“No man avenged has ever risen from the grave” the chilling tagline of a Somali film has become a grim prophecy. A powerful short film titled Aano Qabiil (“Clan Vengeance”) warned against the cycle of clan revenge killings, but soon after filming, life tragically mirrored its message. One of its lead actors was gunned down in a real-life clan-related shooting.
The film, which quickly went viral, aimed to spotlight the devastating impact of blood feuds that have long plagued Somali communities. These conflicts often stem from historical grievances and can escalate over minor disputes. The story follows two close friends from rival clans who run a teashop together. Their peaceful life is shattered when violence spills in from the countryside. One friend is killed, followed by the other in retaliation. The film ends with a haunting scene of clansmen celebrating near the grave of one of the victims, falsely believing that vengeance restores honor.
Central to the film’s emotional power was the performance of Guudey Mohamed Geedi, a veteran actor known for his deep empathy and understanding of the themes the film explored. In Aano Qabiil, Geedi played a man who tried to stop an innocent tea vendor from being killed, pleading, “He’s just a tea vendor – what did he do to you that warrants his death?”
Not long after filming concluded in the town of Bal’ad, about 30 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, Geedi traveled to visit his family in a rural village near Warsheikh in the Middle Shabelle region. Tragically, he was killed outside his home in what appears to be a clan revenge killing the same kind of senseless violence he had condemned on screen.
Geedi’s death was linked to a long-running feud between two sub-clans of the Abgal, a major Somali clan. As is often the case in rural Somalia, the killing has gone uninvestigated. Authorities have remained silent, and no arrests have been made. Clan-related violence is frequently treated as a private matter, too complex or sensitive for government intervention.
The tragedy has sparked a wave of emotion across Somali social media. Clips of the film, images of Geedi, and the film’s tagline are being shared widely. Many are struck by the eerie parallel between the film’s plot and Geedi’s fate. In the absence of justice, the cycle of vengeance continues, leaving communities fractured and countless families in mourning.
The film’s writer and director, a young man from a community that has witnessed its share of bloodshed, said he created the story as a plea to end the violence. The character of Ali, who is killed in the film, leaves behind a pregnant wife, symbolizing the ongoing cost of revenge not just in lives lost, but in futures destroyed.
Geedi, who was married and the father of 11 children, joined the cast through a community contact. Those who worked with him say he deeply believed in the film’s message. His performance, full of conviction, now feels like a final act of advocacy.
Though the film was intended to raise awareness, Geedi’s real-life death has made its message all the more urgent. It serves as a stark reminder of the toll clan-based violence continues to exact and of the pressing need for dialogue, healing, and justice.
