Never before have I felt disgusted with a Somali singer’s behavior—a singer whom I once admired so much that I rushed to stage to get her autograph and to inform her that I have always been a big fan of her songs. But as I have listened to the lyrics of her new song entitled, “Libdhimaysid Las Annod…or Las Annod won’t vanish”, the singer that I was once infatuated with her songs, sounded more like a North-American Somali thug teenager—a hip hop artist wannabe—or worse yet: a savage warmonger in Somalia. What devil has got into her, lately? Wasn’t her recent efforts to exonerate Somalia’s notorious war criminal bad enough, but now this: inciting violence and war in Somaliland, instead of raising funds for hospitals and schools? Kneading my temples with my knuckles and shaking my head in disbelief, shock, and dismay, I whispered to myself, “It is mad, mad…mad granny’s world”.
Her name is Saado Ali, a famous Somali singer who hails from Sool region, in Somaliland. Although Saado is probably in her late fifties if not in her early sixties—possibly a grandmother—she still performs spectacular concerts for the Diaspora communities. Currently, she lives in the United States. Also, in the past she composed songs lamenting the destruction of Somalia. And in the final days of the former Somali dictator, Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime she opposed his atrocities against civilians and so did many of his former henchmen.
After she fled Somalia, however, for the longest time she remained a nationalist, or she claimed to be a genuine Somali, until very recently when she defended one of Somalia’s infamous war criminals—General Mohammed Ali Samatar. He was the Defense Minister during the junta regime of Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre. Undoubtedly, Gen. Samatar ordered the obliteration of former North Somalia: currently known as Somaliland—where over 60, 000 slaughtered civilians dumped in mass graves, major cities pulverized to dust, and survivors fled in droves. Just read the book entitled, “A Government At War With Its Own People” published by Human rights Watch in 1988. This book details the horrendous atrocities committed by Gen. Samatar and his henchmen against Somaliland people.
Back then, Saado performed spectacular, exotic Southern Somali dance: booty shaking (Niiko), as if her lower body was detachable from the upper part, for Gen. Samatar and his elite in Mogadishu’s theaters, far from the torture chambers and killing fields of Somaliland. She was well received by the government officials and invited to their glamorous cocktail parties and lavish events as an entertainer. Little did she know or cared, the elite that she entertained with her ever flexible, beautiful twisting body—like an Indian cobra slithering through a field-grass—were warmongers that will face justice one day. She was like their favorite belly dancer of Egypt.
Few months ago, audaciously enough, Saado vigorously defended Gen. Samatar when some of his victims filed a lawsuit against him in the United Sates where he resides. She stood by him. Worse yet, she accused the victims of launching a witch hunt against Gen. Samatar because of his tribe. (In North America and Europe, if you slightly criticize a Jewish person or Israel, you will be labeled as anti-Semitic; in Somalia, if you ask a perpetrator why have you savagely brutalized me, you obliviously have something against his/her tribe—the same nonsense but in a different pile!). She openly stated: “The plaintiffs’ lawsuit was motivated by their tribal hatred towards Gen. Samatar.” Her behavior didn’t only add insult to injuries but she also undertook another mission: inciting violence and unrest against Somaliland security forces in Las Annod, the provincial capital of Sool region.
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Working closely with some bellicose pro-unity Somali Diaspora groups, she is now an important member of the council of war. In her recent song: “Libdhimaysid Las Annod”, under the guise of advocating for Somali nationalism, she incites violence against Somaliland security forces in the city. She sings about the “liberation” of Las Annod just as Dervish forces waged wars against the British colonizers in 1900’s. Was it Gen. Samatar’s idea to instigate violence in Somaliland?
You would expect somebody like Saado to compose songs as to raise desperately needed funds for schools, hospitals, and water purification systems in Las Annod, instead of promoting how to engulf the city with an inferno. You would also expect from somebody at her age to preach about peace and development in Sool region, not sing an emotional war song which provokes some misguided people.
Although Al-Shabab terrorists banned music in Somalia, rest assured they will rejoice Saado’s song because they too have been waging a bloody war: assassinating officials with remote controlled bombs and detonating explosives against Somaliland security forces in Las Annod. Read more: http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/4458
So any song, poem, or speech that goads Al-Shabab’s dormant supporters in Las Annod to attack the security forces will be used as an indispensible propaganda tool. Has she been used and deceived by violent Diaspora groups and Al-Shabab? Maybe!
