I have recently read an article about Juha-the Middle East’s heroic everyman which first appeared in The Economist on 15th August 2017, the article captured my attention since Juha’s account is very captivating and thrilling in the Somali society as well. The Somali version is even far more fascinating than the Arabs.
Unfailingly, Somalia had relied on or is predominated by the Arab tales, apart from trade ties with Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula which lies along the Gulf of the Aden, indistinguishably for generations, Islam and the Arab culture had its influence in Somalia until recent years as well. Islam was introduced to the Northern Somali coast early on from Saudi Arabia, and it’s believed that Zeila was the first place that Islam came into light Eastern Africa.
The influence does not only affect the tales, In Somali oral literature, there is a plentiful of Sufi poem and this is because of Arabic remains the sacred language of Islam and as such is regarded as particularly pertinent for religious expression in prayers and religious songs (Namely as Qasido, Nashido or Nabi aman), the Somali language has also been adapted as an instrument to breach Islam through poem to the nomad people since the majority of the Somalis were/are unable to read or write in Arabic and as a result cannot have direct access to the intellectual collection of Islam.
In addition, the Arabic literature is profoundly found in Somali literature as well, like when listening to the Somali classical music and songs, poets has inevitably shaped by the Arab stories such as Anter Ibnu Shadad (a pre-Islamic Arab knight and poet, famous for both his poetry and his adventurous life) and Qays and Layla (An immortal love story that has been living for over a thousand years. It is one of the greatest love stories ever and one of the best pieces of Arabic literature)-sing by Mohamed Suleiman Tubec and Fatimo Kassem Hilowle in Somalia respectively.
To get down to the brass, Juha as wise and fool old man as many people considered, I see differently, I see the halfwit as sagacious and intelligent, I see him as an entertainer, symbolic and illustrative, in one version of the Somali, Juha record claim that he went to the market one day and bought a bag of flour and wanted to bring this to his home through the busy market by a porter with trolley, however inside in a very jam or squeeze area, he lost the porter, and after unsuccessful attempts in finding him, he went back to his home tiredly. In a few days after, Juha saw the carrier that he lost him with his flour but this time he hid himself from the porter, some of his friends asked Juha why he hid himself instead of approaching the porter and asking him his flour, “I am afraid that he asks me the transport fee until today” Juha replied”
In Somali Cuture, Egal Shidad is the Juha of the Arab Peninsula- an identical heroic everyman. Egal is a folk hero that was known as the brave coward, renowned by his disfavor of wild animals and impotence to take risks, like so many Somali people Egal was a nomadic herder of camel and sheep.
Another record of Juha and his candidacy insists that once upon a time he wanted to became a leader for his community, then Juha spoke and shouted in very loud voice in a gathering place, Juha took the stage and told the people that he wanted to become a leader, and asked them to support him as a leader, also, he added the good things that he would do if he is elected. The people in the gathering told Juha that they will only accept his demand, but before believing his request, they asked him to tell what his strength is that he wants to be elected? Juha said his strong point is “That he knows at this very moment what is in very body’s mind” he claimed that he knows what everybody in the gathering was thinking at that very moment, the crowd wondered if this is true, thought he deserves to be elected though, said to Juha “Well, tell us now what is in our minds?” “Every one of you is now conscious that I am lying”. That is true, Juha replied.
In a nutshell, we cannot conclude Juha’s story and tales in a one or two or more articles, however, these two imaginary account can have a very positive depiction on the minds of the readers, it also makes a sensible choice as a wise man, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes, he appears in a thousands of stories, sometimes chucklesome, sometimes wise, but often, too, a fool or the butt of a joke. His tales has a subtle humor and pedagogic nature.
By: Mohamed Ilmi,
Senior Consultant, Researcher and Trainer, Hargeisa-Somalia.