Lucky Dube was an internationally acclaimed South African singer, who recorded 22 albums in English, Zulu and Afrikaans and won more than 20 awards in a 25-year entertainment career. Unfortunately he was killed in a dramatic car jacking episode in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was buried today in his garden in a private family ceremony. The 43-year-old was shot dead in front of his children in a Johannesburg suburb on October 18. By agencies.

As Somalis we are cut off from the general African music since most of the African nations sing in English while our songs are sung in Somali thus missing the taste of African Wisdom and literature though we claim to be Africans.

Commonwealth or English speaking African nations exchange great works of art which we Somalis do not have access to. Only those who were fortunate enough to learn English can know what other Africans are up to. But the majority of the people miss what their brothers say and sing. I must admit that I didn't know much about Lukcy Dube until his death when the world media offered his shocking death an extensive coverage.

My people's desire to reconnect with fellow Africans in all spheres of life is quite deep but the recurrent wars, cultural disorientation, disintegration, colonial divisions and language barrier are among the major factors impeding us from realizing these dreams.

We are not connected to the Arab world either who constitute a large portion of the world community. They share and exchange cultural values in the form of arts and literature but we are still excluded from this exposure and interaction. And worse still they do not share anything of the sort with us.

So our culture and language are not growing potentially effective as theirs are doing. If the trend goes like this we are afraid of cultural and language extinction because our literature is not revolving around the wheels of international literary industry. Lucky Dube's death though painful has been an eye-opening incident for us. At least we know how deep the wound of desolation is running considering the global outcry and the messages that have been pouring in the media outlets of which no single Somali has taken part. That itself is a witness of our lagging behind of the progressing African literature and arts. Just imagine, if a famous Arabian artist dies we shall remain cut-off the same as we do with the Africans. May be we know a handful of Sudanese singers but not more than that in the Arabian world. And if one of our seasoned artists dies it is only we who would mourn in isolation.

I admired Lucky Dube especially when I listened to the BBC coverage of his life as an activist and a legendary reggae star in Africa and the entire music world. I have particularly admired one of his latest songs, "RESPECT" and I wish to dedicate my poem RESPECT to him. I wrote the poem six months ago which shows we had certain points within the chart of humanity where I and Lucky Dube had met or intersected. Death has robbed a star from us.

For those who are ill-mannered
Treat them as if they are gentle
For those who are quite shallow
Treat them as if they are deep
Pay respect to everybody
Respect knows no color
Respect respects no boundaries
It reaches to whoever you send it
And returns in a huge reciprocate
Respect me brother I respect you

Give heart to everyone
Have everybody's heart
Let respect be our bridge
Let’s cross rivers of hatred

Let respect be our thread
let’s weave a love cloth
Let respect begin now
Between you and me brother
Let it begin now brother
Between me and you sister
Let it begin now sister