Clan & Tribe Identity vs. Clan & Tribe & Allegiance

By Prof. Mohamoud Iman Adan- Keydmedia - Virginia, USA - Clan or tribal characterization is a traditional identity that does not harm anybody or any social entity, physically, mentally and morally.
Editorial Keydmedia Online
Clan & Tribe Identity vs. Clan & Tribe & Allegiance

In normal circumstances, it could be expressed in various social setting, such as: A modest reference one feels for his/her clan or tribal blood connection conveyed in informal social link.

It could also be exchanged in socializing rhetorical match or chaffing with friends in socializing environments. It could be stated in writing or in poetical contention as an inconsequential matter, just as relating an ordinary mailing address or confirming a matter of analogy, by stating: These fruits belong to mango tree. 

In a healthy circumstance, clan or tribal assertion applies to a generic identity of a given social background without insinuating negative impression or undertone implication.

One got to be a member of a given clan and ultimately a tribe without wrecking damage to a member of another clan. What is wrong saying that Gulaid belongs to (X) or (Y) clan or tribe; or (X) clan is fond of raising camels rather than cattle, without even displaying the least contagious facial expression, or eroding any one’s God given rights?

Committed loyalists for the sake of a given clan or tribe advantages follows a tradition of pastoral social background, which binds the interest and sense of security of a community that share ancestry lineage and observe shared formal obligations on give and take basis. In that sense, this pastoral system is an essential social network employed for eventualities.

In terms of social application, clan identity follows on a harmless patriarchal and matriarchal lineage background based on system of mutual interdependence. In short, a child of inter-clan marriage enjoys inclusive clan loyalty based on the support of his/her respective parental ancestry lines.

You may not have similar clan background with your cousin from your mother’s line, but he is a true blood brother and you share all the ups and downs in the real life. In that respect, all Somalis are extended cousins by remote ancestry where clan connotation melts into null set.

However, rural social system is incompatible in the social values of urbanite society, or being based on selection of government appointees. As a political expedient, interest groups of every clan or tribe stripe are instrumental of employing tribal influence to achieve short cut ways for political gains useful for self-interest objectives.Eventually, this practice gradually erodes the healthy fiber of Somali social system that guided an equitable values shared by urbanized communities of inter-clan backgrounds.

Currently, the major blow to the healthy system is lack of trust among the Somali clans that leads the way for self-seclusion. Creation of tribal-based autonomous regions affects other valuable, rock solid values that intertwine the hegemony of Somalis for centuries, such as: Tolerance, cooperation, inter-marriage, free will settlement, employment and communal business integration, as well as social interdependence.

Clan loyalty belongs to respected traditional pastoral background and has little impact in urban life and its adhered social values. In pastoral upbringing, a child has to know his/her lineage identity, which is perceived as a way of club identity or life insurance card in urban values. This loyalty guides the concept of social values and sense of belonging. It is a common social network one calls for support in times of distress.

Greedy politicians obliterate the traditional social system for their political gains.  As it is practiced today by certain TFG leaders and regional authorities, this social malice is taking over the pluralistic way of life of urbane social system by clan supremacy that glorifies one clan or tribe, while vilifies another one for vindictive or demeaning purposes. This characterization is either biased or undeserved in all aspects.

In the other hand, Somalis are prone in character assassination. The best elements of the communities fall under the whacking blows of the axe by the seated warriors called (Fadhi ku dirir) who are there, day and night and whiling away time, just to discredit  the best pick among the probable pack of wolves. This arbitrary, malicious campaign is a handy weapon to discredit and bring down anyone who is not of your kinship. In that regard, no one can get clearance across the board.

The eminent member of another clan can be rated the worst choice in the eyes of the contending communities, and the vice versa is true. And this local view is takes off-guard to foreigners who are there to help us that eventually turn into partisan in the long run. The question is: How can we agree to endorse the best candidate among the contenders and regardless of his/her clan identity?  

Do we have to opt out a tribal system of government as we find it in the current TFG, or do we have to install and consolidate a government from the people to the people?

Tribal influence is quite contagious in Somalian political scene and no one can escape from it. Keydmedia.net made an inquiry on this matter by asking a number of Somali intellectuals, and they hit the nail on the head: They admit that it is a way of securing an advantageous political concession on the expense of the others.

Also, we asked a good number of Diaspora under-age children and 85% found out that they were quite familiar in Somali clannish system and its applications. In particular, about 78% of these children lionize their clan and gave top grading. This premature view is unfortunate, and we have lost another generation to distorted tribal connection.

On the same footing, we see that even recognized Somali intellectuals at home or in Diaspora are prone on biased clan/tribal attachment by celebrating their clan background in order to wrestle certain recognition for more political leverage.

However, the truth is that if you glorify the social standing of your clan, then you are a big believer of clannish system by following the pastoral elders who voice always for the concerns of their people in a rural setting. Elements of that vision should be not allowed to take over the government leadership.  

In that spirit, a political contender has no credential qualities of holding a public office. Yes, it is irrelevant of a candidate being a university lecturer or holding a high position in the government establishment as long as you are a believer of tribal influence and privileges. Many Somali intellectuals subscribe to an erratic way of leading a broken nation, while indulging into a feudal social system that calls for social enmity with divisive outcome.

In general, this feudalistic system had dominated the political landscape of Somalia after the Somali-Ethiopian war and it is in force in the current TFG establishment.  It is time to phase out the pastoral system out of government business and let the urbane communities to evolve for the good of all.

However, it is unfortunate that the top officials of the TFG take the lead of applying the pastoral tradition system into the government business by nominating related clan elements into lucrative positions in the government bureaucracy. 

Unfortunately, pastoral clan system is quite visible in Villa Somalia-the seat of inclusive government- in action and in deeds. In fact, there are three heavily visited offices chaired by respectively the President of the TFG, the Prime Minister and the former Spokesman of the Parliament. Short-listed applicants are accepted by the incumbents and the visiting hours are extended in favor of backing up sub-clan loyalists who are pocketing more than their share of the common pie. 

The question is: Who represents the rest of 172 odd Somali clans? As you see, clan system turns us back to the feudal era where social class and lineage groups ruled the land. Unfortunately, this is the work of Somali intellectuals who are turning us against the tribal tornedo.

It is a curse that breaks the hearts of hopeful Somalis, but the actions of so called leaders are the reality of the day. Hopefully, there will be a day of justice and accountability.

Here is a piece of advice for the younger generation: Don’t fall into the traps of clannish system as did your urbanized relations. If you do, you ruin your future, while the dream of Grand Somalia remains in the record books of SYL movement.

Keydmedia.net


By Prof. Mohamoud Iman Adan ( mohamoud.iman.adan@keydmedia.net ) - Keydmedia Editor




Editorial 29 April 2022 13:51

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