Yamyam

Farah Idaja wrote, that, Yamyam's play, about Somali Dervishes, Fire that the Dervish Lit, "Dabdkuu Shiday Darwiishkii" where the play's first scene depicts imagined scenes from European powers' conference in Barlin during 1884-1885 Africa colonial divisions.

Although, Yamyam was a patriot, he often reflected European colonial past wrongdoings from 1884 Africa divisions to the 1894 "Tripartite Accord" from Britain, Italy and Ethiopia.

Abdulkadir Yamyam co-authored with Ahmed Farah Ali Idaajaa for a popular play (primarily in verse) called Dabkuu Shiday Darwiishkii (The Fire that the Dervish Lit) about the anti-colonial resistance waged by the Somali Dervishes under the leadership of Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan from 1900 to 1920.

Yamyam (born Abdulkadir Hersi Siyad, 4 September 1946 – October 22, 2005) (Cabdiqaadir Xirsi Siyaad (Yamyam), "عبد قادر حرس سياد "يميم) or Yam Yam was a Somali poet and playwright.

Yamyam was one of the main contributors for the Somali National Academy of Culture (SNAC), also known as the Somali National Academy of Arts, Sciences and Literature.

Suldan Tima Cade's patriotic poems throughout the 1950 to 1970s were extended by Yamyam who continued the patriot legacy with new interpretations of social and politics aspects in Somali life and adding his footprints on Somali Literature from the early 1970s until his death in 2005.

One of his poems, for instance, was a commentary on the political situation of the Somali people in the late 1950s, and another, written in 1962, was a protest against the import of foreign cars when the mass of the people were still living in poverty.

Yamyam was engaged in the Somali National folklore and poetry circles for nearly four decades.

At the height of the Somali Military Revolution, Yamyam wrote poems directly accusing the government of attempting to create new social programs while much needed social programs lay in abandonment.

He was active as a poet from the 1960s.

There is no one consistent English translation of his name.

Alternative spellings include Cabdulqaadir or Cabdilqaadir Xirsi.

Yamyam was born in the city of Dhuusa Mareeb, Galgadud Region.

Yamyam's mother was Canoof Ibraahim.

He was the youngest child of 6 and the only son to his mother as his other siblings had a different mother.

Yamyam started attending Madrasa at age four and he finished studying the Quran by age eight.

He attended the Somali School of Natural Sciences.

He moved to the north-west of the country to pursue further education and graduated from Mogadishu University, producing his first work when he was 18 years old.

He was Muslim, following the predominant religion in Somalia.

He is famous both for his extensive study on peat bogs in the East Africa region and for his many poems and plays.

In the early 1970s he went to the capital, Mogadishu, where he joined Waaberi (literally Dawn), a troupe of singers, dancers and playwrights.

His genius at writing lyrics and poems was soon recognized by his contemporaries and his songs were performed on Radio Mogadishu.

His poetry reflected radicalism and dislike for the misuse of power and misappropriation of public funds of the toppled regime in Somalia in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mind you, Yamyam was only four uncles removed to President Siad Barre and he was not easy on him- this came to light when later during the civil war he remained in Mogadishu despite his closeness to the overthrown president.

With the new Somali alphabet or orthography in 1972, Yamyam became member of a minority Somali poets who pen down his works as opposed to poets producing volumes of poems in the traditional Somali oral literature.

Yamyam was recognized as an influential Somali poet and playwright whose creative output did not wane following the state's collapse and subsequent civil war which continued for a decade and a half.

He lived in Mogadishu and continued to write poems and articles for Somali websites and newsletters on the misfortunes befallen on Somalia which was one of Africa's strongest countries during post-colonial era.

Yamyam was the recipient of the first academic style Somali Poetry Competition held in Hargaisa in 1972.

After winning first of its kind poetry competition in Hargeisa in 1972, Yamyam moved to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

He immediately found a job at the newly created National Folklore, Arts, Culture, Literature, which had such important cultural centers such as Somali National Theatre.

At his tenure at SNAC center in Mogadishu, he wrote many poems, plays and other literary pieces.

He worked for several government ministries and contributed to on air radio programs such as Radio Mogadishu and Radio Hargaisa and higher learning institutions, primarily, Somali National University at Gaheyr and Lafoole.

Some of his more famous poems are Gabay ammaan ah (A poem of praise), Kowda Maajo: Hambalyo 1975 (The First of May: Congratulations 1975), "Hees" (A hees poem), and Ma riyaa ma run baa (Is it a dream? Is it reality?).

Two of his poems appeared in the magazines Sahan (Reconnaissance) and Horseed (Vanguard), although most of them still reached the public in oral form.

Cali often wrote on social topics.

One such poem was ' Digo rogasho' which he wrote in October 1984.

On Somali National Patriotic Programme Series, a 12 part series which aired in June 2013, Aamin Media Limited, placed Yamyam at Episode #8, right next to Abdullahi Suldan Tima Ade, another great Somali poet.

The program profiles 12 great patriots and military persons who lived from mid 1400 to contemporary Somali heroes.

Yamyam, as most other gifted entertainers, used his poetic talents to highlight the misfortunes that befell on his fellow Somalis as the result of the civil war and the ensuing chaos.

He had a sense of humour that attracted both the young and old across Somali society.