Somalis clash over ‘naked’ minister
MBABANE – This is a case of Islam versus Eswatini culture. Wearing Eswatini’s traditional regalia and participating in the Reed Dance Ceremony has drawn criticism and equal support for Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister Essa Kayd Mahamoud.
The disapproval has come mainly from people within Somalia who consider neighbouring Somaliland as a renegade State.
These have criticised the minister for violating Sharia law by displaying ‘nudity’ through the wearing of the Eswatini traditional regalia that exposed some parts of his body.
They also called the Reed Dance Ceremony a pagan culture that Muslims should not participate in.
Sharia is Islam’s legal system and is derived from the Quran, Islam’s holy book, as well as the Sunnah and Hadith - the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Both Somalia and Somaliland observe the Islam religion; people who adhere to the Islam religion are known as Muslims.
RELIGION OF THE STATE
Article 2 of the Constitution of Somaliland states that Islam is the religion of the State and no religion other than Islam can be propagated in the country.
Article 17, however, which speaks on freedom of religion and belief, states that every person is free to practice his or her religion.
The same Article also states that no religion other than Islam can be propagated in the Federal Republic of Somalia.
It is reportedly an obligatory precaution in the Islam religion for a man to cover those parts that are commonly covered by men, in the event that he knows that a non-family member woman will look at him.
According to ‘The Laws and Regulations of Islam’, as provided in www. al-islam.org, Rule 102 that relates to ‘Covering For Men’, a man must cover those parts that are commonly covered by men, in the event that he knows that a non-family member woman will look at him.
“Therefore: Men must cover the area above their wrist, the chest, the feet and other parts that men usually cover from non-Mahram women who are in their presence. As for covering the other parts such as the head, face, and hands, it is not necessary,” reads part of this rule.
BEING ‘NAKED’
By having his upper body and feet exposed during the Reed Dance Ceremony, the Somaliland minister was seen as being ‘naked’.
However, the people of Somaliland have come to the minister’s defence and described his participation in the Reed Dance Ceremony as a form of cultural diplomacy.
There were heated or emotional discussions that took place on Twitter and on Somali Spot – an online Somali discussion forum for general topics such as current events and pop culture.
Somalia’s independent news outlet, The Daily Jubba, which proclaims itself as ‘the best source of the latest developments on current affairs, political as well as diplomatic shifts in Somalia and the ever-changing landscape of the wider Horn of Africa, Africa & beyond’, reported that the Somaliland minister was taken on a trip to Eswatini by Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
This information was also carried on the news outlet’s Twitter account, which was also posted on Somali Spot where the subject became the centre of discussion, particularly the minister’s perceived violation of Sharia or Islam law.
CRITICISM
On Twitter, where the Somaliland minister tweeted about his visit to Eswatini and being part of the Reed Dance Ceremony alongside His Majesty King Mswati III and other dignitaries, the criticism was led by a freelance journalist from Somalia.
Bidhaan Dahir from BBC Somali tweeted what he said was ‘the naked truth’ as the Somaliland minister was visiting the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Some did not find this to be funny, with one Twitter user saying: “I wouldn’t expect this from Bidhaan, making fun of Somaliland.”
Another Somali journalist, Mohamed Yusuf Bakayle, tweeted that
Somaliland was seeking recognition from Eswatini by the minister’s visit.
“This is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland who took off his clothes to get recognition,” he wrote alongside a picture of the minister alongside other dignitaries at the Reed Dance.
By yesterday, the tweet had attracted over 100 responses that were both criticising and defending the minister.
A Somaliland and United Kingdom news and current affairs platform called Eslander praised the minister’s visit and said: “Wonderful. This is the traditional Reed Dance of Eswatini and Somaliland is honoured to be part of it. Well done to our Foreign Minister for getting into the spirit of such a magnificent cultural event.”
Somaliland Political Analyst and Security Expert Abdirisaq Elmi said he was proud of the minister, whom he said had mastered the art of diplomacy.
“Really our minister showed how well he knows diplomacy than any minister. We are proud of you and all Somalilanders,” Almi said.
BLASTED THE MINISTER
A Somali Social and Political Activist, only identified as Yassin, who says he strives for united peaceful and prosperous Somalia, blasted the minister for what he said was behaviour that is contrary to Islam.
“My God look at this! The secessionists are so desperate to sell their tribal project. What’s the logic behind to twerk for non-Somali person when you can’t even convince your next door neighbour? Dr Essa Kayd is doing very un-Islamic behaviour for the King of little Eswatini Nation,” he wrote.
He accused the minister of having ‘exposed himself’ to the King of Eswatini and his people who ‘dance naked’.
However, a global community of patriots from Somaliland, who call themselves the Lander Nation, rebutted Yassin’s accusation against the minister.
“It’s called Cultural Diplomacy! A type of public diplomacy and soft power that includes the… ‘exchange of traditional customs, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding’,” said the Lander Nation, whose mission is the recognition of Somaliland.
A female producer, director and writer from Somalia, who proclaims to be a proud Somali and wants to ‘show the world the Somalia I see and Somali youth to have confidence because you are not alone’, brought in the religion card.
“It’s called being a sellout and not following the proper Sharia,” she said.
A Twitter account called Fruit of the S.N.M Seed, which is aligned to the Somali National Movement (SNM) – a political organisation that engineered the self-determination of Somaliland, said playing the S religion card would not work because Somalilanders ‘only bow down to Allah’.
It’s called being a sellout and not following the proper Sharia,” she said.
BECOMING VOLATILE
Realising that the conversation was becoming volatile, the BBC journalist turned around to say that it was all a joke meant for those with a sense of humour, but this was equally condemned by Somalilanders who even said they had reported him to the British broadcaster.
“Your hidden message is a mockery of Eswatini tradition. You call it naked, they call it traditional Swazi attire,” said one Somalilander.
But a critic of the minister said Somalilanders should show some respect for their dignity before others’ culture.
“If in their culture they cut off ear, obviously you’ll do it,” he said.
This was met with immediate negation by a Somalilander who said it was pathetic for the critic to talk about dignity and respect only when it came to Somaliland.
“At least the people of Eswatini do not blow themselves up on their own people and they don’t practice piracy. So don’t lecture us about something you’re lacking,” said the Somalilander.