Monday, April 02, 2018

A Tribute to Winnie Mandela

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

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Somali music through the ages by Bashir Goth, special for Music in Africa

From its groundbreaking origins in balwo, modern Somali music of the late 20th Century phased through many genres including heello, waddani, qaraami, benadiri, jazz, reggae and others. Although music will continue to be created by Somalis wherever they set foot in the world, it is undeniably the music of the 1960s through the 1980s that remains the epitome of the potential of Somali music, as it encapsulates the collective musical memory of the Somali people.

Read more in Music In Africa Magazine