Faarax Maxamed Jaamac Cawl

Faarax Maxamed Jaamac Cawl (usually credited as Faarax M.J. Cawl) (1937 – 1992) is a Somali writer born in Lasqoray, Somalia. His surname "Cawl" (pronounced Owl) means "gazelle" which was the nickname of his great-grandfather who was the sultan of the Warsangali clan. The Cawl family also includes the legendary Warsangali sultan Mohamoud Ali Shire.

When he was young, Faraax obtained a scholarship to study at Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering in London (1959-62). After his education he returned to Somalia and worked with the police and the National Transport Agency in Mogadishu.

The literary work of Faarax is especially known for its vivid description of Somalia's nature and its use of inserted segments of traditional Somali poetry. He also has the distinction of being the first Somali novelist after the language took written form in 1974.

Faraax MJ Cawl was a member of the Rer Garad (royal family) of the Warsangeli clan. He was killed along with three of his children during the peak of civil unrest in Belet Wein, Hiiran because of his membership in the Daarod clan family. He is survived by his wife and one son (Dahir Faraax).

Bibliography

*"Aqoondarro waa U nacab jacayl" (Ignorance is the enemy of love), 1982
*"Garbaduubkii gumeysiga" (The Shackles of Colonialism), 1978
*"Dhibbanaha aan dhalan", 1989
*"Aqoondarro waa u nacab jacayl", 1974

References

* [http://www.somaliaonline.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=005961 Ignorance is the Enemy of Love] , at [http://www.somaliaonline.com somaliaonline]