Yet another question lingers: if her nationalism shrills are genuine, where was she when she was need the most—when Ethiopia was barbarically rapping Somalia from 2006 to 2008 with the help of Col. Abdullahi Yussuf—the butcher of Mogadishu? How come she didn’t invoke nationalism and liberating Somalia’s fallen capital, Mogadishu—the city that nourished Saado so much and transformed her from a goat-herding little girl in the plains of Sool region into a famous singer in Mogadishu? Or was her nationalism in a temporary coma back then? Surely, Somalis are sickened by the pro-unity cliques suffering from selective amnesia, their hollow mantra of Somali nationalism, as well as their lip service to unity.
The song itself lacks the true meaning of a Somali song. It is poorly composed and mixed with a Somali version of hip hop. Sadly, instead of enhancing her song with Geeraar or Buraanbur (the female’s version of Somali poems), she acts like a teenage girl trapped in granny’s body—Saado mixes the song with meaningless hip hop lyrics.
Ironically, while some young Somali rappers are openly discouraging violence and resolutely opposing siding with Al-Shabab, Saado’s rap song spurs violence. It is mad, mad…mad granny’s world, isn’t it?
See the young rappers’ song entitled, “No to Al-shabab”.
[stream provider=youtube flv=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DXoytzriWWfY img=x:/img.youtube.com/vi/XoytzriWWfY/0.jpg embed=false share=false width=300 height=181 dock=true controlbar=over bandwidth=high autostart=false /]
Now compare their song with Saado’s violence inciting lyrics:
[stream provider=youtube flv=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DFM4_1l4fnm8 img=x:/img.youtube.com/vi/FM4_1l4fnm8/0.jpg embed=false share=false width=300 height=181 dock=true controlbar=over bandwidth=high autostart=false /]
But this clip is indeed a blessing in disguise for the security forces; you could see Las Annod is so peaceful that no one carries any weapons in the streets. Thanks to Somaliland law officers and the city’s peace-loving residents. Yet the same security forces that pacified the city are the ones that Saado advocates for attacking and evicting them from the city. (Yaab! Meesha dadka caqligu kaga yaalo, Saado ma finbaa kagayaala? Or where people have brains does Saado have a pimple?)
Lashing out Saado Ali’s character, or denouncing her conviction to Somali unity is far from my objective. Of course, she has her God-given rights to support Somali unity. Even the famous Somaliland poet Mr. Hardraawi supports Somali unity and lives freely in Somaliland. But Saado’s attempt to incite violence in Somaliland is what the fuss is all about—Somaliland, a country that she probably has not seen for the past decades.
Amazingly, other pro-unity Somalis singers such as, Maryam Mursal, Ahmed Naji Sa’ad, and many more have visited Somaliland where they felt proud of Somaliland people’s determinations to rebuild their country and succeed despite the enormous challenges they face. Maryam Mursal is in fact in the process of building schools in Somaliland. Saado Ali, on the other hand, is busy with igniting an inferno in her region of Sool province, never mind building schools.
Meanwhile, why should we ever attend her concerts again? Since Saado chose to act like a warlord in exile, then she doesn’t deserve our hard-earned money, does she? Of course, it would bee foolish for peace-loving Somaliland/Somali Diaspora communities to go to her concerts; after all, Saado shamelessly spurs violence in a city that she may have never seen before or spent more than few nights in it. That is: Las Annod.
In all fairness to Saado, other singers also took the wrong path: some singers from Southern Somalia sided with their tribal warlords, however; other singers namely, Hibo Nuura from Somaliland instilled pride in many Somalis, especially the young generation who have never seen home. What is better than reading a book at Chapters book store and sipping Starbuck’s coffee while enjoying Hibo’s mind-soothing songs played by the store? Bravo Hibo.
To sum up, Saado’s efforts to defend the notorious war criminal Gen. Mohammed Ali Samatar and her warmongering attitude towards Somaliland—the very same country that Gen. Samatar brought to its knees in the late 80s truly shocked the Somaliland/Somali Diaspora communities.
But she is making a big mistake: what she doesn’t realize is—apart from boycotting her concerts—the Somaliland/Somali communities in the United States could file a complaint against her warmongering’s, beating war drums. Since she is spreading violence, she will be held accountable for her villain actions. That is: the war will come to you Saado.
The Somaliland community must, at least, file a formal complaint against Saado with U.S. security agencies. If she is not stopped now, soon she will mobilize fund raising concerts for waging a violent war in Somaliland. Sool region needs schools, hospitals and other developments, not wars or suicide bombers.
Truly, we are in a warlord where young Somali rappers’ are denouncing violence and terrorism while some senior citizens like Saado Ali are promoting war and destruction. It is mad, mad…mad granny’s world—but we must boycott her concerts.
