Interview with FreeThinker Banaadiri Whose Aim Is to Change the Name "Somalia"

The Banaadirs (also spelled "Benadir") are people with their roots in ancient Arabia, Persia and South and Central Asia. Their name is derived from Persian word "bandar" meaning "harbor", or port, reflecting their origins as seafaring traders, who crossed the Indian Ocean to the easternmost part of Africa and established centers of commerce, which linked that continent with Asia. The first Banaadiri communities were established in what is today southern Somalia, about one thousand year ago. The Banaadiri historical profile started probably in Mesopotamia, crossed Yemen and reached the coast of Africa, where the Banaadiri civilization grew and flourished.

"The Banaadiri coast", as name for coastal northeast Africa, was used well into the 20th century, and as an informal designation for southern Somalia remains in use today. So sophisticated was the Banaadiri urban culture and the extraordinary literate background of these early settlers along the coast of the Indian Ocean, that they were described by foreign visitors as "people bound together by ties of citizenship and not by tribal relationships".

The Banaadiris are multiethnic people from Horn of Africa. They are living along the south coast of that geographic area which Italians in 1908 named "Somalia". Nuredin Hagi Scikei was born in Mogadishu as descendant of AlFaqi, known also as the Reer Faqi of Qahtan religious dynasty, and appointed by the Banaadiri as administrators of justice in the territory from the Middle Ages until the first years of the Italian occupation. Nuredin is a graduate in civil engineering from Bologna University in Italy, where he lives. Since 1990 he is actively involved in the rights of the Banaadiri people. He is author of several articles in Italian periodicals. Nuredin is also author of the book "Banaadiri - the Renewal of a Millenary Identity", written simultaneously in Italian and English. The book shows how rich and developed the Banaadiri society was before Italian colonization. The protagonists of the urbanization of Banaadir were the people of Yemen, who founded the first schools, constructed the infrastructure of the area, developed the economy, introduced monetary system, improved agricultural techniques to meet international standards and linked it to the Muslim and world trade.

Q. Welcome Nuredin, update us briefly about the present position on the ground after the break up of Somalia
R: To begin with, I would like to make clear, that the name of a country is supposed to represent all groups and identities living on a particular territory. "Somalia", on the contrary, is a tribal name. The name is thus favouring one ethnic group, i.e. the Somalis, and not others, the Banaadiri, Digil, Mirifle and Bantu. Somalia is a name composed by the Italian colonial government in 1908.

The political situation is northern region, some 200 km north of Mogadiscio, is rather stable. Both, the situation in Somaliland and Puntland are solid, at least some good news from that area. I would underline the fact that, in their native territories in the north and in the centre, the Somalis are in fact living in peace. Only in the south that is the Banadiri territory, from where they want us to drive out and colonize it, they resolved to do so with destruction and death. They, however, do not posses the necessary numerical force to occupy that land permanently.

In 2004, a 275 member parliament was created in Nairobi, and on January 12th 2005, a federal government was voted into office, basically rewarding those armed gangs, the Somalis.

There is no doubt that there is heavy interference from foreign powers in the Horn of Africa. This seems normal in the political life of any country in the world. The issue is that those interferences have become destructive, especially when many are ready to serve them. In the Horn of Africa, the "slaves", who are ready to serve foreign interests, against the stability of their own country, are the Somali tribe. No foreign power has succeeded to exploit other ethnic groups, the Banaadiri, Digil, Mirifle and Bantu, and that is the reason, they do not get any military help.

Q: Somalia has a new federal government. Where do you stand as Banadiri? What is your position?
R: I am not part of any Banaadiri group, in particular. Someone has described me as a free-thinker. I am committed to lead the Banaadiri out of political naivety. As far as the federal government is concerned, my opinion is that everyone should support it.
Southern people are suffering, children were not in school since 1990. We have had 16 years long chasm of useless suffering. We will be prepared to overlook it only and exclusively for that reason.

Q How do you view the recent meeting in Aden, among Yemen, Somalia, and Ethiopia, as contribution to the peace in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, in general?
R: I view the commitment of these two countries very positively. In addition, Yemen is the only country which has the right militarily to intervene in Banaadir, as for example, the English did in the Falkland Islands and the Turks in Cyprus. Banaadir has been created by people from Yemen. There are hundreds of thousands Banaadiri of Yemenite origin, who have fled to that country. Yemen has the duty and the right to bring these people back home and to protect them, until they are capable to look for themselves. In fact, I think Yemen should start mobilizing, preparing, and training a Banaadiri peacekeeping army. Banaadiris are peaceful people. But their peace messages will be taken seriously only when they have their own army.

