Hasan Sheikh Mumin Ever Remains the Father Of Somali Literature - By Ahmed Abib Hayir

I am here in Djibouti for my very first time ever when I came all the way from Borama, my home town, four days ago. Yesterday afternoon I was still strolling round the city with my friend, Abdale expressing all my appreciations for this coastal part on the earth.

And it was not until Abdigas, a friend joined us that I came to know about the sudden heartbreaking death of Hasan Sheikh Mumin, the great Somali playwright. His words coming hard with mourning emotions, Abdigas informed us that the BBC Somali branch broadcasted the death of Hasan sheikh Mumin at noon 2:00pm the local time.

No sooner had I heard the death of Hasan Sheikh Mumin than my mind started to encounter memories buried deep in my most treasured remembrances. I recalled when my classmates and I would sing the beloved Hasan Sheikh Mumin’s songs studied in Somali subject as the curriculum for intermediate schools. I still remember when we would sing in unison;

Gorayadu ilmaheega aroori bay dhigtaayooo
Aboodigu ku laayaaa
Shimbirtuna aroosbayIla xidho amaanbay
Ubadkeeda seexisaaa
Kala awran labaduye Edebtiyo aqoontiyo
Asluubtey isku dhaafeen
Caqligiii wanaagsaniii Itaal inuu ka roon yahay
Bal  eegooo   u fiirsadaa

I remembered with bearing strong emotions when our Somali teacher would explain what Hasan Sheikh Mumin meant his idiomatic verses in another song

Dab dhaxmooday Durdur oomay
Dawo buootay Dufan basaasay

In addition to that the announcement of Hasan Sheikh Mumin’s death coincides with my mind still holding the appreciative sense of the wisdom that contained in his play Shabeel Naagood. Only four days ago, my mother was talking to me about this play back in Borama in our evening conversation. This time expressing her admiration wildly for Hasan Sheikh Mumin, my mother was singing explaining reminiscing about this play. I don’t know whatever the strong feelings my mother holds might be for this man’s death but I guess the big space Hasan Sheikh Mumin has got in my mother’s heart.

In some other wards for me the death of Hasan Sheikh mumin not only defines how greatly I quote his wisdom to provide examples about certain life facts, but his death also marks how hungry many others and I are still to know more about his poetry.

Rasamaalka guurkiyo Raaxada aduunyada
Raaliya ninkii helaa raganimo ku faanee

These are some verses of a song made by Hasan Sheikh MumIn. I refer these words when my friends and I always ask one another to predict the tasteful sort if wife one will marry in our regular conversions.

Hasan Sheikh Mumin is from the same area where I am from. We are both from Borama. And his death hurts me the most. I am indebted to Hasan Sheikh Mumin for teaching me the richness of Somali literature and making me take pride in my Somali language, my mother’s tongue. And yes Hasan Sheikh Mumin is from Muqdisho for the people of Muqdisho, from hargeisq for the people of Hqrgiesq from Bosaso for the people of Bosaso from Baydhao for the people of Baydhoa from Djibouti for the people of Djibouti and from jijiga for the people of jijiga and,,,,,,  so long as his common approach towards poetry shapes the Somali literature, he remains respected by all Somali speaking people and his dynamic personal messages through his wisdom ever colors our lives and never goes unnoticed.

Nobody is ever honored for what he receives but honor has always been the reward for whatever virtue somebody gives. Hasan Sheikh Mumin guided his people to path of their cultural richness. Let’s name him a hero because he makes us feel proud of our Somali nationality. Let’s treasure his wisdoms in our hearts holding them in high esteem because they reflect from the nature of facts in life.

Let’s make him our teacher because he leads us to the reality through his rich and illustrative examples. And let’s name him the inspiring role model in the history of Somali poetry because he was never tired in his efforts to enrich the Somali literature. However discouraging the odds life posed him were to be though ailing and aged, parts of his latest writings remain unpublished after his death.

My emotion blocks whatever in mind I can say about the death of Hasan Sheikh Mumin, God bless him, yet retaining strong feelings I now sing the same songs of Hasan Sheih mumin the meaning of which crashes my heart. The same songs that I sang back in my intermediate school times as a young boy. And singing again from the bottom of my heart I mourn for the death of Hasan Sheikh Mumin with hearty blessings.

My the peace of Allah Abide with you We belong to Allah and to Him we shall all return

The pen of Ahmed Abib Hayir

A freelance writer

Email: ahayir89@hotmail.com