Egal shidad:- is a folk character who was known as the cowardest man. From Somalia, Egal Shidad was known for his dislike of wild animals and his inability to take risks. Like many Somali people, Shidad was a nomadic herder of camel and sheep.

Egal shidad and the enemy

Once there was a man named Cigaal (Igal). While cigaal was asleep, his wife heard that enemies from a

neighboring town would soon attack them. Cigaal’s wife quickly ran home to wake her husband, to tell him about the attack. Cigaal didn’t believe his wife. He said, “You always

make things up, and tell stories to frighten me.”

His wife said, “I didn’t make this up. It’s true. All the women and children are talking about the attack. The men

are already gathered to get ready for the attack. You are a man. You must help them now.”

While they were talking, the enemy arrived. The people in town shouted, “Here they come.”

Cigaal wondered what he should do. Then he said to his wife, “We can’t escape now. The enemy will kill all the men. I am going to sleep in front of our house. Roll me in a rug, and cry, 'Oh, my husband is dead.'”

Cigaal’s wife wrapped him in a rug, and she cried and cried. Cigaal didn’t trust her to cry as much as he wanted her to cry. So he said to her, “Cry louder! Cry until tears  come from your eyes.” While she was crying, the enemy came. They asked  her when her husband had died. Before she could answer, Cigaal said from inside the rug, “Say that he died  yesterday.” 

The enemy was shocked to hear Cigaal speak. They 

said, “This is not a real man. He is such a coward that he  cannot hurt us. Let him live with the women and the  children. Let’s go.” 

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