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A Brief Overview of Somali History
- Minnesota Historical Society Press
- Chapter
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6 people of minnesota A Brief Overview of Somali History Some sources estimate that Somalis have been in Somalia for two thousand years. Yet the Somalis’ own origin stories tell that it was a thousand years ago, perhaps a little less, that Arabs landed on Somali beaches, wandered into the mainland, and married African natives. Thus were born the Soomaale (Go Milk for Yourself) souls. There is no definite date on which the country of Somalia was said to be formed. What is understood is that most of what is known about Somali history does not go back much further than the nineteenth century.1 During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Europeans , carelessly disregarding the country’s social identity (culture, language, religion, and history), began dismembering the land shared by the Soomaale in eastern Africa. From 1827 to 1963, colonial powers divided Somalia into five parts: French Somaliland for France, British Somali land for Britain, Italian Somaliland for Italy, the Ogaden region of Ethiopia for Ethiopians, and, lastly, in 1963, the Northern Frontier District for Kenya. After ten years of United Nations trusteeship and through Italian efforts “to teach [Somalis] how to be on their own,” British Somali land and Italian Somaliland united under one flag, riding on the winds of freedom sweeping through the continent of Africa in the 1960s. The newly united Somalia established its first-ever government, led by President Aden Abdulla Osman, Prime Minister Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, a legislative parliamentary body, and a judicial system. This fledgling nation took its first few tentative, wobbly steps on democratic feet.2 From the outset, the new nation tried to rally the remaining dismembered parts of Somalia to join in reunification , particularly the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. But the Organization of African Unity—now the African Union— did not support a new wave of boundary quarrels. And Somali Independence Day Other than the religious holidays, Somalis gather for one major event: Somali Independence Day. The date celebrates Somalia’s independence from colonial British and Italian rule and the founding of the Republic of Somalia in 1960.Though Djibouti commemorates the event onMay27,northernSomaliaonJune26,andsouthernSomaliaonJuly1,inMinnesotaSomalis from Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and beyond join others from the mainland to celebrate on the weekends between June 20 and July 1.They gather together, dance, and compete in soccer games to honor the memory of their motherland and her independence. On June 26, 1960, the first Somali flag was hoisted to float and flap in the air. Then on July 1, it was raised in the south of Somalia, and Somalis everywhere sang, danced, and composed ceremonial poems for the occasion. One of the most revered and oldest poets in this nation of poets, Haji Adan Ahmed Hassan (Afqallooc), who lived to the age of 115, contributed to the celebration. He had been imprisoned for his poetic swipes against the British, even held for “sedition” up to the last day of colonial reign. But then Haji-Adan-Afqallooc let loose his words of wisdom to mark the momentous occasion: Thank God the flag of asylum has been hoisted Like the full moon’s light it brightens the earth all around It is a verse of mercy that God sent to (us) It is a sweet breeze that descends from above. It is the geyser’s origin that quenches the thirst of men It is the blooming flower and verdure that is all matured (That) of which God delayed but will never devalue ... This particular poem, though one of the best, is not among the well known, many of which have been set to music and are performed in annual celebrations of Somali independence. Dancing to a popular Somali traditional beat,young Somalis celebrate Independence Day. [44.193.11.123] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 15:54 GMT) 8 people of minnesota the Western World, particularly the United States, was not keen on aiding the Somali military against Ethiopia. It was not long before this sore claimed its first causality. In 1964 Prime Minister Sharmarke lost his position following a foreign policy disagreement with President Osman about with whom Somalia should militarily ally itself as it sought to dislodge the Ogaden region from Ethiopia.3 The new prime minister, Abdirizak Haji Hussein, focused on institutional building, taking immediate action to curb insidious corruption, attempting to raise ethical standards , and establishing a merit-based employment framework . But this courageous, competent prime minister lasted just two years in office. In 1967, in Somalia...