Q. Somalia prior the Italian colonization as political entity did not exist. What is your relationship with the former colonial power today?
R: I have been living in Italy for 30 years now. I often cannot understand, which part of me remained Banaadiri and which one has become Italian. But this does not make me to desist accusing Italy of being the major cause of the tragedy that has befallen the Banaadiris. "Somalia" is an abortion of the Italian foreign policy. Prior their arrival, beginning of the twentieth century, we were under the Omani monarchy, in Zanzibar. The army controlling Banaadir ie. that is the coastal region, stretching from Warsheikh to the Kenyan border, used to be made up by Banaadiri officers and soldiers of Omani and Yemenite origins. The Italians slowly disarmed all the Banaadiri, recruited Somali soldiers from other areas instead and created a new state, giving it the tribal name "Somalia". The Italians still write in their history books that they rented Banaadir from the Sultan of Zanzibar. Unfortunately they forget to add that they conquered our lands threatening the Sultans of Zanzibar with their gunboats. The Omanis were in position to defend themselves against the Italians. However, Zanzibar, in 1885, was under the fire by dozens English and German warships.

In those years, of terrible difficulties for the Banaadiris, due to the Italian colonial policy, the Italian government did not show much sympathy towards my people. For example, every year, the Italian government allows thousands immigrants in. But it has never reserved any immigration quota for the Banaadiri refugees, who are scattered between Kenya and Yemen. On the contrary, many Banaadiri told me that when they present themselves with that name at Italian Embassies all over the world, they get thrown out.

Q: Your book "Banaadiri, the Renewal of a Millenary identity", a review of which was first published in Yemen Times in Yemen and re-printed in South East Asian Studies Journal, is an important contribution to the history of Banaadir. Your are being hailed as a new generation of innovative researches, utilizing oral traditions, linguistic evidence and archaeological data. What responses did you receive, can you elaborate?
R: Innovators have always had hard times, and it is the same with me. Prior my book, the Banaadiri were looked upon as a sort of picturesque people and were even laughed at. But not anymore! I silenced them all, but did not hear any the storm of cheering. May be there will be some after my dead.

My book caused enormous astonishment. It gave dignity back to the coastal people. It showed how creative they are, it clearly demonstrated their permanent will for their improvement. Its impact, however, will have to be viewed on a longer run. It has become a point of reference for the new generation, who is now growing up and slowly absorbing it. To be honest, it has been a great and richly rewarding experience for me. Myself, am fascinated by the history of our ancestors. In many ways, it is a miracle to be able to complete this undertaking. You know, it is very difficult to undertake such research without proper funding.

Q: Your book shed a fascinating insight into the Banadiri sophisticated urban culture. Even Ibn Battuta, the great Muslim travellers, was taken by it. Do you think is re-making of Banaadir possible, feasible?
R: I’m confident should the Banaadiri free themselves from Somali colonization, our land will bloom again. Banaadir has always been a land of merchants and craftsmen. A land where shapeless chunks, found new dignity in the hands of our stone cutters, goldsmiths, leather tanners, wood carvers, weavers. The Banaadiri do not see themselves as manufactures only. Or their artistic products, as mere goods. It presents an authentic expression of their culture and the way they perceive life itself. Unfortunately, both the Italians and the Somalis have destroyed most of our craft centers and towns, from where there would be much to discover. Just think of the fact, that the history of Mogadishu may be connected to the mythical Bukhara (Uzbekistan), one of the legendary cities on the silk route, whose origins dates back some 2500 years. I have noticed that the roof of the Faqruddiin mosque, built in 1269 in Mogadisho (and fortunately still standing), has an ogival and a pyramidal dome, both on the same axis as the mihrab. Very similar to the Chasmah Ayub mausoleum’s roof. It seems that the mausoleum’s domes were built in different periods, between the XIV and the XVI centuries. While the mausoleum was built again between 1379 and 1385 on an already existing structure.

It was supposed to be ordered by Timur the Lame - better known as Tamerlane - the famous conqueror - who reigned, from 1370 to 1405, over large empire extending from China to Syria. I read a passage in a book that - but I still ought to check - in 1207 the historian Ibn Khaldun noted in his Kitab al-’Iba, that many people fled Tashkent (Uzbekistan) to Cairo, Baqhdad and Mogadishu. It is possible that the architect was a Banaadiri from Bukhara, who later designed the Faqruddin mosque. Constructions in those days, usually took a long time. It may very well be that he married a Yemenite girl and their descendants are still living among us.

