Long ago in East Africa, Sultans ruled the land. In Somalia there are many stories told about a real sultan namked Garad Farah Garad Hirsi. For a time in the mid-19th century he ruled a region of Somalia. It is common for Somalis to have a nickname or naanays in addition to a birth name. The sultan's nickname, Wiil Waal was a great leader, with the ability to unite people through the use of riddles, like the one shared in this story. He was a real man, but the stories told about him may or may not be real...

Title:Safarada CIGAAL SHIDAAD (A Somali Folktale) Waa hore, ayuu Cigaal Shidaad ku noola meel dhulka Soomaaliyeed ka mid ah. Sida dad badan oo Sooomaali ah, ayaa isaga iyo qoyskiisu lahaayeen xoolo badan oo ka mid yihiin ari iyo geel. Waxaa ay ahaayeen reer guuraa marba meeshii baad ama geedo iyo biyo lec xoolahooda ula guura. Sheekooyin aad u badan oo maad ah ama qosol leh ayaa laga sheegaa Cigaal Shidaad. Inkasta oo uu ahaa nin murti badan, haddana waxaa kale oouu can ku noqday fulaynimadiisa. Cigaal baqdintiisa sabab ;a’aaneed ayaa u keentay dhibaatooyin badan, laakiin fariidnimadiisa iyo iimaankiisa ayuu kaga bixi jirey dhibaatooyinkaas. Cigaal sheekadiisan ayaan ilaa hadda looga sheekayaa ilmo kasta oo Soomaali ah