Opinion: Fighting foreign languages serves not to preserve Somali language but exposes a leadership bereft of ideas

By Yusuf Ali 

Mogadishu mayor this week hit headlines for what would constitute by any standard wishful thinking. The mayor declared that a foreign enemy was descending into the city and that all his energies must be channeled to expunging this newfound enemy from Mogadishu.

The enemy at the corridors of the Mogadishu mayor is foreign languages darting the streets of Mogadishu. Yusuf Jima’ale claims foreign languages on signage is killing Somali language.

Contrary to what we are forced to believe, Afsoomaali is doing well in both Soomali inhabited areas from Djibouti, Somali region of Ethiopia, North-eastern Kenya and the Republic of Somalia unless those behind these baloney are alluding to something I can’t comprehend now.

Emotional and knee-jerk reactions

Whenever an issue of national interest is raised, whether political or social, Somali national leaders are quick to pass a verdict and transform myths into new realities. Facts are  over ridden by conspiracies, real analysis are overtaken by hullabaloos and so on.

Banadir governor now thinks fighting criminal elements and putting in efforts to making Mogadishu an investment hub are of a lesser importance than the new found enemy-foreign languages. His brief however does not specify what languages qualify as foreign. Some Twitter users were quick to note that Arabic is equally foreign as English is.

For traders in Mogadishu, only two options are at hand-either replace foreign words with Somali equivalent or drop it all.

But how does this contribute to preserving and protecting our “Afka-Hooyo? (Mother tongue) And who really came up with the conclusion that “Afsoomaali is in danger”? From whom?

Misplaced priorities

The pro-campaign fellows believe that a seven meter high signboard penned with non-Afsoomali words  is making Mogadishu grimy and they are blind about the thousand tons of waste and dirt in the streets that constraint breathing and other health implications to the city residents!

The top political brass and the elite are daily parading and in a showoff of how they mastered a foreign language, issue statements in a foreign language and hold foreign passports. So, what is wrong with signboards penned in foreign languages?

It was embarrassing and grossly ironical to see municipal workers busy bringing down Samsung billboards yet some could have been carrying phones from the same company

Leading by example

If the said danger is anything to go by, we need a scientific approach and a national policy towards improving Afka Hooyo through research and publications and in our schooling system. Another bold step that the government has to take is to lead by example and start using Afka Hooyo in its offices and institutions.

The country’s main entries such as the port and the airport should be the starting points followed by the ministries. The traffic department of the Police is the only government outfit that I can bear witness on its efforts to using Afsoomaali and can serve as an example.

Bottomline

Conspiracy has it that the whole country is likely facing an existential threat that needs a serious attention since we are scared of non-existent events and scenarios.

What if we wooed support for other pressing such as terrorism or address the plight of our Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the city? What if these resources were used to rescue and rehabilitate our street children?

Instead of all these hocus-pocus on signboards the government should channel its energies to the ailing security situation in the capital and service delivery to city residents.

With all due respect Mogadishu mayor, leave the traders to play their role in nation building.