Q: What kind of internal organization of Somalia would bring peace and stability to all? What formula would you suggest?
R: For the time being the federal government formula is the most sensible. The federation should not be confined in creating separate administrations, separate self-defense forces.

I assume that all committed crimes were well documented. I also assume that our young people, the future generation, who will watch those pictures, destructions and atrocities, will live again those terrible events, death of their families, relatives, their own crippled growth. It will definitely provoke strong emotions.

Over the past years, on a number Western universities, serious research has been done on how prevent a genocide. They all seem to agree, that communities running risk of being massacres, can not be protected and relying on laws only. Something else is required. It is my suggestions that vulnerable communities should be able to defend themselves from the would be aggressions. At least until the international solidarity becomes active. But it is necessary to be pragmatic and realistic.

Q: The Banaadiri view Somalis as occupiers. Is living together possible? What is the way out, where do we go from here?
R: Nothing will be as before. A political co- existence will be forced upon us, but socially we will stay divided for many generations, if not forever. Fortunately the territory is big, not small, as for example, Rwanda. It may be possible to find a less conflictual co-existence.

Q: According to many reports commissioned by different scholars on Somalia, ethnic minorities on the Banaadiri coast and in the inter-rivering region of Somalia, represent the only genuine group of refugees from Somalia, who were forcibly disposed from their homeland through extortion, rape and physical violence, with deliberate end of ethnic cleansing. What is the response of the international community? With whom are you talking, what do you want them to do?

The Yemenites, the English and the Americans. They did a lot for the Banaadiri. They recognized us and they gave us hospitality. But it is from Italy that we expect a major contribution, since it has direct responsibility for destruction of Banaadir. We ask Italy to pass a special law and accept Banaadiri as refugees, to stop talking of the so-called Somalia as "one people speaking one language", that exist in their dreams only. Now the government in Italy is being lead by a centre-left coalition. My hope is that the Italian politicians will accept my appeal, and will accept Banaadiri refugees. But it will be us, the Banaadiris, not the Somalis, who will have the say, who is Banaadiri and who is not.

Q: In which countires the Banadiri communities reside today, and how are you organized?
R: We are spread all over the world. The largest Banadiri community lives in Yemen, England and in the USA. We are in difficulties, as we do not control any territory in the inland, which would enable us to organize activities, collect taxes, in order to build much needed schools, hospitals and assist those in need.

Q: How do you intend to preserve your national heritage, historical sites of Banaadir?
R: It is important to take away from Somalis the administration of the main towns centres on our territory. We intend to mobilize the help from scholars and politicians in the Arab World and the West for the restoration of - what is left of - our monuments and historical buildings. Of course, a preservation policy of the historical sites will have to be outlined in the shortest possible time by a committee formed both by Banaadiri and international experts.

Q: What impact had Pan-Somalism on the Banaadiri?
R: It’s been a tragedy for us. The Somalis are an ethnic group, theirs is an macabre outlook in life. See, for example, a documentary about the brutality of circumcision and mutilating of little girls’ genitals. One can have nightmares about it… The cruelty and violence they used against the Banaadir and all the southern peoples, demonstrate collective approach, and not individual pathologies. For example, they seem to be incapable to produce a cultural message, or draw a clear boundary between life and death. I feel bad when Banaadiri are apish at Somalis, because by doing so they are making matters worse. It does not help the Somalis, to expose their negative features. Banaadiri culture is superior to Somali’s, because it is deeply human.

Q: What are the changes of returning of peace to southern Somalia, do you plan to return and when?
R: Much will depend on the determination and degree of political maturity of the southern people. If they hold together and act firmly, to bring the Somalis back to their reason… then peace will return to our lands. Thinking that violence is going to disappear is a mistake. Thinking to control it by training, militarily and technically… the one who is more interested in peace, is more realistic. I think that the creation of a competent Banaadiri army is a must, if we want peace to reign in the coastal region.

I intend to return as soon as the situation allows it. I am very fond of my country. Young people see me as their hero, and I cannot let them down now.

Q: What suggestion do you have to the new Somali government? Would you say that peace in Somalia and southern pare is still far off?
R: I have little to tell the Somalis. I think that the Darood and the Hawiye, and Somalis in general, are in no hurry to restore peace. Puntland is doing quiete well, there young people study, people have work and there are good hospitals and medical facilities. The Hawiye are living in peace in their territories, but they sacked and destroyed our southern lands, until they we allowed to do so.

