DUBAI, UAE (AX) — The urban tapestry of Dubai is richly woven with the threads of countless languages and dialects. It’s a place where linguistic diversity isn’t just accepted; it’s celebrated.
Yet, amidst this mosaic of voices, one particular tale has captured attention—a young Somali man speaking Malayalam with impeccable fluency. And not just any version of Malayalam, but the distinctive Thrissur dialect that has left Malayalis in the Gulf both astonished and proud.
Meet Hassan Mohammed Abmoji. At 25, this son of Mogadishu has become a sensation overnight. It’s all thanks to a video clip that rocketed through the internet, where Hassan casually conversed in vibrant Malayalam slang. When he greeted his friends with “enthutta gadiye?” (“What’s up, dude?”), the impact was electrifying; it’s a greeting that seemed to defy linguistic expectations.
“People often stop me on the street, exclaiming, ‘Bro, was that you?’” Hassan shared, a wide smile illuminating his face. “Moments like these… they fill me with joy.”
Hassan’s journey into the heart of Malayali culture began years ago. Fifteen transformative years in Kerala shaped this young man’s linguistic and cultural fluency. Back in 2008, Hassan traveled to Thrissur with his siblings and cousins, when his father, Abdikadir Mohamed, then employed in Dubai, sought a superior educational landscape for his children.
After weighing his options, Hassan’s father chose Kerala. Known for its strong academic infrastructure, the state was a natural fit. Hassan, who at that time only spoke Somali, found himself enrolled at Al Azhar English Medium School in Manakkody, Troissur.
“I couldn’t speak a word of English back then,” he confessed. “My older brothers were my interpreters. But I adapted quickly—mastering English, then Malayalam.”
Living in a boarding house initially, they faced culinary hurdles. It wasn’t until their mother, Zeynab Gaal, joined them two years later that familiar flavours returned to their meals. Her presence and home-cooked Somali dishes turned their rented home near the lively Pooram grounds into a haven of familial comfort.
“We embraced the local cuisine, porotta and beef became staples,” Hassan reminisced. “We even tried our hand at traditional Kerala recipes, sharing sumptuous Onam sadhyas with our neighbours.”
Hassan’s scholarly pursuits saw him earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering from Rajagiri School of Engineering in Kochi. His experiences in Kerala are etched into his memory—from the delight of first-day film releases (with Drishyam topping his list) to the camaraderie of playing football amidst the 2018 floods.
“We never grasped the gravity of the floods until it crept to our thresholds,” he narrated. “Accommodation options were scarce. But in true Malayali spirit, a friend of my brother welcomed us into his home for 10 days.”
Now, Hassan navigates the vibrant real estate scene in Dubai, where he thrives as a property consultant and investment specialist. Despite the miles separating him from Kerala, he continues to speak Malayalam with his siblings—one of whom is studying at SCMS College in Ernakulam.
“My circle is mostly from Kerala,” he admitted. “Somalia feels distant, almost unfamiliar now.”
For a man whose earliest linguistic memories are rooted in Somali soil, Hassan’s mastery of another tongue is a testament to cultural connectivity—a badge of honor that ties him to a land and people who never imagined such an affinity emerging from Mogadishu.
“Malayalis are everywhere,” he remarked thoughtfully. “To share in their language and culture? That’s an unparalleled blessing.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