Dalmar Kaahin
dalmar_k@yahoo.com
Welldone Mr. Kaahin. Yes our people in the US should file a case against her. This is typical war mongrer and has to be stoped right there, otherwise she could be leathal. There are people who don't think the way they should and this could spark unnessary violence in that area.
There are investigators who persue the muder that took in Las Anod recently and that shows international community are well aware of the people instigating problems in that area and she is one of them.
"Back then, Saado performed spectacular, exotic Southern Somali dance: booty shaking (Niiko), as if her lower body was detachable from the upper part"
LOL cant stop laughing LOL
Nikko is not a southern dance. It is a dance created by the Faqaash and Siad Barre.
Ppl, Sado has gone crazy, but you guys are also getting worst. Dont get dip in her critism, she is just a tool that was used to deliver the lrycs. Why dont we find the Abwan who composed the song. Sado is just the call box, one has to put a coin to get it delivering your voice to the other end
To Laascanood,
Layla.
Saado is ignorant about war and how it can destroy human beings and if she knows what is like being victim of killings, living injust and brutalising,she would not encourage her men to fight. and you Laascanood person are in a dark about Isaaq invading your city, you can well remember what you have done and how no one never took revenge of you. I hope you once realise that you are in a wrong side always and care to live with your follow men peace and harmony.
Well done to Somaliland's Democratic system where someone can critisize the leadership and it's right to even exist. Those that advocate for war must remember that only the civilians suffer in the cross fire and surely a landlocked easter sool that has played musical chairs with all 3 flags, Pland, Sland and somalia will stand to loose out in the long run. Moqadishu adminsteration will never spend a cent in that region. Somalia with a world recognised governement will not have the authority to intervene in somaliland's affairs as that would be nothing short of all out war. As for Saggy Saado she is only interested in making money nothing else… she would sing for Al-Shabaab or Sahydaan if they offered to pay her.
it will be ok if you can do that
So you'd enjoy the suffering of innocent men women and chilrend who just want peace. just because the daroodis are powr hungry.
Did the singer forgot or have no clue that advocating for terror anywhere in the world is a crime in her adopted country of USA.?
Did she forgot the reason why she was given a refugee status in USA was that she run away from terror that she is now campaigning for?
The singer has to be careful for her worlds, she can be accused for inciting violence.
Saado Ali used to live in a famous guriga baakhadaha in Xamar and continues to sing for anyone with a dollar and her children ar lost too
guriga Buuhoodle ayey ku noolayn ninkii yaqaana oon baa yaqaan waa xaafadihii geerashaynta
since comparing darod with isaaq is a very silly thing to do and can be severly punished for under the darod society law…..from that perspective I will speak on behalf of all harti, after all we have quit similar numbers of inhabitants even though our land is far bigger, if I am not exaggerating, i think its twice the size of isaaqland, you have 3 cities, as harti we have few of them, soo from that perspective I would like to tell you daydreamers that the only reason we 'Harti' wont get laascanood with military might is simply because, we dont want you to get an excuse to have your little isaaqland get a UN membership….most probably you already do it, not out of love but simply because we can, we dont even make a big fuss about it, and gues what its quit working in our favor, since for 20 years no one is listening to your calaacal….you can hate Darod as much as you like, but saaxib we darods sweat for this land from adal sultanate to sayid cabdulle xassan state, SYL, xaawo taako, siyaad barre, abdi bille and all the great men and women in between…..somaliland is on puntlands leash, not even darod, kkk you people love to compare yourself to the mighty darod, ..but in reality you are on puntlands leash, {not even 50% of darod}..and we as harti dont want no quarelss with isaq, just incase it gives them a deserved outcry…which will get an international attention … .. . … and let me remind you isaaq never took laas canood, but greedy puntland parliament outcast that belonged to lascanood, who only took laascanood, and nothing els not even buhoodle which is a lot closer to isaaq strongholds, … … … and you have done us a favour, you have signed your agreement to being a part of somalia, .. …
