The freedom movement, 1895 to 1960
Sheikh Bashir Sheikh Yusuf (Sheekh Bashiir)
Sheikh Bashir Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Hassan (about 1905–1945) was a Somali religious teacher from the Beer centre near Burao who led an armed revolt against British rule in July 1945. Related to Sayid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan, he had been jailed in 1939 after protests in Burao. His group attacked the Burao prison guard on 3 July 1945, and he was killed at Bur Dhab four days later. Many remember him as a martyr.
Sheikh Bashir Sheikh YusufSheekh Bashiir · Sheikh Bashir Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Hassan
- Lived
- c. 1905 to 1945
- Known as one of
- The freedom movement, 1895 to 1960
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who was he?
Sheikh Bashir was a Somali religious leader who in 1945 organised an armed attack on British installations in the north (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Sheikh Bashir"). It is believed he was related to Sayid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan and may have meant to carry on his movement (same source). This page records events without taking sides.
Early life and learning
Wikipedia gives his birth as about 1905 in Taleh, the former Dervish capital (Wikipedia, Sheikh Bashir). It says the Sayid was his uncle and named him (same source). His family is Habar Jeclo (Isaaq) (same source). He studied at the religious centre at Beer, east of Burao, founded by his grandfather (same source). In the 1930s he opened his own Sufi order and preached against colonial rule (same source).
1939
In 1939 there were protests in Burao over a new British education policy, which was then dropped (Wikipedia). He played a leading part (same source). The British also announced a plan to disarm herders. He gathered armed followers to resist it, and was jailed for a short term at the end of 1939 (same source). See resistance and protest, 1890s to 1945.
The July 1945 revolt
On 2 July 1945 he gathered 25 followers at Wadamago (Wikipedia). On the evening of 3 July they entered Burao and fired on the guard of the central prison (same source). They also attacked the house of the district commissioner, and a police guard was killed (same source). The group then took up a position on the mountain of Bur Dhab, south-east of Burao (same source). He also called on religious leaders in Erigavo to join, and there was unrest there too (same source).
Death
On 7 July 1945 police forces found the group at Bur Dhab (Wikipedia). In the fighting Sheikh Bashir and his deputy, Alin Yusuf Ali, were killed (same source). The British commander and several soldiers also died (same source). Others were captured or scattered (same source).
Memory
Many local people honoured him as a martyr (Wikipedia). A poem by Yasin Ahmed Haji Nur, "Muruq Baa Dagaal Gala" (1980), recalls a story about him (same source). His revolt came two years after the Somali Youth League was founded, as a new age of political struggle began.
In short
A religious leader who led a revolt against British rule in 1945.
Sources
- Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Sheikh Bashir" · archive.org
- Wikipedia, Sheikh Bashir · en.wikipedia.org
Sheikh Bashir Sheikh YusufSheekh Bashiir · Sheikh Bashir Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Hassan
- Lived
- c. 1905 to 1945
- Known as one of
- The freedom movement, 1895 to 1960
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960
- Sources
- 2 sources
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