Chapter I — The Life
A life across three continents, one language at the centre.
Shire Jaamac Axmed's path stretches from a madrasah in Wardheer to universities in Cairo and Moscow — and back to Mogadishu, where he would give his language a script.
Summary
Shire was a linguist, author and nation-builder. Pragmatic where others were ideological, learned where others were dogmatic. His greatest achievement was also the simplest — to ensure his people could write down their own words.
Timeline
Sixty-three years, ten milestones.
1936
Wardheer
Birth
Shire is born in Wardheer in western Somalia, into a Marehan family.
1940
Madrasah
Qur'an studies
At the age of five he begins at the local dugsi. He attains the rank of Kabir — a title given to students who memorise scripture faster than others.
1945
Mogadishu
Move to the capital
The family moves to Mogadishu. Shire begins studying Arabic, English and Italian in parallel.
1951–54
Mogadishu
Jamal Abdinasir School
Studies at the prestigious secondary school, run by former Al-Azhar students.
1955
Cairo, Egypt
Scholarship to Al-Azhar
Shire is awarded one of the coveted scholarships to Al-Azhar University, where he immerses himself in Arabic and Islamic law.
1967
Soviet Union
Academic degree
After studies in Egypt he receives a new scholarship to the Soviet Union and graduates from a Russian university.
1967–69
Mogadishu
Chief Presidential Protocol
Serves in the Sharmarke government and at the same time engages with the Somali Youth League (SYL).
1972
Somalia
The Latin alphabet is adopted
Mohamed Siad Barre's government chooses Shire's modified Latin script as the official orthography of the Somali language.
1974–75
Nationwide
The literacy campaign
The national rural campaign Ol Olaha Waxbarashada Reer Miyiga teaches a whole generation of Somalis to read and write.
1999
Sweden
Death
Shire Jama Ahmed passes away at 62, a Swedish citizen. His alphabet is still used by millions.