since comparing darod with isaaq is a very silly thing to do and can be severly punished for under the darod society law…..from that perspective I will speak on behalf of all harti, after all we have quit similar numbers of inhabitants even though our land is far bigger, if I am not exaggerating, i think its twice the size of isaaqland, you have 3 cities, as harti we have few of them, soo from that perspective I would like to tell you daydreamers that the only reason we 'Harti' wont get laascanood with military might is simply because, we dont want you to get an excuse to have your little isaaqland get a UN membership….most probably you already do it, not out of love but simply because we can, we dont even make a big fuss about it, and gues what its quit working in our favor, since for 20 years no one is listening to your calaacal….you can hate Darod as much as you like, but saaxib we darods sweat for this land from adal sultanate to sayid cabdulle xassan state, SYL, xaawo taako, siyaad barre, abdi bille and all the great men and women in between…..somaliland is on puntlands leash, not even darod, kkk you people love to compare yourself to the mighty darod, ..but in reality you are on puntlands leash, {not even 50% of darod}..and we as harti dont want no quarelss with isaq, just incase it gives them a deserved outcry…which will get an international attention … .. . … and let me remind you isaaq never took laas canood, but greedy puntland parliment outcast that belonged to lascanood, who only took laascanood, and nothing els not even buhoodle which is a lot closer to isaaq strongholds, … … … and you have done us a favour, you have signed your agreement to being a part of somalia, .. …
why is mine comment deleted, i bet all the deleted comments where non isaaq readers, …how sad isaaq people cant take the heath, and how u love to path yourself on the shoulder winning a one man race…sad just sad
Did Saado consider the consequences of her song when she was singing those lyrics? Her song just shows what a hypocrite she is, living in a peaceful and prosperous country while working hard to destroy the precious little that her people in Sool have achieved. Someone should tell her to spend a day with Al Shabaab in Moqadisho.
I have to say if we all ignored the song and her from the beginning she wouldn't get the publicity she is getting it now. Besides she lives in America country of freedom of speech………so let her say what she wants….who cares 'wa islaan gaboobday oo oo asaasaqday' …….and don't go to her concerts after all it's recession she needs extra cash MNPLS social assistance $$ .:)
I agree with you, triple 'A', we should not give a platform to those warmongers who give her the hate-filled song. And let us say, "Habarbaa iska haw haw lee heelada inoo tuma." And to tell you the truth, they are hurting nobody but themselves. So, we should not give a heed to what they say.
You are wrong though by saying: … she lives in America a country of freedom of speech … She maybe living in America, but America is against promoting hate. She could get in trouble for doing that.
I think Saado is in big trouble now because already some Somaliland groups in the U.S. are planning to file complaints against her hate.
In the U.S. you have freedom but that freedom doesn't allow you to incite voilence and bloodshed. So in this case her freedom doesn't mean jack.
She is appealing to terror groups to hit Somaliland. And that is not a freedom.
She is in big trouble and I thank Dalmar for really shedding a light on what this woman is all about and her past Niiko business.
I am sure after people read this article many people won't go to her concerts. Saado will regrete for promoting voilence.
What Dalmar did is hurt her pocket big time. This guy is cleaver.
Some people say ignore her: well what if she puts together a number of concerts to raise money for a war as Dalmar stated…should we still ignore her?
Many Somalilanders without even knowing the purpose of the concerts would be attending it, just to find out they were destroying the country.
This song is a call to incite war, it's basic foundation is hate, and how ironic whilst she lives in peace and stability oin America and knowing the fact all her family are safe, she calls and incites her own people to take arms and fight with their brothers. All somalis have seen what war is about and anyone who went through it would not advocate it. But, what this shows is that Saado Cali's true colours have been unravelled and she has now become the ball bearer of the terrorist amongs us.
Its sad for her and I call for those who live in America to sue her for her incitement of terrorism. Propagation of hate crimes here in UK is a Criminal Act. If she was to come in UK and decides to sing this particular song, our group will commence proceeding against her.
Not only should we move to press charges against her for inciting hatred all Somalilanders and peace-loving Somalis should immediately boycott her music and concerts.
She has already commited treason against our brothers in Mogadishu for supporting the Ilma Tigree clan of Abdillahi Yusuf and their invasion of that city. She must pay for her crimes.
God Bless Somaliland.
I thought everyone has her/his rights to express their point of view. As I read some of those comments I thought some of you have lost their mind. We need to learn to read in between the lines. Back in late 1980s, Sado stood up to Siyad Bare, when no else dear to open their mouth. Innocent people were getting kill everyday.
Hear, hear Anisa. A lone voice of reason amongst sheep. Goodness!
It's funny how you all claim that Laas Canood is peaceful and that she is inciting hate – Hello! LA is a dispouted region. Majority of Dulbahante don't want to be part of SL and Riyaale is only managing to hold on to the town with military presence… what happened to the referendum? Where is the democracy for the people of Sool and Sanaag? You guys are being the Faqash now with your Faqash president. Get real!