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Institution
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The Library of Congress
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Location
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Rec Sound Res Center (Madison, LM113)
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Collection Title
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Archive of World Literature on Tape
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Item Title
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Yam Yam (Abdulqadir Hersi Siad) of Somalia
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Creator(s)
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Yam Yam (Abdulqadir Hersi Siad); Nichols, Lee; Voice of America
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Collector(s)
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Nichols, Lee;Voice of America (Organization)
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Description/Scope and Content
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The author, interviewed through an interpreter, explains how he got started giving oral poetry readings in 1966. He discusses the importance of the oral tradition in Somali culture. Includes readings from his works.
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Date
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Originally broadcast between 1975-1979 on the Voice of America radio series Conversations with African writers, no. 74.
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Identifier
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80740518
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Language
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Somali and English
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Extent
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1 sound tape reel (30 min.) : analog, 7 1/2 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 7 in
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Collection Type
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archival collection
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Level of Processing
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Minimal Processing
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Type of Materials/Format
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audio-tapes & cassettes
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Related Collections: Types of Materials
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publications
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Copyright
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Unknown
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Donor Information
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Available
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Usage
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Low (permanent storage)
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Transcript
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Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:00:01]
This is Lee Nichols (Interviewer)in Mogadishu. The date is July 25th,1978, and we have at our voice of America microphone. Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam) . Yam Yam is more his poetic name that he goes by as a poet, and Yam Yam was born in 1946 in Wardheer, which the Somalis refer to as Western Somalia, but which the Ethiopians refer to as Ethiopia. We'll straighten that out in the program, and er, since he speaks chiefly Somali and little English, his answers will be translated by Ahmed Farah Ali a writer and a co-worker with Yam, Yam in the Academy of Somali Studies.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): Welcome gentlemen, and the first thing I would like to ask Yam Yam is a simple question. What did his father do?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:01:11]
Aabahay wuxuu ahaa nin reer guuraa ah oo wuxuu dhaqan jiray xoolaha.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:01:11]
My father was a nomad and herdsman.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:01:22]
Was there anything in his family background or his early life that he feels in any way led him on the course of becoming a writer.
Abdulahi Ahmed (translator)
Ma jirtaa in reerkiisa ama noloshiisii hore in ey saameen ku yeesheen in uu noqdo qoraa?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam) [00:01:36]
Maya, ma aanan aheen gabayaa, mana aanan aheen qoraa.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:01:36]
No, he was not a poet. And nor was he a writer.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:01:57]
But was there anything in his background which influenced him in any way such as hearing stories, or any of his family or parents having done anything along those lines, or is this something that just came lately?
Ahmed Farah Ali (translator): [00:02:11]
Laakiin ma jiraan wax hore oo saameeyay sida maqalka sheekooyinka, ama uu ka maqlay qof ka mid ah qoyskiisa ama waalidkii ama waxyaabahas oo kale, mise waa wax dhowaan kugu soo dhacay?
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:02:11]
Yes. I was influenced by my family because I couldn't be a poet without having this kind of influence from my family.
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam):
Haa.Waxaa i saameeyay reerkeyga maxaa yeelay saameyntooda la’aanteed annigu gabayaa ma noqdeen.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:02:40]
What was the nature of the influence from his family?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:02:46]
Siyaalo badan ayay ii sammeeyeen. Marka hore, waxaa sheekooyin ii sheegay jiray qaar ka mid ah qoyskayga. Qaar waxay i bari jireen waxyaabo hore u dhacay, qaarna waxay i bari jireen maansooyin oo aan kor ka xafido.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:02:46]
They influenced me in many ways. First, some of my family narrated stories to me. Some of them used to teach me for example historical events, and some of them used to let me learn or know by heart poems of other people.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer):[]
He just didn't do any writing himself. Okay, would you ask him please to summarize for me his education just in general where did he have his primary and secondary education and any further education.
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): []
Waligay ma dhigan dugsi, laakiin mar walba waxaan jeclahay in aan barto wixii cusub; waxaan bartay Qur'aanka kaliya ee Quraanka oo ah diinta Islaamka. Taasina waa dhammaan waxbarashadayda.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator):
I have never attended a formal education, but I always enjoyed learning new things, and I only learned Quran. Quran which is an Islamic religion. And that is all my education.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:04:28]
Well now I would like to ask him now the big first question. How when and where did he start writing? And what were the first things he wrote?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:04:39]
Waxaan ku sugnaa magaalada Kismaayo markii ugu horeysay ee aan tiriyo gabay waxayna ahayd 1964-tii. Waan isku dayay haddana iskuma aan dayin in aan gabayo qoro; waayo waxaan xiisaynayay nolosha oo sidaas daraaddeed waxaan doonayay inaan muujiyo dareenkayga.
