Lest we forget, Harari heroes, Contributions and Reflections
Written by Professor Abdi Khalil
Narrated by Nesub Abdi
Kabir Abdusemad’s
Unforgettable and permanent footprints,
Are knowledge based actionable deeds,
Made lasting impacts and significant differences.
His contributions to Harari society
Are wide, diverse and deep with intensity
Be it social, political and educational
With his personalities and national zeal
His quality leadership and trustworthy advises
His positive effects have been missed already
In Harari society and the surrounding community
Kabir Abdusemad Idriss’s memorable footprints are countless. His knowledge and actions do unquestionably eradicate fears and hopelessness from anyone who listened and encountered him directly or indirectly. He was defender of minorities and social justice in Ethiopia.
His eloquence always mesmerized his audiences, and I would like to share some of his incredible oral messages (literally translated from Harari), which were spoken over years, but unforgettable among his friends, relatives and audiences at large. He said,
- Our actions should be wholesome, inclusive, mutual and supportive as we focus on common things, than focusing on personalities and negatives!
- Playing solo is a sign of losing. Get organized, no matter how much personality differences you may have, since your political soul is one. Your political soul is Harar.
- Never fear …. No fear. The source of my strength is our religion, which leads me to the secret of guidance with no fear.
- Misfortune befell us for the last century, but holding to the rope of Allah will help us to overcome enemies of Harar.
- Our political contentment and sustenance are interlinked with our brothers and sisters in faith and all Hararis walks of life! Harar’s identity is colorful, made of Somalis, Afars, Oromos, Silte and alike. Our goal is one – to save the City of Islam and Peace in Ethiopia
- Let us teach our enemies through good deeds – harmony and peace. Their ignorance and greed made them to consider us their enemies.
- My political and social contributions to Harar are my loans to Allah. Give also your share!
- Learn to deal with Harar’s problematic realities – some created by ourselves but most created by our oppressors – Tackle the problems with wisdom and controlled emotions.
- Emotional and impassive actions are fuel for anger. Anger is self-destructive, and fuel for political destructions. Let’s not only wake up when adversity hits us, but also wake up and get ready before it reaches us. Getting organized is to be pre-warned and pre-armed.
- Insensitiveness and non-responsiveness to Harar’s causes are signs of ignorance and immaturity. Ignorance and immaturity have brought us where we are today in own homeland.
- I have twelve ingredients that helped me to survive social, economic and political upheavals. These are: Faith, Knowledge, Openness, Appreciation, Tolerance, Flexibility, Negotiation, Fairness, Listening, Decisiveness, Perseverance and Determination.
- A Have or a Have-Not Harari is full of Iman. That is what keeps each to be peaceful, and collectively made the City of Saints, the City of Peace.
These are compiled from his several public lectures, meetings, group discussions and encounters. These are some impressive sayings indicative of his quality leadership ability, defender of justice, commitments and convictions in his faith. He was indeed fearless activist, but above all a man of integrity and humanity.
Having reflected on his wise sayings (at least within my own recollections), there were also some other Harari scholars who not only made impact on Harar, but also dominated Ethiopia’s political, social, economic and education landscapes for long time. In recent Ethiopia history, among many incredible and unsung Harari heroes, icons, scholars, elders and activists, here are just to mention few.
