"From a young age, I discovered that I could sing pretty well even though it wasn’t my aim to become a professional singer. The reason being was that my mother disliked music because there is a common stereotype that many musicians often get addicted to illicit drugs and start spreading harmful practices. I loved my mother and was not aiming to against her. However, I tried to change this bad image about Somali musicians, so I started singing but hid it from my mother. I wanted to show her that I wouldn’t be corrupted by music. After many years, she saw me on television and realised that I was still the same old me. Since then she accepted my profession. My favourite Somali musician is Mohamed Saleban ‘Tubec’. To replicate or come close to his magical voice is my ultimate. But apart from being in the spotlight, I find comfort, peace and happiness in football and trying to eradicate tribalism in Awdal region. Playing football with young people that don’t know you or care injects me with the ultimate happiness. For that brief time, I feel normal and blissful. If I could make a switch from being in the Somali spotlight to playing football, I’d do that in a heartbeat."
(Borame)
"Anigoo da’ayar ayaan ogaaday in aan si wacan u heesi karo, laakiin ma ahayn hamigaygu in aan noqdo fanaan leh mihnada heesaa ah. Sababtuna waa hooyaday oon jeclayn heesaha waayoh waxaa jira fikir khaldan laga aaminsanyahay fanka oo odhanaya fanka in lagu barto balwada iyo waxyaabo nafta qofka dhaawac u gaysta. Hooyaday waan jecelahay, mana rabin in aan ka hor imaado iyada, si kastaba ha noqote waxaan isku dayey in aan bedelo sawirka khaldan e laga aaminsanyahay fanka Soomaalida. Waxaan bilaabay in aan heeso laakiin ka qariyo hooyaday. Waxaan doonayey in aan tuso in aanan anigu dhaqankaas yeelan karin, sannado badan kadib waxay igu aragtay TV-ga anigoo ka heesaya hadana sidaydi ah waxba iska kay bedelin, markaas ayey aqbashay in aan noqdo fanaan. Qofkasta wuxuu leeeyahay qof kale uu ku daydo anigu Fanaanka aan ugu jeclaa fanka Soomaalida waa Maxamed Saleebaan 'Tubeec' hadana ku daydo in aan qaabkiisi kale u heesi karo. Dhinaca kale dhanka fanka marka laga yimaado waxaan aad u xiiseeya farxad iyo wanaagna dareema in aan ciyaaro kubada cagta, anigoo isku daya in aan qayb ka noqdo dedaalka loogu jiro cidhibtirka qabyaalada ee gobolka Awdal. In aad kubad la ciyaarto dhalinyarada aan u arkayn in aad ka duwantahay waxay igu abuurta farxad wakhtigaas kooban aan la ciyaarayo waxaan dareemaa in aan la mid ahay iyo wanaag badan. Hadii aan isbedel ku samayn laha noloshayda dhanka heesaha waxaan ku bedeli laha in aan ciyaaro kubada cagta taas oon cidna iga ogayn."
(Boorama)
