Today, 2nd April 2018, Winnie Mandela, known as
the mother of the nation during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa,
the Iconic woman who held Mandela's memory up high the long years he was in
prison, died at the age of 81. In 1987 at the height of South Africa's
struggle, I wrote the following poem in Somali in celebration of her heroic
campaign. It carried the title Amandala or power in Zulu which was Winnie's
iconic defiant salute to the people.
AMANDALA
Winniyeey habeenimo
Dabkaad hurisayee baxay
Hillaacii ka muuqdiyo
Hadawgii ka soo kacay
Hiinraagga beerkiyo
Guux halaanhalkaagii
Badda hooraheegiyo
Hirka soo jibaaxyoo
Hiirtaanyo weyniyo
Afrikada hammuuniyo
Holac weyn ku noolee
Hiyigii dalooshamay
Nabarkii hagaadee
Huuryadu ku noolayd
Soo celi hafeeftii
Himbiriirsi araggii
Heegadu dul saarnayd
Hummaaggii wax kala arag
Horaadkii qombobayee
Ilmuhu uu la huudmiyo
Hooyo naasaheegii
Haaneedki soo curay
Odayadu hillaabtii
Haaraysay dhabarkee
Qarniyaal dul hogatiyo
HAYEDII ka dootame
Hoobeeyadaadii
Carruurtii ku heestoo
Ubixii horseed noqoy
NELSON hiigsigiisii
Dayrka lagu hagoogiyo
Kuma huudmin jeelkoo
Gacantaada hodankaa
Markaad sare u hidiseed
Amandala ku heestaa
Shicibkii hongobee
Ciilkuu haleeliyo
Geeduhu hadleenoo
Dalku hooyo kaa dhigay
Anigana hammuuntii
Halgankaagu kiciyaa
Hollinaysa beerkoo
Magacaaga hiirtaan
Habeenkiyo dharaartii
Ku hammoonayaayoo
Hareeraha SOWETIYO
Hoygaaga BRADFORD
Yaan u heelanahayoo
Hambalyiyo salaaniyo
Ubax dhiig halyeey iyo
Haween gocashadoodiyo
Hadaaqii dhallaankiyo
Lagu habay xusuus baan
Kuula soo hagaagoon
Kuula soo habqamayaa.
Bashir Sh. Omer Good
(Goth)
April 4, 1987