Amed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:04:39]
My first poetry reading was in the city of Kismayo in 1964. I tried writing poems, or not writing poems, because I was interested in life and how it was going at the time. I therefore wanted to communicate how I was feeling.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:05:26]
What was the first poem or the first poems that he wrote and what happened to them?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (YamYam): [00:05:34]
Hadda, ma xasuusan karo gabaygaas laakiin waxaan xusuustaa mawduuca. Wuxuu ku saabsanaa gumaysiga Itoobiya ee ka socday dalkaygii aan ku dhashay oo aan ka hadlayay sideen dalkan aan uga soo ceshan lahaa gumaysiga Itoobiya.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:05:34]
I can't recall that specific poem right now, but I do recall its topic. It was about the colonialization of my birth country by Ethiopia, and I discussed how I could free my own nation from Ethiopian rule.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:06:17]
How was he employed at the time? What was he doing at the time he was writing the poem?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam) [00:06:23]
Waqtigaas shaqo la’aan baan ahaa oo waxa aan ku fikirayay waxa ay ahayd in aan qorigayga qaato oo aan meeshaas tago, halkii aan ku dhashay oo aan Xabashida la dagaallamo
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:06:23]
At that time, I had no job, and all I could think about was taking my rifle back to my birthplace and fighting the Ethiopians there.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:06:51]
Yum, Yum. What happened to your first poem or poems?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:07:02]
Waqtigaas far Soomaaliga lama qorin. Haddaba dhammaan gabayadaydii wakhtigaas, qofna ma duubin ama ma qorin. Markaa qaar badan oo ka mid ah ayaa iga lumay, oo markii Af-Soomaaliga la qorayey, waxa aan haystay wax yar oo ka mid ah. Gabayadayda waa la jeclaa markii aan joogay magaalada Kismaayo oo aheed meeshii aan maansada ka bilaabay.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:07:02]
At that time, the Somali script was unwritten. So, all my poem of that era, nobody recorded them or have them written down. So, I lost many of them, and when the Somali language was written, I had only a few of them left. People loved my poems when I was in Kismayo, the city where I began writing poems.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:07:47]
You say the people, he says the people used to love your poems. How did they come to know about them?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:07:53]
Taas waxaan ku ogaaday marka aan soo istaag masraxa oo aan maansooyinkayga u jeedinayo dadweynaha, waxa ay mar walba sacabka u tumayeen si ann kala go’lahayn.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:07:53]
I know this since the audience clapped nonstop when I read my poems to them on stage.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:08:19]
So, in other words, they came to know as poetry though by his reciting them in public?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:08:24]
Haa. Haa, sababtoo ah weli lama daabicin wakhtigaas.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:08:24]
Yes. Yes, because it was not published yet.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:08:29]
How did he get the opportunity to recite them in public? Did he did somebody ask him? I'm curious to know. Oh how they came to the attention of the public.
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:08:38]
Maadaama ay dadku inta badan isu soo baxaan xilliyada sida ciidda ama kulamada kale, ayaan tegi jiray halkaas aniga oo keligay ah.Inta badanna waxaan gabayo u tirin jiray dadweynaha. Markaa dabadeed waxaan caan ku noqday maansooyinkaygii wanaagsanaa, waxaana la i waydiin jiray had iyo jeer inaan gabayo u tiriyo. Hadda todobaadkan, Kismaayo ayaan tagay waxaan ku arkay magaalada kismaayo dad badan oo ilaa maanta xasuusan gabayadii hore ee 1965-tii oo ilaa hada gabayadaydii akhrinayay.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:08:38]
As people usually congregate in public during events like Eid or gatherings, I used to go there on my own, generally to perform poetry for the audience. After that, my good poems made me famous, and people occasionally asked me to recite poems for them. This week, I visited Kismayo, where I encountered many people who remember and still recite my 1965 poetry.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:09:33]
It's very interesting indeed that reminds me of the market woman in Ghana, but that's just an aside. What are the general subjects of your poems Yam?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:10:18]
Gabayadayda waxaa udub dhexaad u ah hanashada xorriyadda guud ee ummadda Soomaaliyeed iyo hor u marrinta nolosha iyo sidii midnimo ugu yeeri lahaa. Taasi waa mawduuca ugu weyn ee gabayadayda.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:10:18]
My poems' key topics include the Somali nation's attainment of complete independence, the advancement of their way of life, and the need for unity. That's the main theme of my poetry.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:10:46]
Roughly, does he have any idea, you have any idea roughly how many poems you've written?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): 00:10:53]
Maansadaydu inta ay le'eg tahay kor kama aqaan, laakiin waxaan filayaa, haddii gabayadayda, oo ay ka mid yihiin geeraar ama qaybaha kala duwan ee maansada Soomaalida; kama yara 1,500 maanso .
