SOMALIA : IN SEARCH OF LOVE

By: Hamdi Abdikani Shire

The story of the two amazing Somali couple dupped “the couple of the year”   who are in a journey to demystify the alien concept of love among the Somali populace has captured the attention of many. The “LOVE” couple have one clear massage; LOVE.

To a Somali; love is a concept that that shouldn’t be shown but felt; practiced but not liked. The couple are reexamining and defining what love means according to a Somali. They are sowing the seeds of love in many partners’ lives and laying the principles that guide a marriage that is full of happiness and love.

Amazingly, this couple have crossed miles to hold live sessions to the Somali communities and break what many think is taboo to practice. To a Somali, holding a partners hand in public, showing affection to once partner and giving a surprising gift to a partner is rare thing.

The couple, Sheikh Ahmed and Hibo are going out of the way to break the century year old practice; albeit unwritten that has made it forbidden for a partner to show affection to once partner.  they have incredibly gone far much bigger than what most of us have imagined, it goes beyond couples as it reforms and strengthens the fabric of the society – that is safeguarding the most beautiful gift that Allah has bestowed on us – family! And reviving the essentials that keep the family together. In Somalia, young people are so much afraid of commitment in marriage, they can’t bear the bottlenecks and setbacks, disappointment and anger that fills in the air when things go sideways so they run into a divorce because for them that is the easier solution.

In the process, children pay the ultimate price and suffer the most. The luckiest is the one raised by his grandparents. They don’t get to see their parent’s affection, love and care and to make things worse children blame themselves for what happened for the rest of their lives.

So! Imagine, the Wonders that the lectures from Sheikh Ahmed and Hibo can do to a family where professional counselors are out of sight and many families demolished because of simple fixable arguments.

My massage to the Somali parents out there is. Please commit to your marriage and if the situation is unbearable, at least, Do it for your children because they deserve it.  

Research has shown that children who grew up in a loving and caring home do well in school, perform well in jobs when they grow up and make huge contributions to the society.

I have to say, as a psychology student nothing would ever make me proud than to see many families lives flourish. To the “love” couple, I comment you for the great job. I must say BRAVO!

Hamdi Abdikani Shire is a social worker who majored in psychology. A Part time lecturer at East Africa University and project officer at World vision International. Email:Hamdishire94@gmail.com