Said Sheikh Samatar described Gudban as a political poem and "policy declaration and proclamation of edicts", which was in nature, similar to a State of the Union address.
[3] Mursal Farah Afdub and Lidwien Kapteijns argued that the aggressiveness of the poem derives from the limitations of the Illig agreement which confined their territories and ambitions.
[4] He triumphantly celebrates the death or downfall of an aristocratic foe called Guray Shirwac of the Majeerteen Sultanate and uses anthropomorphic metaphors such as describing hyenas as tendentiously feasting on the corpses of anti-darawiish forces.
In this section he speaks affectionately about Dhooddi, his fastest and one of his favorite horses which was gifted to him by Xirsi Cartan Boos, the man who would later go on to kill Richard Corfield.
[4] In the fifth component is where the Sayid suggests that the Hagar Aadan (Ararsame subclan), East (Majeerteen), Isaaq and Ogaden tribes were colonial collaborators, and as such has them in his crosshairs, in verses 81, 85 and 88.
[4] In the seventh component, in the first part, the Sayid mentions several darawiish leaders called gaanaha (meaning commanders) and garaaddada (meaning chieftains) whom experienced casualties in the darawiish-colonial wars of the preceding six years, namely: (a) Xasan Gaagguf Axmed Mulac (b) Xayd Aaden Gallaydh (c) Xirsiwaal Maxamuud Cashuur (d) Maxamuud Dheri (e) Beynax Aaden-Gallaydh (f) Muuse Taagane (g) Guuleed Caligeri Axmed and (h) Aadan Seed.
[4] In the second part, the Sayid laments being oppressed by the Abyssinian, British and Italian colonialists, and their Somali collaborators and mentions several Dhulbahante subclans who had been annihilated by colonial forces.