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:10:53]
I don't remember all my poems by heart, but I think, if my poems, and this includes geeraar or other forms of Somali poetry. It is not less than 1,500 poems.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): Yum, yum. Do you have any general message any basic overall purpose in your writing?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:11:59]
Ujeeddooyinka guud ee maansadayda waa in aan Soomaalida uga waramo waxyaabaha een ka fikirayn. Inaan tusaale ahaan ugu sheego nolol farxad leh. In loo sharaxo khaasatan waxyaabaha qofka caadiga ah uusan fahmayn. Haddaba tani waa ujeeddada ugu weyn maansooyinkayga.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:11:59]
My overall objectives of my poems are to tell Somalis what they are not thinking about (what they don’t know). To tell them for example of a happy life. To explain to them particularly what an average Somali guy cannot comprehend. Thus, this is my poetry' primary goal.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): []
That seems to be a somewhat incomplete answer to tell them what they're not thinking about. But tell them what?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam):
Waxaan filayaa inaan horay kuu sheegay ujeeddadayda. Waa in la baraa muhiimadda ay u leedahay in dalkooda laga xoreeyo gumeysiga oo ay mideeyaan shacabkooda Soomaaliyeed. Mida labaad iney hormariyaan noloshooda iyo in ay isu diyaariyaan sidii ay nolol leh u heli lahaayeen.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator) []
I think I have earlier mentioned this goal to you. It's to teach them the importance of freeing their nation from colonial authority and unifying the Somali masses; second, it's to tell them to improve their way of life and get them ready to a pleasant life for themselves.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:13:37]
Yum. Yum. Do you feel that the African writers such as yourself should use traditional material, oral literature the folk legends of his people as part of his writing and do you do so?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:14:03]
Soomaalidu waxay u muuqataa inay ka duwanyihiin dalalka kale ee Afrika. Waxay inta badan ku tiirsan yihiin suugaanta afka, oo soo socoday laba qarni. Qarnigan aan ku jirnana ma sii socon karto iyada oo aan ku xidhnayn suugaantooda, dhaqankooda iyo afkooda.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:14:03]
Somalis seem somewhat different from the other African nations. They mainly depend on their oral literature which goes back two centuries. And at our present time, it cannot proceed without depending on their oral literature, culture, and oral traditions.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:14:50]
So, does he use it in his own writing?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:14:53]
Haa, markaan wax qorayo, waxaan isticmaalaa sheekooyinkii, suugaantii iyo dhaqankeygii hore.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:14:53]
Yes, I use folk tales and folklore materialist in my writings and my old tradition in my writings.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:15:06]
Do you think that writing in African languages such as you do, is an important part of African literature?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:15:21]
Haa, sidaas ayaan aaminsanahay walina waxaan aaminsanahay in af haduusan qorneen, waxaad oran kartaa ma laha suugaan badan. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, markii aad luuqadaas qorto oo aad af ahaan u adeegsato, way kobcaysaa oo waxey noqota mid muhiim ah.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:15:21]
Yes, I believe so and I still believe that a language if it is not written. It doesn't, you can say it doesn't have much literature in it. However, when you write that language and use it as a language for writing it flourishes and makes itself significant.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:16:03]
Yam, Yam. Do you see the writer as having a particular role in your society as contrasted with writing for the sake of Art? In other words does a writer have a place in his Society?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:16:19]
Waxay ila tahay in qoraagu aanu sii noolaan karin hadduusan fankiisa iyo qoraaladiisaba bulshada u hurin, waayo bulshada ama meesha aad ku nooshahay ayaa ah nuxurka qoraaladaada.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:16:19]
I think a writer cannot survive unless he devotes his art and his writings for the society, because the society, or where you live is the basic material of your writings.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:16:50]
Who is the primary audience that he seeks, who is the primary audience that you seek for your writing?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam):
Dhegaystayaasha aan raadinayo waa kuwii waqtiyadii hore noolaa, kuwa iga weyn , kuwa aan isku gu nahay, iyo kuwa iman jiilka soo socda ah; dhammaan saddexdaba. Mana jiraan dhagaystayaal gaar ii ah oo raadinaya, ma raadinayo dhagaystayaal gaar ah.
