Aw Ismail

Aw Ismail is a well-known poet that everybody in the Hargiesa knows. He was born in the city of Muqdisho, Somalia. His father was also famous poet and his grandfather was poet. One of the famous poems was published around the time of Ismail’s father. After the death of Ismail’s father, Haji he faced a lot of difficulties and memories. Ismail’s mother, Fadumo died before the death of Ismail’s father.

Ismail did not have overhaul and the sympathy of his mother, but his grandmother always care his as mother. When he was sixteen he started to learn poems and how to use the official access. After trying multiple times he didn't succeeded, but the story did not finish, he continue to learn and dedicate. He went his friends and said to them would you like to learn poets. His friends did not like poet and they don’t care. When he heard that answer he went his grandmother and he told her that he like to study poets. She never said no; she likes him so much. She also motives him to learn and dedicate.

Ismail went Aden in order to learn poets, but he did have money to learn. After sating two years he decided to work and provided food himself. He cannot read and write, but the only thing that he can do was buildings. He works four years and he decided he came back to his homeland. People in Somalia were nomads and they hate white people because of colonizers. They also think they are superior to others and also they think that white people has a lot of money.

After he came back he started to say poems. His grandmother asked him do you learn anything he said no because I don’t have money to learn. Ismail became well-known poet after four years and everybody like him at that time because his first poem was why we hate our fathers. This poem motive many people to love their ancestors. However, he didn't like that poem; he hates his ancestor which was ironic, but any way he did the poem.  Ismail say many poems that talks about live, love, freedom, ancestors, and future. Ismail’s poems were lost because no one care it or memorize it.

His grandmother died when he was 62 years old and at that period he said something against the government and they put him in the prison. After he came out the prison he died. Ismail was one of the legendary poetesses that Somalia people ever heard about it.