“Doqunto intey guri kale asleyso baa teedi quruntaa”
In this series I shall feature Somali mah mah’s or Somali proverbs. In addition, to dissecting these proverbs I shall examine the Hikmah(wisdom) we can gain from these proverbs while relating it to our current state of affairs. This weeks proverb is as follows:
“Doqunto intey guri kale asleyso baa teedi quruntaa”
Which translates to the house of the fool rots while she is busy repairing other people’s houses.
When you see a Somali arguing about whether he/she is Somali or Muslim first, when no one in Somali history has ever brought this question up since Somalis were Muslim before most of the Arab world. When you see Somalis screaming about larger Arab causes even though they are at the periphery of the Arab world, and no one in this world cares whether they shout or keep quiet. When you see Somalis screaming about black lives matter or pan africanism, even though they are at the periphery of the black world and no one cares whether they shout or keep quiet. Then you realize these Somalis are the definition of the proverbial doqon. Even the most deprived Arab city is more developed than most Somali cities. Look at the statistics of Gaza city in Palestine. 96% literacy rate, low unemployment, several world class universities, 98% connected to piped water and sewage, power supply, world class hospitals, libraries, museums, highways, well planned city etc. Compare the passion of the Somali doqon for Arab and Black causes, and his lack of compassion for his own land, language, culture, his lack of interest in the poverty, deprivation, marginalization, and other existential threats to his race and country.
Regarding pan-africanism I shall give a bit of a background. Somalis waged the longest anti-colonial resistance in the history of Africa so much so that the imperialist British had to order an air bombardment for the first time on an African colony, only for their lands to be given to fellow africans. Furthermore, during the 1970’s Somalia had one of the strongest air forces on the continent and they were kind enough to train and offer military support to many African countries such as Burundi, South Africa, Mozambique, Rhodesia, and Zambia. Ironically, after the collapse of the central government in Somalia these are the same countries which have taken advantage and bit the same hand that not too long ago fed them. Just look at the murder rates of Somalis in South Africa. Mohamed Abdullahi (May Allah have mercy upon him) was the 17th Somali store owner to be killed in South Africa just this year and this Somaliphobia isn’t exclusive to South Africa. Somaliphobia has been present in many African countries for quite some time. The same South Africa we helped fight against the apartheid government, bailed Mandela out, and set up a post apartheid government are the same ones targeting us?
All of us must fight the Somali fool in us and the Somali fool we see in the streets, and bring back the focus to Somalinimo. Somalis are a generous people who want to help others and their causes. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is the height of folly and doqonimo when your own house is in ruins. May Allah increase our intellect and efforts.
