By Farid Omar.
In a historic event held in Toronto on Saturday, June 4th, diehard fans of international superstar, Saado Ali Warsame, thronged the upscale Taj Banquet Centre to see their iconic national hero perform and receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Gold Record Award, the first ever to be awarded to a Somali artist, was presented to Saado Ali by Hodan Nalayeh, the media relations and international co-ordinator of the Somali Refugee Awareness Project. The Somali Refugee Awareness Project is an advocacy group designed to bring mainstream media attention and action on the current Somali refugee crisis in Africa. The prestigious award is in recognition of Saado Ali Warsame's impressive 35 years in music and Somali social activism.
Singing the Somali national anthem upon entering the packed arena, Saado Ali, singer, composer, poet and song writer, was mobbed and hugged by hundreds of supporters as she was ushered to the stage to a raucous welcome. As she took the mike for the opening act, the ecstatic crowd rose to its feet greeting their beloved superstar with sustained, thunderous applause in a splendid ceremony filled with pomp and colour.
The milestone event attracted close to one thousand Somali-Canadians of all generations and walks of life and Canadians in general. Participants travelled from as far as Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Windsor and from across southern Ontario. It featured who is who in the Somali-Canadian community including community leaders, social activists, artists, media personalities and members of the business community.
The ceremony was a fundraising dinner to help The Somali Refugee Awareness Project to advocate and educate the mainstream media about the current Somali refugee crisis in Africa. Saado Ali will be traveling with the Somali Refugee Awareness Project to Kenya this summer for a video documentary project. June 20th is World Refugee Day and Somali Refugee Awareness Project is asking all Somalis to join together in humanity for Somalis in refugee camps around the world.
For the global Somali community, Saado Ali Warsame is not only an accomplished international performer but a national icon revered for her unwavering stance on human rights, freedom, justice and equality in the entire Somali Peninsula. More importantly, she has emerged as the pre-eminent symbol of national unity for a beleaguered nation torn by a protracted conflict over the last two decades.
In celebrating Somalia´s most iconic musical personality, renowned social activist and leading proponent of national unity, Hodan Nalayeh said that Saado Ali "is not only a superstar with international appeal, but a brave and courageous woman who has demonstrated a great leadership for her community and commitment to the suffering masses including the victims of the civil war, refugees, the displaced, women and kids etc."
Speaking to the Digital Journal's Farid Omar, Hodan said: "Somali professionals and community leaders in the West should advocate for Somali refugee rights. There are over 1.2 million Somali refugees scattered in camps in neighbouing Kenya, Ethiopia and elsewhere in the world".
"While refugees in Sudan are backed by Hollywood celebrities, Somali refugees are not a priority for re-settlement in safe countries in the West including Canada and the US. Saado Ali can bring that level of awareness to the global arena. She is a great symbol of activism and we are here to honour her as a Somali woman and a great human being" said Hodan.
Addressing the massive gathering, Hodan said: "Tonight, we celebrate Saado Ali and the resilience of our people. We recognize Saado for her historic contribution to music, art and culture and for her advocacy for peace and refugee rights in Africa. We should work together to create awareness on the dying and the unfortunate and the woman who can help change that is Saado Ali."
"We are not part of the qabil (clannish) movement. We have one flag, the Somali flag. We must help the helpless. Let´s wake up, twenty years is far too long" said Hodan in reference to the devastating civil war in Somalia.
In her eagerly awaited acceptance speech, Saado Ali Warsame thanked her supporters and called upon the global Somali community "to unite and rise above clannish divisions". She appealed to her supporters not to antagonize her detractors but strive to bring them back to the Somali fold. Despite death threats and vicious attacks by those who oppose her unity project, Saado Ali, true to her national colours, has always extended an olive branch to her misguided detractors. She urged her followers to do the same.
"For those who hurl insults at Saado Ali, don´t respond in kind, simply tell them thank you" said Saado Ali to a cheering, enthusiastic crowd.
Saado Ali also recounted her persistent struggles to speak on behalf of the downtrodden and oppressed across Somalia. During the military regime, she defended the people of North West Somalia (present Day Somaliland) against the regime´s excesses. When fellow Somalis in the North East region (present day Puntland) and Southern Somalia suffered a similar fate, she was equally vocal in defending their rights.
"Whether it was SNM, SSDF, or USC, I supported all folks who were at the receiving end of the regime. I was thrown in jail for standing up to the regime in defence of the oppressed" Said Saado Ali. "I am hurt today by the fact that folks, whom I defended in the past, are engaging in a smear campaign against me."
"Why all these double standards?" Saado queried. Always taking the high road, Saado Ali asked her supporters to refrain from accosting her slanderers. "Whoever engages in defamatory acts directed at my person, don´t fight them. Invite them back to the Somali fold with open arms."
"The majority would praise me, others would scorn me. I know I am on the right path and I will always stand for justice and the truth."
Saado Ali also paid tribute to Hodan Nalayeh of the Somali Refugee Awareness Project, a prominent professional working for a major corporation in California. A rising star in her own right, Hodan is poised to play a significant role in international development and refugee advocacy circles.
A diverse global movement that includes a burgeoning youth constituency is increasingly rallying behind Saado Ali´s national cause for Somali unity, peace, and justice and equality. Ayat Musse, a new young admirer of Saado Ali says she and her peers "adore Saado Ali, listen to her music and are motivated by her consistent message for the Somali people".
Donning colourful traditional attire set in Somali national colours, Samia Mohamed, only 15, expressed her utmost admiration for Saado Ali, stating: "Saado Ali is an amazing singer who is inspiring the younger generation".
Another ardent fan, Hodan Adan Caamiye, said that Saado Ali "is the best national artist and the true voice for all Somalis regardless of their regional or communal affiliations".
Hassan "Karate", the event Co-MC and anchor of Ogaal Radio, 88.9FM Toronto, paid a glowing tribute to Saado Ali´s contributions to Somali arts, social activism and national unity project.
"Saado Ali has been steadfast in her desire to unite the Somali people. Her persistent message of peace, justice and national unity is resonating well with all Somalis. She is a priceless national icon who has enriched our cultural landscape through her patriotic, socially-conscious music. Being the champion of the downtrodden and voice of the voiceless, her social activism defends the rights of the vulnerable while calling for peace, love and unity for her long suffering people." Hassan "Karate" said.
During the historic event, Saado Ali entertained the audience with her hugely popular, chart topping nationalist and patriotic songs and other musical tracks spanning her illustrious career. Her artistic expressions form a unique brand of edutainment in utterly thrilling songs loaded with socially-conscious lyrics that are equally entertaining. Her unique style that combines a dose of social commentary and esthetical variations has taken Somali music to a new level.
Throughout the concert, the sold-out crowd stayed on their feet as the pulsating beats lent a carnival atmosphere to the event sending the Toronto revelers into near delirium. Her gigantic Toronto fan base is demanding the prompt return of their beloved superstar and a July 1st concert simultaneously coinciding with the Somali National Day and Canada Day is already in the works in what promises to be the concert of the century.
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