It is truly with a heavy heart that I pass on my sincerest condolences to Mohamed Hamud’s daughters and family.
The news of adeero Mohamed Hamud’s passing, has struck a deep cord with me. I was asked to write a few words and hope to shed light on an individual who meant a lot to me. He was a quiet and soft spoken man. However, his life was full of colourful experiences that he always shared.
He graduated with a Masters in Social Anthropology from LSE, a route I soon followed completing my Masters in the same field at UCL. An expert in his field, he went on to work for BBC Somali service in London. Although his academic and professional achievements are great in their own right; it was his personal qualities that resonated with me. An uncle and a fellow anthropologist, he soon became a mentor and a very dear friend.
Adeero embraced me as daughter and took me on a journey; that would come to shape how I view the world around me. A highly intelligent and selfless man, he would never not hesitate to assist, help or guide you. As a young female researcher studying Somali culture and history, there is a social tendency to police gender boundaries.
However, adeero said very firmly that “as a researcher, one must break barriers, if they say no you do it anyway!”. He shattered what I felt to be ‘chains’ of social restraint and encouraged my inquisitive nature. As a ‘qurba-joog’, we are a generation, many in search of a sense of belonging, identity and home. These aspects are what shape us, define us and inevitably affect how we decide to live our lives.
Adeero guided me through a journey of discovery and enriched my knowledge of self.
I am thankful that our paths crossed and your absence will be sorely felt.
“To Mohamed Hamud Sheikh who so graciously gave time and was
available for my constant questions. Without your assistance, my work would not
have the depth that I strive for”
(Excerpt from dissertation acknowledgement dated October 2012).
By Rahma Aden Mohamed Ali