By  Noah Arre

The other day I had posted in our websites an article that detailed exciting incidents that took place when the first class of Dilla opened its doors in the late fifties in then British Somaliland Protectorate. But incidents like those were of course common all over the country. And I know for a fact that many friends have had experiences similar to those mentioned. And one major reason of this was, in those days, education was not a right. It was a privilege…i.e. “education was an exclusive club” which was off the limits of the majority thanks but no thanks to United Kingdom, our former master. The United Kingdom provided its spoon-fed kids in the UK everything to enjoy when it comes to education that was taken for granted, when the rights of those under its rule were totally ignored.

Three years later, after a joyous learning at my elementary, a joy that I later expressed in a Somali verse: “matiska iyo sayniska Carandis boogga noo mari dheh…. Maashaa alaahu durtaba maskaxidii noo doogtay…., my class sat for the entrance exam and thanks goodness, most of us passed, some landing in free positions… in those days, those who excelled in school in British Somaliland Protectorate, were given free education.

So, in the fall of 1961, in one late afternoon a friend of mine brought me “the good news” …that I had passed the entrance examination with credit and hence got a free spot without which I would probably drop out. He further told me that a total of four Dilla boys including me were to go to Sheikh middle school.

So with my friends, I came to join Sheikh middle school and realized that Sheikh Middle School was the oldest, the biggest and in fact the mother of all schools in then British Somaliland Protectorate.

In addition, I also realized that Sheikh town’s community leadership was committed to good education too. So, Sheikh Mohamad Siraad, one of the most prominent figures of the town, never missed a single major event of the school. In fact, he had never failed to come there on every school closing day to hand out presents to top boys. And he had also never failed to give his advice and encouragement to all always congratulating those who excelled at school exams.

Moreover, at Sheikh, like the rest of the country, ethics and hard work were the hallmark of educational excellence. And amazingly, our self-made teachers, who I would call as the messiahs sent to make a difference, never failed to teach us healthy competition through hard work.

With care, they parented us; with kindness, they taught discipline and self-respect; and with humility, they taught us honesty and dedication. And thank goodness, no one ever accused a single one of nepotism, favoritism, partiality or unfairness!

On the contrary, with honesty they led us; with integrity they coached us and with hard work they taught us every thing good thereby instilling all the basic foundations of education in us. And with their hard work, devotion and creativity they had always established all kinds of extra-curricula activities during every term so that we may enjoy life and hence abate loneliness as many of us were miles away from their parents and villages!

For instance, on every Saturday morning, there were competitions among houses on hygiene and sanitation. And on every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday evenings, there were competitions in sports among houses. And on every Monday evening between 4:00pm and 5:00pm, there were classes in gardening where students were taught how to grow their daily needs of fruits and vegetables. And on every Wednesday night, there were competitions again among houses in educational debates.

And finally, at the end of every term, there were competitions in traditional folklore dances, plays, music, fun and arts. And amazingly, there were always trophies given to winners, most of them paid by the teachers themselves! And not surprisingly, therefore, many of us excelled in different areas!

Even more surprisingly, in those golden days, in Somaliland, education was the collective responsibility of the community. It was something to preserve and honor by every citizen, town, city and village. And one may recall days that community members everywhere had soft hearts for school kids irrespective of whom they were. In fact all communities selflessly did everything they could for their schools as though school kids alone were the whole future of the nation! And at school closing, every year, it was the responsibility of city, district or regional authorities to take care of boys who came from far away places.

On national, government and other social representations, in those days, the system was democratic albeit divisive election campaigns fanned by tribalism. But even so, nationalism never lost its value and theme!

This was typical of the old days Somaliland! This is typical of how our loving fathers treated all! That was how every one was honored in old days. And this was how people overcame all problems despite their meager resources.

Today, albeit regional and international recognition of “Somaliland’s unique democracy”; there are many potentially destructive divisions brewing within Somaliland lately unless, the government, the people, the Guurti, the MPs and the intellectuals all of whom are knowingly or unknowingly contributing, collectively address that before it is too late! And certainly it is true that the whole nation seems to be disintegrating into sub-clan fiefdoms in the form of Regions!

So, it is within that state of affair that I would like to rehash a classical song by Mr. Hassan Sheikh Momin (may the lord bless his soul) which amazingly contrasts present day Somaliland with that of the past! But with sincere apology, I have to distort that great song because I find that as the only way that, that song perfectly fits the analogy:

Beri hore wixii jiray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ee la iska baal maray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Bari iyo galbeed ummad; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Beerka isasiisoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Barwaaqada wadaagtoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Koodii bukoodaba, dhakhtarka ula boodoo bartiisana daryeelee

Wax bebeley kuwii hore; dar nacyab butaacoo; wanaagaba ka buubee!
Waar biise dhaqankii; sharcigii ka baydhoo; ummadnimo burburisee; walaal ma is badhqabataan?

Beri hore wixii jiray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ee la iska baal maray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Bari iyo galbeed ummad, aha haha haa, aha haha haa
baahada wadaagtoo, aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ku bahoobay diintoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Balada iyo khayrka bulsha qudha ahaadee

Wax bedeley kuwii hore; dar qabiil u baaqoo walaalnimo balfaayee!
Waar biise dhaqankii; sharcigii ka baydhoo; ummadnimo burburisee; walaal ma is badhqabataan?

Beri hore wixii jiray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ee la iska baal maray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Odayaal bislaadoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Beelaha dhaqaayoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Geed qudha uga baanoo; aha haha haa , aha haha haa
Khayr isku bogaadshoo Ka xishooda beentee

Wax bedelay kuwii hore; baarlamaan ku sheegaa, qadaduun bislaystee; biidhiga iska qaatee
Waar biise dhaqankii, baylihise xeerkii, buugiisa laabtoo; ummadii burburisee, walaal ma is badhqabataan?

Beri hore wixii jiray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ee la iska baal maray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Bari iyo galbeed ummad; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Buundo qudha ahaatoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Bar uun looga taliyoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Barkhada iyo wanaaguun botorka u ciyaartee

Wax bedelay kuwii hore, banaanka iyo buuraha dar bandiirad taagoo, gobolla ugu baaqee!
Waar biise dhaqankii; wananaagii ka baydhoo; ummadnimo burburisee; walaal ma is badhqabataan?

Beri hore wixii jiray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ee la iska baal maray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Caruur baladka joogtoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Casharka iska baratoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Wanaag kugu bariidsoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Waalidkood badhaadhaha iyo cilmiga u balaqayee

Wax bedelay kuwii hore; dar balaayo keentoo; dibadda u baqooloo; boynt haddaad tidhaahdaba; afka kaaga boodee
Waar biise dhaqankii; dariiqii ka baydhoo; akhlaaqdii burburisee; adeer mays badhqabtaan?

Beri hore wixii jiray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Ee la iska baal maray; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
wariye khabarka baadhoo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Bilo dhan u dibjira oo; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Badhtamaha habeenkii; aha haha haa, aha haha haa
Balaftiisa raadshoon ka soo hoyanin barafkee

Wax bedelay kuwii hore; baytgaaka dibadaa, shimbir biiq tidhaahdaba, isagoon billee odhan wargeysyada ku boobee
Waar biise dhaqankii; oday biiqay noqotee, idinkuuna is boqortee; bisin isku xijaabkee; ummadnimo burburisee; walaal ma is badhqabataan?