremendous solidarity, brotherhood, harmony and selfless cooperation and magnanimity.

The poets, the playwrights, drama composers, musicians, singers, songsters and the other creative people have been spewing the best of their works.

Here are is a short synopsis of 1960's songs and poems The late Halimo Khalif Magol (may Allah bless her soul) was thundering with her golden voice words such as:

"Maanta Maanta Maanta Wa Maalin Wayne Maanta Maanta Maanta Madaxeen Banaane Maanta".

In the words of Mohamed Yusuf: "Dharaartaan Waxyeeladii Dhaqdhaqee, Caalankan Dhidbay Saw Masoo Dhicinay".

In the powerful words of Abdillahi Suldan (Timacdde's) legendary 1960s Independence poem:

" Saqdaxaynu Ahayne, Sayruuqii Afrikaadaw, Soomaalu Alan Taagta Sakay Inoo Gu Horayseh, An Siduu Yahay Eegnee Kana Siib Kana Saaray."

That was a time of great optimism, hope, euphoria and huge expectations. The love of liberty, fraternity and equality was vivid in the lyrics of the great poetic works of the day.

1960 was no different than the times Mahatma Gandhi, and Mohamed Ali Ginah were leading tens of millions of their people from the darkness of colonialism, oppression and serfdom into freedom, light and liberty. It was a time when people have unlimited energy, enthusiasm and the motivation to change their nations and the world for the better.

The Algerian revolution was at its pinnacle and its recalcitrant colonial power-France was on the very verge of giving it up. A revolutionary Egypt led by pan-Arabist hero-Abdi Nassir just warded off the invasion of the tripartite alliance of Britain, France, Israel and nationalized the Suez canal in 1956. Syria and Egypt amicably separated.

The civil rights movement was in a full swing. Massive demonstrations were mushrooming through out the major urban centers of the United States. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King was leading the civil rights movement here in the United States. The Godfather of soul was roaring “say loud I am black and proud."

Franz Fannon ( a pan-Africanist writer of Color) famous book-The wretched of the earth was a world-wide best seller.

The preeminent agitator of all times Dr. W. B. Dubious the architect of the oldest civil rights movement and the founder of the NAACP (National Association of All Colored People), was in his twilight and living his last days in exile in Dr. Kwami Nkrumah's Ghana, the first independent African country.

Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and his Cuban Liberation Movement have just victoriously marched into Havana and easily ousted the U.S. backed the Dictator-Batiste.

This was a time of stupendous agitation for freedom, independence, civil rights, political participation and equal rights for all the oppressed people around the globe. This was not different then the declaration of independence of the United States of America in 1776 in Philadelphia, when a small group of visionaries s such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and others came together started drafting the United States constitution.

May 18, 1991

All of a sudden in 1991, the long lost hope came back again, people start rebuilding their devastated communities. The time of great happiness, sense of community, neighbor helping neighbor started trickling back again. The time of tremendous solidarity, brotherhood, harmony and selfless cooperation and magnanimity was back again. The time shattered dreams, sense of security, trust appeared to be returning again.

Since 1991, the people of this land were building the structures for a modern democratic nation state. The country has two elected houses of parliament, an elected president who is the head of the executive branch of the government, a relatively independent judiciary including a supreme court, a robust functioning police force and a free media. Half a dozen civil rights organizations and Think Thanks are also operational. With just grass roots efforts and the spirit of civic selflessness and volunteerism, The masses also built three major Universities, several colleges and a reasonably functioning K-12 education system, and finally an Ottawa, Canada based Rural Community Education program run by volunteers. This feels, smells, looks and sounds like 1960 all over again.

In contrast in Somalia, sadly the country's has been curved by uncompromising, despotic warlords who are embroiled in a perpetual state of anarchy, wanton violence, kidnapping and chaos. Recently a large scale fighting that bitted the Mogadishu warlords against local Islamist groups called the Islamic courts, have costed more than 140 people. The Embagatti formed government is still holed up in Baidawa, because the warlords have stopped them from doing so. To sum it up we pray for our brothers to form a representative government, that may bring some semblance of law and order, that may in turn creates an atmosphere conducive for peaceful reconciliation for all the warring factions in Mogadishu and elsewhere. Somaliland's success, recognition and development is an asset for all Somali-speaking people in the Horn of Africa.

AU challenge

At the present the AU is faced with a huge challenge, because as of now there is no legal reason for not recognizing Somaliland. Therefore, It is up to the AU as to how they can fairly resolve this important and urgent issue. Apparently, there is no reasonable justification what so ever, why the AU will keep the status of this emerging democracy in the balance.

Poem about tribalism

Destructive, divisive and demoniac

Demoralizing, degrading and down ward race to the bottom

Deviant, deadly, despotic

Denuding, devilish, despicable

Do nothing, devastating device

Delicate, divergent and discordant

It is nothing but a demolition Derby

There is a great similarity and great deal of parallels, between the independence day of 1960, and the 18Th of May, 1991. 1960, was the first time we regained our independence from a formidable colonial power in almost one hundred years. 1991, was the first time we reclaimed our hard won independence which we have lost 30 years prior to that time. In 1960, we have won our liberty from a hated empire. In 1991, we regained our independence from a genocidal and despotic ruler and a failed union.

Conclusion

In the spirit of this great day, I would like to throw few cents of advice. I urge the honorable opposition parties not to cross the boundaries of ethics, civility and the character of the true adherents to Islam. You have the right to criticize your government but it should always be within the parameters of civility, and your criticism must be always be backed by facts and figures. Otherwise your criticism will certainly degenerate into a baseless name-calling, fabrications and personal vendetta. That will eventually come back to haunt you.

I would like to sign off with the master piece lyrics of the legendary poet and nationalist Mr. Mohamed Ismail (Barkhad Cas)

"Dhalintii Wadankiyo Dhulkaanu Nu Nahoo Dhulkaanu Nu Nahoo, Inan Nuu Dhalaniyo Inan Nuu Dhiman Noy Maantaan Waxba Nooga Dhaxaynay nay"

May Allah bless his soul Mohamed Ismail-Barkhad Cas.

Soleiman Egeh

MS-Molecular Biology, MA-Science Education