The biography of my father – the late Ahmed Hirsi Koshin – AUN

I\’ve just completed a 4-year research project collecting and documenting information for a book i am writing about my late father\’s biography in book and audio. The journey, which is captured on video was both an emotional and educational one. As I traveled to my father\’s birth place in Somalia and to the place where he herded goats and camels as a small orphaned boy, I was often overcome by emotions.

My father lost his own father at the age of 8. He was born and grew up in a very harsh environment and had a difficult childhood. He despised living in these dry and arid areas and soon ran away from home and went to live in Galkayo where he worked by day and went to school by night. He passed away in March of the year 2000 in Lusaka, Zambia. May my father\’s soul rest in eternal peace. Ameen. I learned much about how brave and smart he was. I got to meet an extended family I didn\’t even know I had.

I traveled to the place where my father\’s father lost his life during a business trip on a lorry. I traveled to the place his grandfather (Koshin) was killed and the place my father\’s own mother- Khadija Awyusuf (see below)- raised her 5 small kids in hardships words can not describe under a  huge tree which still stands and which I got to see in Galkayo. All of them orphaned at a tender age. My fathers mother was a remarkable woman and I believe I took after her.

The book sis a story of suffering and hardship, but also one of strength and resilience. A book of family bond, of paternalism and forced migration. Allow ku naxariso aboow mcn, amiin.

Mt father was born in Harardhere in Cir. 1932 . He was the first among 5 siblings. He left behind 14 children and over 30 grandchildren.He loved cars

The best advice my dad ever gave me was to always tell the truth. People will always react more positively if you bring your mistakes to their attention versus them finding it out on their own, he reminded me always. He praised his 11 daughters in public, and only criticized them in private. He taught us matters between us stayed between us.

M father  taught himself how to read and write. He inspired me as a child to aim for greatness.He encouraged me to to go to school, to learn, to explore and to be somebody. Today I am one of the successful members of my large extended family. One of the few who has graduated from university. I wish for the 1000th time that my he was here to witness it all with me.

7 years ago i went to live and work in Somalia and there I found out about my father\’s only living brother and his many nieces and nephews. Suddenly i had a large family that i had never known and/or met before. I felt very rich, all this wealth of family I never knew i had. Ever since then I have been collecting data about the history of my family. I have created a Facebook page about this important mission in my life and of my father\’s history. I have only recently finished analyzing the data and footage i collected over the years. The book will be out soon.

For more info go here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-biography-of-my-father-the-late-Ahmed-H-Koshin-AUN/606941062707422