Said Sheikh Samatar facts for kids

Said Sheikh Samatar (Somali: Siciid Sheekh Samatar, Arabic: سعيد الشيخ سمتر‎; 1943–24 February 2015) was an important Somali scholar and writer. He was known for his deep knowledge of Somali history, culture, and oral poetry.

About Said Sheikh Samatar

His Early Life and Education

Said Sheikh Samatar was born in 1943 in a region called Ogaden, which is in Ethiopia. He grew up in a large family and was part of the Somali Leelkase/Fiqi Ismaciil clan.

He spent his early years living as a nomad, moving from place to place. He wrote about how life could be wonderful with plenty of food and beautiful flowers. But it also had tough times, like droughts, dangers from rival groups, and wild animals.

In 1958, when Said was about 15, his father sent him to school. This meant moving from his nomadic life to a town called Qalaafo. It was a big change, and he was much older than his eight-year-old classmates. Even though it was a bit embarrassing, he kept going and finished his early schooling in Nazareth, Ethiopia.

Becoming a Scholar in the U.S.

In 1970, Said started working at a teaching college in Somalia. There, an American friend suggested he go to university in the United States.

He received a scholarship and began studying at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. He went to classes early in the morning and at night. During the day, he worked as a welder to support his wife and two children. He graduated from Goshen College in 1973 with a degree in history and literature.

He then continued his studies, earning a master's degree in Northeast African history. In 1979, he received his doctorate in African history from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

After finishing his studies, Samatar taught at Eastern Kentucky University from 1979 to 1981. In 1981, he accepted a job at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, where he taught for many years.

His daughter, Sofia Samatar, is also a well-known author.

Said Sheikh Samatar passed away on February 24, 2015, in Newark, New Jersey. He was undergoing treatment for an illness. He is remembered by his wife Lydia, his son Delmar, his daughter Sofia, and his four grandchildren. Many Somalis around the world shared their sadness and sent their good wishes to his family.

His Work and Contributions

Said Sheikh Samatar wrote many books and articles about Somalia. He was a member of the Somali Studies International Association since 1979. He also helped manage the Horn of Africa journal and was on the advisory board for Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies. He also helped with a project called The Somali Experience and was part of the African Studies Association. He even helped with Somali programs on Voice of America.

In 1995, Samatar helped write the Constitution of Eritrea at an international meeting in Asmara, Eritrea.

Samatar often appeared in the news and media. In 1992, he went to Somalia to help the ABC news program Nightline as a consultant and interpreter. Starting in 1983, he was interviewed on BBC shows about Northeast Africa. He also discussed Somalia on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN International, and PBS' The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. His work was also mentioned in famous magazines and newspapers like Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Said Sheikh Samatar's Books and Articles

Books He Wrote

• Oral poetry and Somali nationalism: the case of Sayyid Mahammad 'Abdille Hasan. Cambridge University Press, 1982. ISBN: 0-521-23833-1
• Somalia: nation in search of a State (co-author: Laitin, David D.). Westview Press, 1987
• Somalia: a nation in turmoil. Minority Rights Group, 1991
• (Ed.) In the shadow of conquest: Islam in colonial Northeast Africa. Red Sea Press, 1992
• In Samatar '92: chapter 3: Shaykh Uways Muhammad of Baraawe, 1847-1909: Mystic Reformer in East Africa

Articles He Published

• "Oral poetry and political dissent in Somali society : the Hurgumo series", Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 1989
• "How to Run an SNM Gauntlet", Horn of Africa, 13, Nos. 1-2, April–June 1990, 78-87.
• "The Search for Political Accountability in African Governance: The Somali Case"., African Governance in the 1990s (Atlanta: The Carter Center, 1990), pp. 165–168.
• "How to Save Somalia", Washington Post, December 1, 1992, A19.
• "The Politics of Poetry", Africa Report (September/October 1993), pp. 16–17.
• "Remembering B.W. Andrzejewski: Poland's Somali Genius", 1998
• "'Sarbeeb' : the art of oblique communication in Somali culture", Wardheernews Online
• "Unhappy masses and the challenge of political Islam in the Horn of Africa", Horn of Africa, 2002
• "An Open Letter to Uncle Sam: America, Pray Leave Somalia to Its Own Devices", Journal of Contemporary African Studies, July 2010, Vol. 28, Issue 3, pg 313-323.

See also

In Spanish: Said Sheikh Samatar para niños

• Somali Studies