Appreciation thread ; Sheikh Sharif, the humble man

[Lamagoodle]

Irrefutably, some warlords brought long awaited peace in some parts of Somalia by applying Mafia Methodology. there some similarities between the Mafia and the Somali warlords; both of them developed in the absence of institutions of justice. They were both decentralized organizations and each district they formed their own governments. Teenage men high on drugs terrorized somalis using scare tactics amongst the people. By using these terroristic methods against peasants and the masses the warlords gained influences in the national political arenas.

So, the Carta process stalled and Somalia was once again forgotten by the world. However, in the middle of the 2000 we witnessed yet another so called “conference”. The “Doofareey” conference rightly named so because it was located on a warthog grazing ground. The outcome of this was the so called 4,5 which lacked common sense. Without statistical data and without common sense the attendees devised a plan billed as panacea to our ills. It was alleged that equal representation was the way forward and that future Somali government/parliament will have to adhere to this sick formulae.

Oh, who will forget the comical “chair fights”

As a temporary solution Baydhabo Janaay was to become the seat of the new government. The parliament consisted of who is who as regards warlords and conflict entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile to the people of some parts of middle Somalia hope was beckoning on the horizon. A new movement known as Islamic courts was beginning to see daylight. At the onset, this movement was based on local initiatives but soon somalis realized that this was like nothing they had seen before. This was a popular movement based on the notion of justice which had eluded us.

At the epicenter of this movement was a young dark man who embodied humbleness, humility and honour. Even his name was good; sheikh Sharif. He was not only an Islamic scholar but also bore one of the best titles a Somali could have; Shariif from the word sharaf (honour) was quite different from the names of other warlords.

It was mesmerizing to learn that he was a simple geography teacher from the peripheral town of Jowhar which historically produced one of the best Rum because of the location of a sugar refinery. We were told that he went to Sudan to study and that on his return he started a school. We were also told that one of the warlords kidnapped some of the kids at the school killing them or recruiting them as thugs to terrorize the masses.

One could have thought that this was a class script to revive the hopes and aspirations of people going through privation , destitution, poverty, madness, identity crises etc.

Every nation has its fair share of deceased heroes. Somalis have Axmed Gurey, Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan, Xaawo Cisman Taako, Cabdullaahi Cise and many more but this was the first time a living legend was met with spontaneous applauses. He became a front figure of the IUC and for the first time in many parts of Somalia, peasants could carry on cultivating their farms, shoe shiners could make ends meet without intimidation from the foot soldiers of the conflict entrepreneurs.

For the first time, diaspora somalis visited Muqdisho to get back their property. Courts were established to return property back to its owners. Peace was restored. The murder rates went down. The thugs went to the mosques and repented.

In several ways, the ascension of Sheikh Shariif was like that of Eva Peron who was born in poverty but courted Juan Peron who was to become the president of Argentina. While Eva’s story was about a young peasant rural girl taking a class journey to become a powerful figure for the descamisados or "shirtless ones" in Argentina, Sheikh Shariif was the school teacher who started a revolution for the voiceless victims of Somalia. While she enjoyed prominence in western cultural elite, he enjoyed prominence among the shoe shiners, the wronged and more importantly to all those who yearned to see a functioning system.

When the ethiopan tanks rolled into Somalia and the IUC disintegrated into small incapable units Sheikh Sharif opted for a political path. He was arrested and released because his captors could not tie him to any crime against humanity. Had he been responsible for deaths and destructions he would have ended in Guantamo or Ethiopian jails.

It was after his selection that his political capital started to depreciate. Because somalia was in a state of shambles he travelled the world earning nasty nicknames like Sheikh Dhoof, sheikh hotel, sheikh first class. Although he was doing a lot to embark somalia on a new path many somalis (fed by fadhi-ku-dirir discourse) saw in him an illiterate (yes, he has been called that although that is a lie) opportunist who was amassing wealth overseas. There was talk of him building a villa in Turkey although this was not verified by anyone.

Unarguably, corruption is a companion of somalis and your correspondent is not arguing that Sheikh shariif is free from it. The looted bounty could have spilled over to him. He appointed some corrupt government officials. He was, one could argue engaged in corruption by proxy.

I was one of his staunchest critics. I saw in him a powerless, corrupt and superficial leader. But, after many hours of reflections I have come to the conclusion that I was harsh on him.

He has obviously shortcomings. But this should not eclipse his other achievements. I don’t think anyone can accuse him of being tribalistic as other leaders that somalia has had during the past two decades.

When he was defeated earlier this, Sheikh Sharif humbly accepted defeat.

In my opinion when the history books are written (sometime after our deaths) they will show that Sheikh Sharif has tried to improve the lives of somalis but unfortunately as a people we are never thankful.

So, join me in appreciating the contribution of Sheikh Sharif in our quest to quench our thirst for nationhood

[greenday]

To Shariif

[Lamagoodle]

To Shariif

Green, iiwaran inadeer?

Weli xamar iigama sheekeynin; gormaad ii soo labalabeeyneysaa?