- Ambassador Abdullahi Ali Sadiq (First Ethiopian Head of Delegates and Diplomat to USA, in 1905)
- Ambassador Mohammed Abdurahman Bahar (Father of Harari Regional State, 1990s)
- Dr. Duri Mohammed (President, Defender and Vanguard of Addis Ababa University, 1980s)
- Capitan Mohammed Ahmed Bonba (CEO, Architect and Pioneer of modern Ethiopian Airlines, 1970s and 1980s)
- Dr. Abdurahman Qoram (Educator and Author of the first Harari Dictionary, 1980s)
- Gessi Yusuf Ahmed Weber (Minster of Transport and Ethiopia’s Deputy Vice President, 1980s)
- Haji Mohammed Ahmed Ture (Philanthropist and Entrepreneur, 1970s and ‘80s)
- General Ali Abdulahi Gutu (Ethiopian Army General and Liberator, 1980s)
- Dr. Abubaker Ahmed Yusuf (Author, Educator and Columnist, 1960s and 70s), and
- Aye Shamitu (Singer, Song writer and Poet, 1970s and 80s)
The list is endless. We also pray for those who passed away; however, I would like to equally recognize the Late Kebir Abdulmuheimin Abdulnasir, and May Allah also grant him Janatul Ferdous. He passed away over 5 years ago. Kabir Abdulmuheimin Abdulnasir was a distinguished Harari thinker, historian, poet, researcher, painter, composer, advocate and literal collector. He embodied multi-dimensional personalities reflecting harmonious Harari values as the foundation for peace.
I had opportunities to meet Kebir Abdulmuheimin Abdulnasir him trice, and fortunately discussed a number issues. He was my mentor, teacher and motivator when it comes to Harari issues. He was unsung Harari hero and educator who directly shaped Harari language and literature. He was a well-known literary figure with his lectures on “Khadnet” and sometimes dubbed as “Kebir Khadnet; literally means, Professor of Self-Realization and Self-Awakening”. His numerous writings and lectures on Harari cultural handicrafts, traditional attire, embroidery, cultural practices and literary work are vital. But, his monumental contributions were on Harari poems, song lyrics and composing music.
Kebir Abdulmuheimin had so often shown deep concerns about the dwindling of Harari values, and political existence of Harar. When it comes to self-consciousness, he emphasized “to be or not to be Harari” and profoundly to “to exist or not to exist” as Harari society in the 21 century Ethiopia. Amazingly, he summarized it beautifully in Harari, “Feqer za’lea’la, membertim’eala’, literally translated “…who does not have a song, does not have existence,” or ‘Who does not have a lyric, is bound to extinction.” The concept is clearly connecting Harari songs to justify the primacy of the people, their indigenous existence and their continuation without eroding Harari virtues and values within multicultural nation.
According to Kebir Abdulmuhamein, starting from 1950s, a wide collection of recordings testify the fertility of ‘mugad’, youth association in composing and performing both traditional sung poetry and modern musical forms; particularity inspired by international productions. For example, the sweet and touching verses of the Late Aye Shamitu, a famous Harari woman singer (nicknamed the ‘Homer of Harar’ because of her blindness and poetic ability, and Ouma Kultum of the Horn contrasting to melodic voice of Egyptian lady star). She epitomized Harari traditions for decades, inside the walled city state, nationally, as well as, in the diaspora.
As reported in Ali Naji’s collections, “The prominent role of Kebir Abdul in the study of Harari Songs and of Harari culture, in general together with his innate capacity of positively interacting with local and international scholars, is witnessed in several academic writings. No researcher gets into and comes out of the Walled City of Harar, without due consultations with Kabir. He has appeared numerous times on International stages educating about Harar.”
All his appearances on public forums could be summarized following his own words. Kebir Abdulmuheimin Abdulnasir said it beautifully, “Harar is a planet within planet, which has not yet been discovered. Its history represents undying breakthroughs, innovations and above all entrenched in Islam. Its landmark literature collections, and spirituality are expressed through its “Feqar” songs. Keep signing Harari values.”
Following footsteps of such outstanding Hararis, we would like to conclude by interlinking, nurturing and preserving home characteristics as such –
“It is the awakening
in the inner depth of the heart
that awakens the realms of appreciation of own strength and values.
Both ignorance of own faith, cultural values
and adopting the veneer of modern cultural civilization
enslave the mind.
Do not be your own socio-cultural destruction guide,
But, instill Harari values in the coming generation,” said Haji Khalil Edriss Abouygn.
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Thank you again for listening and watching IHMS programs. Aselam Aleykum