Ahmed Fareh Ali (Translator): [00:17:02]
The audience I'm seeking for are those who lived, er, before this era. Those who are older than me, and those who are we are the same age, and those who are going to come in the coming generations all the three. And I have no audience looking for, I'm not looking for a particular audience.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:17:54]
What is he seeking primarily, are you seeking primarily Somali audience? Are you interested in having your poems read and known by people in other countries?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:18:04]
Marka hore, waxaan ku fekerayaa Soomaalidu inay noqdaan dhagaystayaashayda koowaad, waxaana rajeynayaa mustaqbalka, inaan awood u yeesho in aan ka dhex muuqdo oo la iga daawado adduunkoo idil.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:18:04]
First, I'm thinking of Somalis as to be my primary audience and I hope that I would be capable sometimes in the future to make myself appear, apparent for in the world. I before the world eyes
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:18:37]
Now you had your first, well, I should not say this is an assumption, but You had an introduction to a wider audience by the presentation of your poems both in English and Somali at the World Festival of Negro and African Arts in in Lagos last year in 1977. Is that not so?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:19:06]
Waxey ahayd gabaygaygii ugu horreeyay ee lagu turjumo af qalaad. Oo sida aan xasuusto Ingiriisi oo keliya ma aheen, ee sidoo kale Faransiis. Sababta oo aheed, waxaan u baahneen in maansooyinkeena inaan barno dadweynaha ajnabiga ah.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:19:06]
It was that poem of mine was the first to be translated in foreign language. And as I remember what it was not only English it was in French also, and because the reason is that was the only time, we needed our poems to teach the public, foreign public.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:19:33]
Was there any reaction to you to your poetry there? Did you get any kind of feedback?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:19:46]
Haa, wax ay aniga ila ahayd, marka la eego dhinaca Soomaalida ama dhaqanka Soomaalida, abwaanku ma aha inuu ku faanu wax uu daabaco. Tusaale ahaan, maanso af-qalaad iyo mid af-Soomaaligu aniga waa iskukey mid.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:19:46]
Yeah, it was kind of a thing for me because from the Somali point of view or Somali tradition, a poet doesn't have to boast about publishing, for example, a poem of him in a foreign language, in Somali is the same for me, it was.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:20:14]
But I'm not asking whether he wants to boast, but whether he heard any reaction, whether anybody commented on his poetry, whether it caused an impression.
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:20:45]
Ka dib markii aan gabayga masraxa ka jeediyey, waxaa ii yimid qaar ka mid ah daadkii ajaanibka ahaa ee joogay Lagos oo muujiyey sida ay ugu riyaaqeen gabaygaygii, waayo anigu waxaan ahaa afrikaanka kaliya ee afkiisa hooyo ku gabyay. Qaar ka mid ah ayaa gabayada ku akhriyayey af Ingiriis ama faransiis; adigu waad garanaysaa. koox weriyayaal Ingiriis ah oo Muqdisho booqasho ku joogtay ayaa ii yimid oo iga waraysatay gabaygan.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:20:45]
Some foreign visitors of Lagos first approached me after reciting that poem on the stage and they really like it for the reason because I was the only African who has who recited this poem in his native language. Others were telling, you know, their poems in French or in English. A group of British journalists who came here to Mogadishu approached me and talking with me about this poem of mine.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:21:28]
Have any of your poems been published now. I know that I've seen the one I think it's the one that was presented to the Fest stack in Lagos was published just in the week of the middle of July 1978 in the English language the new English language newspaper in Mogadishu have any of your poems been published anywhere else?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:22:03]
Umalayn maayo in gabayadayda mid ka mid ah lagu turjumay af qalaad oo dibadda la geeyay.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:22:03]
I don't think there is one of my poems being translated into a foreign language and went abroad.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:22:21]
Have any been published in Somali?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:22:28]
Tusaale ahaan waxaa jira gabayadayda qaarkood oo laga daabacay ruwaayad ama wargeysyada laakiin aan ahayn kuwo dhammaystiran. Gabayadayda oo dhammaystiran weli lama daabicin.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:22:28]
There are some of my poems been published within a play for example or within a newspaper but not as a complete works. Complete works of my poems have not yet been published.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:23:02]
Could tell me, could you tell me what have been published? I don't mean everyone but what sort of poems or what volume have been published in plays or in newspapers in other words?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam):
