One of the most sacred phrases in the Somali language was uttered on the Eve of June 26, 1960 – the now-famous and indomitable verses of Cabdillaahi Suldan "Tima Cadde". At the center of what was then known as “Beerta Xoriyada,” or “Freedom Plaza,” in Hargaisa, Tima Cadde's words, reinforced by his unique and melancholic voice, resonated and overwhelmed anyone who had listened them either that day or since then on radio:

Saahidiinta lslaamka e Subcisaa Jimcayaashiyo Sibyaanta iyo haweenku Calankay Saadinayeenow Cidina kaanay na Siine Saatir noogu yaboohayow Saaxirkii kala guurraye Sarreeyow ma-nusqaamow Aan siduu yahay eegno e Kaana siib kanna saar

Sallaankii istiqaalkow Sedadu kay ku xidhnaydow Sayruukhii Afrikaadow Saaxirkii kala guurraye Sarreeyow ma-nusqaamow An siduu yahay eegno e Kaana siib kanna saar

Qolaba Calankeedu Waa Caynee
Inagaa Keenu Waa Cirka oo Kala e                     
Aan Caadna Lahayn Een Caashaqayee
Xidigyahay Cadi waad noo Ciidamisee

Both Tima Cadde and Qarshe who sang these deeply-felt emotion-laden, powerfully and purposefully poetic beauty were the children of Somaliland. In a normal society, both the words and the subject mater that prompts any poet(s) to compose these types of stanza would be a treasure that would remain cherished for generations and beyond. The phrases and the originators would indeed be considered a national relic that would be beyond the reaches of revisionists.

Unfortunately, that is not what is going to happen in Los Angeles, California on the eve of June 26, 2005, when a group of Somalilanders gather and assemble negative energy to denounce that very national heritage left to all of us by Tima Cadde and Qarshe.

Even if so, what is there, composed in the form of poetry or designed in the form of an alternative flag to “Buluugle” and the words of Tima Cadde and Qarshe?  Apart from the shahaada, a non-descript green,white and red flag, with a black star sharing its center, is touted as the alternative to the flag that is so unique to Somalis. Unfortunately, the new flag that is called Somaliland flag does not capture anyone's imagination. Neither is it poetic enough to engage the imagination of WardheerNews's editorial staff.  

Worst of all, the themes of green/red colors and the black star publicized by the back-to-Africa movement of Marcus Garvey in the 1900s, which since then dominated post independent African flags, were originally borrowed from Ethiopia's flag. Unbeknown to Somalilanders, these colors and their original meaning have roots in the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Ironically the red stands for defending Ethiopia's Orthodox Christian religion with the blood of its highland sons.

As a runner-up to this piece, WardheerNews has interviewed a prominent American scholar who is invited to the Los Angeles Somaliland Convention that would take place on June 26, 2005. Dr. Edmond Keller of UCLA's Political Science department has told WardheerNews that clan politics is a sure way of steering a society to destruction, lawlessness and retardation of development. When asked what his talk would be at the convention, he told us that, although he has not given much thought to this issue, his talk, if asked, would surely be some thing akin to the prospects and problems of federalism. But, Dr. Keller leaves the task of designing their government to Somalis themselves (We will post the entire interview with Dr. Keller in the coming days).

What interests our readers most about said convention, which is taking place in our backyard is some of the personalities who are expected to participate in this sectarian convention. Cumar Carte Qaalib! How did someone of his stature with national and international prominence succumb to such parochial clan politics?  Where does such an individual hide and then burry the plethora of experience and the national ethos that he so deservedly accumulated for so many years?

And then, Somalia's most known diplomat who symbolized Somalism (Somalinimo) at the corridors of world powerhouses and international headquarters suddenly puts on a tribal hood and tosses away his global national identity!  Here, of course, we are lamenting the loss of Cabdi Raxiim Caabbi Faarax to the jackals of clan purity and sub nationalism. Clan is indeed a terrible thing to substitute to nationhood.

Is there really any doubt in the minds of the participants of this convention - only given the obscure title of Somaliland Convention - that it is largely a convention of one clan? 

The greater Los Angeles-Sand Diego area has one of the highest concentrations of people who originally hail from Laas Caanood, Buuhoodle and Las Qoray regions (Sool & Sanaag ). On the eve of June 26, 2005, there would probably be only one individual worthy our mention from these regions who is expected to participate in the Los Angeles Somaliland convention. As could easily be predicted, that person is Mohamed Saalax Nuur Fagadhe. That night, confined in the glittering walls of LAX Hilton Hotel, he would be a very lonely individual for he would be the only one from his numerous communities. If things were normal, he would have had the largest constituency at the convention since his community makes up the second largest immigrant community in the greater Los Angeles-San Diego area (only second to immigrants from the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia.)

Another lonely participant would have been Mohammed Said Gees. But he decided not to come, probably sensing the lop-sidedness of the convention. For the time being, he has, at least, been saved from the embarrassment of being a token in a convention that is so disoriented to denouncing its own heritage. Its also worthy to mention that Human rights groups that tirelessly work to bring issues of human rights in Hargeisa to light are missing from the scene and were not invited.

The debate on secession notwithstanding, it is not common in human society for a community to stamp a disclaimer on its own heritage. The Blue flag, the emotions and the poetry that surround it are more the product of Northern Somalia (Somaliland) than any other region of Somalia. Why would someone decide to fold up and trash away the words of Cabdulahi Qarshe's struggle days to midwife the blue flag in his underground song of “Wiilooy?”  Why did Somalilanders decide to throw away part of their fantastic history so nonchalant?  This act of narcissism and defeatist politics is leading its practitioners to a solitary journey with the expected result of destruction, retardation and political stalemate. 

Are there seriously any sane minds left among the radical Diaspora community to put a halt to the craze around the myopic revisionist approach to the Somali flag, the literature that ornaments it so well, and the personalities that died for it? Are the forces of revisionism content with replacing the history of Sheekh Bashiir, Faarax Oomaar and Balaayocas, who have put up unparalleled fight for the defense of Somali nationhood, with that of the neo-fascistic rhetoric of Faysal Cali Waraabe who has taken the mental of leadership in the North just as the likes of Yalaxow did in the South?

The culture cultivated among the so-called Somalilanders in the Diaspora and thier poor public relation is bent to foster a never-seen-before radicalism that is destroying the fabric and rich history of cohabitation and coexistence in Somaliland.

As to the groups who hail from Sool and Sanaag, wardheerNews challenges them with the question of where does their heritage and loyalty stand visa-a-vi June 26 th? What prevented them from organizing their own inclusive forum to celebrate and commemorate the birth of their nation on that eventful day of June 26? If they did that, then this sectarian convention would have had tough competition.   “Buluugle” is a national treasure and is larger and more important to be left alone to the forces of revisionism and adherents of clan politics.  

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