Monday March 31, 2025
Hargeisa (HOL) — In a twist where art meets politics, renowned Somali actor Yusuf Abdullahi Muse — better known by his stage name Yusuf Ceegaag — has announced his candidacy for a seat in the Somaliland Parliament, years after playing the role of a fictional legislator on screen.
Ceegaag, one of the region’s most recognizable actors, rose to prominence through television dramas that reflected the grit and tensions of Somali society. But what began as performance is now becoming a political reality. “Yes, I’m running,” he confirmed in an interview with the BBC, brushing aside suggestions that this too might be another act.
The irony is not lost on his fans — or on Ceegaag himself. He once portrayed a conniving man who denied his sisters their rightful inheritance, a character that triggered a flood of public reactions. “People came up to me genuinely upset,” he said. “They asked why I wouldn’t give the girl her rights. That’s when you know the role hits close to home.”
While some greeted his candidacy with encouragement, others joked he was still “stuck in character.” Ceegaag, though, is serious. After decades in entertainment, he says it’s time to channel his public voice into real change.
Ceegaag isn’t the first actor to step off the stage and into the halls of power. Ronald Reagan made the jump from soundstages to the White House, his Hollywood charm polished into presidential poise. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the musclebound face of blockbusters, became California’s governor with a smirk and a slogan. In India, where celebrity is a kind of currency, actors like Vijayakanth and Shatrughan Sinha vaulted from film sets into parliament, their fame outlasting their closing credits. And in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who once played a fictional president on television, became the real one. Ceegaag, now stepping into their shadow, isn’t just following a trend — he’s testing whether the empathy he’s earned through fiction can carry the weight of real power.
He is part of a generation of performers who used drama not just for entertainment but to reflect societal flaws — broken inheritance systems, gender inequality, and government dysfunction. His fans didn’t just watch him; they saw themselves in his characters.
And now, he’s asking them to see him not as a character, but as a candidate.
Born and raised in Somaliland, Ceegaag recalls his first acting experience vividly — a school play where he first took the stage. From those humble beginnings, his passion for storytelling grew. As a teenager, he was captivated by vintage Somali dramas and began dreaming of a career that could give voice to the voiceless.
His performances, aired widely on Somali television, became staples of Ramadan viewing. With millions tuning in, he portrayed everything from political figures to cultural icons — always with an eye toward the social issues that mattered most to everyday Somalis.
While he has dabbled in music, Ceegaag insists that acting is where his heart lies. “I enjoy singing,” he said, “but the roles about culture — those are the ones I love the most.”
Ceegaag’s candidacy speaks to a deeper cultural truth in Somali society: storytelling has long been a vehicle for political commentary and community leadership. In a region often fractured by clan politics and external influence, public figures like Ceegaag hold sway not just for what they say, but for what they represent.
Now, as he steps onto a different kind of stage, Ceegaag hopes to bring with him the credibility earned in theater and translate it into a new script — one written not in dialogue, but in policy.
“I’ve played the part,” he said. “Now I want to live it.”
- With files from the BBC Somali Service