My address is to southern men and women. I would like them to be more enterprising, invite refugees to Baidoa, promote meetings with intellectuals abroad and those living there, to take control of the situation there. I wish the Banaadiri would organize a large gathering in Baidoa, that would be an occasion for me to go and see what is going on there…

Q: The war in Somalia was also a conflict about resources – the imbalance between Somali "north" and southern peoples. What workable division of resources would your propose?
R: The issue is not the scarcity of resources. The issue is to attract more immigrants from abroad to better exploit the country’s resources. There is lack of specialized workers, for example, of hands to work on the land and to better exploit fishing resources.

For example, previous government allowed our sea to be covered by fishing boats but which made only a handful people rich. It would be much more useful to build a road along the coast and at the same time to encourage setting up a number of fishing cooperatives. Refrigerated trucks could collect their catch and forward it to the larger processing centres, which would forward it to the second phase of processing. In 1990 I met a fishing cooperative that had a turnover of about 12 millions dollars per year. I understood that coast off the Horn of Africa is rich in fish. It is essential to bring in small fishers, to get in that sector going. And not leave it as monopoly of few.

The so called Somalia has 63,766,000 hectares of land, good to feed a population from 3 to 6 millions inhabitants. About 50% of that territory can be used as grazing land. From 1982 and 1986, official sources registered 35 millions heads of cattle, which were bred through the simple transhumance system! How then it is possible to say that this country has scarcity of resources?

Q: What would be your suggestion to get Somalia out of the present situation and to joint anew the international community?
R: Not to obstruct or boycott southern people in their initiatives, as it is being done right now. It is in their interest as well.

Q: What message would you like to convey to the Banaadiri?
R: I would like to tell them to overcome their inferiority complex and brain-washing, to which they were exposed over the last century. I would tell, them that people fleeing without fighting back are people without dignity. I would tell them to fight, in order to change the name "Somalia", because we are no longer willing to accept the name of a tribe, of our torturers. Somalis ought to understand that a genocide took place and they cannot expect to be forgiven for that. Ever.

Q: And to the international community?
I ask the international community to allow to defend ourselves.

Any last comments, suggestions, wishes?
You, yourself, are by now an expert on the Indian Ocean coastal people. I hope, some day, you will write a book about them. I would like the people from the Yemen, Oman, Zanzibar, Mombasa, Iran, India’s west coast (Gujarat, Konkan, Malabar), Malaysia, the Comoros, have a book in their hands, which would make them understand, how much they share with the Banaadiri people, and the other way around. This would be an important undertaking. It is my wish, that necessary funds would be find for such undertaking. You have knowledge, the proper feel and experience to do so.

THANK YOU!
Wishing you and the Banaadiri the best.
As for the suggested book, am giving it most serious thought and consideration.

*
Located at the eastern end of the Horn of Africa, with a long coastline on the Indian Ocean and proximate to the Arabian Peninsula across the Red Sea, Somalia is geo- politically significant as a gateway between Africa and the Middle East. Its collapse into a patchwork of regions with varying degrees of political integration has invited external powers to intervene. A Muslim country with a population estimated at ten million people, a pastoral economy.
Regional states -- Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti are organized in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (I.G.A.D.), which has attempted to broker the formation of a central government in Somalia with some minor success. Baidoa, a neutral town 240 kilometers (150 miles) southeast of Mogadishu, has been proclaimed the temporary capital.
The violent confrontations between the I.C.U. and A.R.P.C.T. that began on May 7 and continued until a fragile cease-fire took hold on May 14 drew all of the actors on Somalia's political landscape into its vortex. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, weighed in on May 12 with calls for an end to the fighting.

RELATED ARTICLES
Nuredin Hagi Scikei, Sun Tzu and his sophisticated analysis of the conflicts
http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=937&p=opinion&a=4

Nuredin Hagi Scikei, Banadiri, Renewal of Millenary Identity,
Published by Clueb, Bologna, Italy
www.clueb.com

Mohammed Ahmed H. Mohamed Abati, The Banaadiri Culture, English, untitled
Also by the same author, The Banaadi People, English, untitled

Irena Knehtl, Banaadir, the Country of Harbors, profile and book review in Yemen Times no. 728, 12th April, 2004
http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=728&p=culture&a=1

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thanks to Mohammed Ahmed Abati, a Banadiri scholar, and coordinator of the Banaadiri community in New Zealand for his kind assistance and support for conducting this interview.