Waxa aan xusuustaa gabayo aan ku dhex daray riwaayad aan wada qornay, saaxiibkay iyo qaar ka mid ah wargeysyada daabaceen, laakiin ma sheegi karo tiro ahaan.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:23:17]
I, I remember some poem, which are included in a play written by me together with a friend of mine and some of the newspapers, but I cannot tell them by number.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:24:04]
Yum, yum. What do you consider to be the chief problems of the writer in your society in terms of incentive in terms of getting guidance in terms of getting recognized?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:24:25]
Marka hore, ma lihin qoraayaal badan, waayo afkeena waxa la qoray 1972-kii. Haddaba, dhibka ugu badan ee qoraaga haysata waa mishiinka daabacaadda. Waxaan leenahay hal mashiin oo u adeega dawladda oo dhan; mana lihin mid u khaas ah qorayaasha ama wax-soo-saarka dhabta ah.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:24:25]
First, we don't have so many writers because our language has been written only in 1972. So, the most the problem of some other writer you can see it is printing machine. We have only one that caters for the needs of the whole state the government of, and we don't have an excluded one for writers or for literally production.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): []
Of course, that overlooks that that ignores people who have written in English or in French and who have been published outside the country. How do you see the future of writing in Somalia? Whether it's in the Somali language or in some other language?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam):
Waxaan u arkaa mustaqbal wanaagsan, sababtoo ah tusaale ahaan haddii aan is barbar dhigo markii la qoray Af Soomaaliga iyo hadda, waxaan arkaa mustaqbal wanaagsan.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): []
I see it to be a bright future because, if I say, if I look for example the period between the writings of Somali language and period we are now in, we, I can foresee that Bright Futures waiting is ahead of us.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:26:25]
Do you see do you see writing in? Foreign languages, if I can use the term in English, French, Italian as being a part of Somali writing, or would you exclude them?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:26:44]
Haddii uu Soomaali qoro, waxaan u qaadanayaa in eey tahay qormo Soomaali ah, markaa kama aan reebeen, sababtoo ah waxaan u arkaa qoraal Soomaali ah.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:26:44]
I wouldn’t not exclude it from for example some odd writing because if the material was written by a Somali, I would consider it to be kind of Somali writing.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:27:10]
Perhaps before he actually recites some verses for his poem, which translated in English is called "Plea for African Unity". You might care to say something about what the poem is about how you came to write it.
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:27:30]
Waxaan qoray gabaygan oo aan la hadlayay dadka Afrika, anigoo ku boorinaya in dadku u diyaargaroowaan mustaqbal iyo nolol wanaagsan. Waxaana igu dhiiri geliyay in aan qoro markii Soomaaliya ay goʼaansatay in eey ka qaybgasho dabbaaldegii 1977-dii lagu qabtay Nigeria. Tani ayaa ahayd sababta aan u qoray gabaygan.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:27:30]
This poem I address to the African masses, and it was, I was thinking about making the African peoples to understand, and to plan and look for a happy life, and I wrote it when Somalia decided to participate in the Festivals in Nigeria in1977. This was the occasion of writing this point.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:28:34]
Okay, fine. I would you like would you like to recite the first few verses?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:28:40]
Yam Yam recites the poem
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:29:49]
I forgot to ask you Yam Yam. Will you tell me a little bit about your present work with the academy. What do you do for the Academy?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:30:14]
Akadeemiyada? Marwalba waxaan ku mashquulsanahay ururinta gabayadii, sheekooyin iyo sheeko-xariireedkii hore waana sababta akadeemiyadda u jirto.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:30:14]
The Academy? I am busy always with the collecting the old Somali people poetry poems and stories and folklore stories and this is why the academy is does exist.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:30:33]
And you're still continuing to write poetry yourself?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:30:35]
Haa. Weli waan qorayaa maansooyinka, isla markaana waxaan ururinayaa maansooyinkii hore ee Soomaalida.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:30:35]
Yes. I continue writing poems while at the same time while I collect the other Somali old Somali's poems.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:30:52]
Do you hope to have your poems published in a collection someday?
Mr. Abdulkadir Hersi (Yam Yam): [00:30:54]
Waxaan rajeynayaa dhawaan haddii suurtagasho in gabayadayda la daabaco. Waxaan daabici doonaa sida ugu dhakhsaha badan.
Ahmed Farah Ali (Translator): [00:30:54]
I hope soon as soon as possible my poems published. I will have them published as soon as possible.
Lee Nichols (Interviewer): [00:31:13]
Thank you very much.
