ANOTHER HARD TALK IN HARGEYSA

 

Normally we watch the ‘hard talk’ with Stephen Sackur on the BBC in London. But, suddenly, Sun day night 10th June of this year I have seen the Somaliland National TV, the same program. The presenter was a heavy weight and well known journalist and broadcaster called Mr. Ahmed Xas san Awke. He had an interview with a new political party leader called Mr. Ismail Aden Osman.

Mr. Awke was handling the show beautifully and the leader was responding accordingly and in a right and responsible manner. The debate went to the climax and Mr. Ismail hit the nail on the h ead by uttering the words” Oh this is hard talk managed by an experienced and talented journal ist and having pleasure with you.” The hard talk ended so quick because it was very interesting and filled with humor and politics. Now, Mr. Awke was not born that night, but he was a very fa mous and popular journalist through out the region of the horn of Africa.

He became an icon and the star of the area during the 1977 war waged between Somalia and E thiopia. You can not forget the emotional , deep expressions and phrases he was using during the commentary and after the news, such as proclaiming: “Taliska macangaga ah, Taliska umula dooxa ah, Laxashka saaran ama waqtigiisii dhamaaday”. After the war, Awke became the speci al correspondent of the notorious and widely feared president of the Republic of Somalia betwe en .Mr. Mohamed Siyad Barre.

In my opinion this was a massively big mistake and after 20 years, Awke was still in a wrong pla ce with the wrong company and did not realize what his people (Somalilanders) have achieved during that era. He was living in a fantasy and an illusion, dreaming of what they were calling ‘S omalia’. He became just like that person who suddenly lost his eyesight and the rabbit was the last thing he ever saw. Then, that blind person began to judge or measure what ever he heard, from the rabbit to the elephants, and even lions. Finally, the bomb exploded when a bureaucrat ic, narrow minded and so called engineer sacked him over nothing. Eventually, He lost his job du e to him speaking his mind and it was a big humiliation to himself and his natural God bestowed gift, which was presenting and broadcasting as well.

After that terrible news, many people became shocked and reacted angrily towards the Somali, London based TV channel, Universal TV. On the other hand, it was something else. It can be a mi racle and I told my friends: “Wait a minute gentle men, this is the punishment of his great great grand father of Ali Bayle (Karbaashkii Cali Bayleh) because our brother Mr. Awke is living in ano ther world.” Eventually, the great presenter, Somalilander, is back home. Like the old saying ‘ea st west home best’ truly applies in his situation. Now it is time to pay back to your people who have expectations of you and all Somalilanders Welcome you home warmly Mr. Awke. All in all:-‘Charity begins at home’.