The accomplishments of great nations are derived from the nurturing sweat and toil of labouring women whose call to duty are often relegated to obliviousness by male chauvinistic societies such the Somalis. Somali society appears to have just turned blind eye to the selfless sacrifice and devotion of the large army of Somali women who have single-handedly catered for the human resource needs of the society by brazing the pangs of child-birth to replenish the Horn of Africa. Unfortunately, poverty has not has mercy on these Somalian women thereby hiding the glory of these hardworking women and their good works. Poverty has been identified as one the major causes undermining the empowerment, growth and development of women and children in Somalia. And indeed, their needs and concerns are basket full if not barrel full. They are over-burdened by the heavy responsibilities they bear in the face of civil war, economic crises and extreme poverty and hardship. These notwithstanding, they are taking them strides with new generation of educated women and civil society spread-heading the campaign.
For more than a decade Somali women have been relegated to the background and only relevant in carved areas such as reproduction (childcare) and kitchen where they mastered in the art of catering to satisfy the insatiable appetites of their ungrateful husbands. Decision–making in the family, in the political arena and in matters regarding land, nation reconstruction and marriage were the key preserve of the men. The men ruled at their whims and not subjected to criticism in public. Most Somali women interviewed agreed that “The Somali culture and tradition appears to be embedded in various ways in relegating women and catapult the men as the dominant and relevant creature above all elseâ€Â. According to them, as a result of old customary practices, which look down women as inferior people, women have been suppressed to the extent that they are afraid to complete for political positions with their male counterpart even if they have equal academic qualification.
Somali women argued that, “since 1990, women have been relegated to the background for one reason or the other. This has resulted the current political and socio-economic woes that we find ourselves in now. Asha Shacuur (left on the picture) who is Women’s rights campaigner and peace activist pointed out that “Despite these problems women want to play part in the national development but are portrayed as the weaker sex that rides behind men to realise their dream and ambitions.†She added that Somali men are holding guns on the faces of women and are holding the whole nation hostage.
Contrary to these negative connotations above, Somali women could hold any political office in the country effectively if they are given the chance. Dr Badria Jibril asked Somali men to put down their weapons and let women heal the wounds of the country and the people. She points out that , People all over the world are now convinced that women have very important roles to play in nation –building. Therefore, Somali women are now asking that chance to be given to prove themselves. Lul Hassan Kulmiye (fund raiser & charity worker) added, “given the necessary exposure, women would be able excel more than their male counterpartâ€Â.
Somalia has two main problems. These are tribalism and lack of women on the decision-making table. Somali people do not need Warlords and Wadaads to save their country but need well organised Somali women group with manifesto for Somalia. They are begging their men to handover the weapons to the women in their houses (wives, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters) so they can lock them away. They also want men to allow women to take part in all decision-making process in order to save our nation. Somali men need to remember these words below:
Hablo weerar gelikara
Hablo geela dhicikara
Hablo geesi dilikara
Hablo tallada goynkara
Garta madal kaniqikara
Garasha isaga mida
Qaladkana kawada guban
Geeskeena mooyee
Soomaaliya moyee
Gayi kale majoogaan
By: Abdulkadir Dahir Farah (Aliyow)