[greenday]

Waa fiicanahay Alhamdulilah, sorry waba hilmaame

Although Xamar is a mess I really liked it, some areas are saver than others, markets are packed, not an empty seat in caasis, shaash and isbarmuudo is sold on the pavements, all in all its mashallah for anyone who doesnt mind being in a third world

Why dont you go and visit?

[Lamagoodle]

Waa fiicanahay Alhamdulilah, sorry waba hilmaame

Although Xamar is a mess I really liked it, some areas are saver than others, markets are packed, not an empty seat in caasis, shaash and isbarmuudo is sold on the pavements, all in all its mashallah for anyone who doesnt mind being in a third world

Why dont you go and visit?

Did you visit my old hood ( Hawlwadaag; Baar peking, Tokyo, Baar Ubax, Mijiska, Ceel hindi etc)? or where you confined to Medina?

I am a coward inadeer.

Waxaan ka cabsaday in la i tumo. I am a critical guy and I have some vices (like smoking).

[greenday]

I wasnt stating at Madiino I did go to Holwadaag but i do not know meel ey iga jiraan those other places

Maxa ka cabsanee? people mind their own business walahi

[Hyperactive]

i always had soft spot for our sheikh shariif. love him as a person. in his time a lot has changes to the best whether we gave him credit for him or people in general even warlords just got tired of this none sense chaos.

[Lamagoodle]

I wasnt stating at Madiino I did go to Holwadaag but i do not know meel ey iga jiraan those other places

Maxa ka cabsanee? people mind their own business walahi

Where were you living? My sources tell me that there exists huge disparities; while some people have peace and wealth, others don't have a penny to live on.

I am a coward by nature; I am even afraid to go to London, DC or any other large american city.

Wax cigaar cabayo xamar ma ku aragtay?

Hyper, how are you? How was Sana'?

Yes, sheikh Sharif deserved to be praised. I realised that this week.

[GIJaamac]

I wasnt stating at Madiino I did go to Holwadaag but i do not know meel ey iga jiraan those other places

Maxa ka cabsanee? people mind their own business walahi

Where were you living? My sources tell me that there exists huge disparities; while some people have peace and wealth, others don't have a penny to live on.

I am a coward by nature; I am even afraid to go to London, DC or any other large american city.

Wax cigaar cabayo xamar ma ku aragtay?

Hyper, how are you? How was Sana'?

Yes, sheikh Sharif deserved to be praised. I realised that this week.

Are you serious now ?

[Lamagoodle]

Xiin, it is typo, I meant "Sigaar". I heard that smoking is not tolerated in some parts of somalia.

[Hyperactive]

hey lama. sana is a mess. never scared for my life before as i did when i was there. Allaho badowdas jabalka dagan muslim ka kuma so daayo. they come down from mountain. got their weapons. and they just there to rape nin, naag, ilmo. and the funny thing they can get away with it!! if you ever thought somali civil war was bad. just watch yeman one.

yes, i just like that sheikh. i think he set the bar high for next president.

[greenday]

I was staying, arjantiin, diinay and boondheere To be honest you dont see too much rafaad in Muqdisho, i was expecting to see alot of people who have nothing, walahi not many beggars, most people work, these people are hard working

Sigaar aa? they smoke right left and centre Shabab are gone, music blazes out of cars and peoples phones hadaa cabsaneeysid wait a year then

[DayaxJeclee]

Sheekh shariif

Adigoo dugsigaa joogay
Durbaan ku garaacaane
Debna kugu shidan

Ma ku dayaan oo
Dibnaha u cadaysay
Gacanta u fidisay.

Dabaalku ma garan oo
Muddo gabaan gudaheed
intuu ku garan waayey
Dacaayad kugu furay.

Ma ku dayaanoo
Dalkaad gacanta qabtoo
Dayr iyo gu'a daadahaysay.

Dibjire iyo gidaarjiifba
PHD baan waataa
Kugula doodeen

Kuma oran dulayahay
marna soo jeeda
marna sii jeeda

Sidii wadaad barsame
Danta guud iyo diinta
waa ku dadaashay.


Inkastoo dhib badan
dib uma laaban
Dacalkana waa qabatay.

Duceysan
Barre
Macalin
Hogaamiye
cimri dheer...Aamin

Sheekh Shariif

[Lamagoodle]

hey lama. sana is a mess. never scared for my life before as i did when i was there. Allaho badowdas jabalka dagan muslim ka kuma so daayo. they come down from mountain. got their weapons. and they just there to rape nin, naag, ilmo. and the funny thing they can get away with it!! if you ever thought somali civil war was bad. just watch yeman one.

yes, i just like that sheikh. i think he set the bar high for next president.

Yemen was better before it united. South Yemen was the place to be. The north was always tribal. I have never been Yemen but I am told that somalis and Yemenis share alot; institutions (culture, clothing, superficial greatness).

Greenday,
Boondheere aa? that was the most liberal part of Xamar. Do they still have afternoon dance sessions?

I have to accompany you the next time you visit it. I don't have many relatives in Xamar.

Sareedo, waa sidaasi. Sheikh Shariif waa nin wanaagsan.

[Shirib]

There was a time when I woulda taken a bullet for him, my how things have changed