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Somalia has a long musical and art tradition, the Somalis are most famous
for being a nation of poets. Although a national script for Somali language
was first used in 1972, there is an ancient poetic tradition and many present-day
Somalis can recite poems that are centuries old. Poetry occurs in all spheres
of life. Even the government hires poets to praise its achievements, and
to point out its shortcomings.
Poetic contests between competing poets - have always been a feature of Somali life. A striking sign of women's slow advance towards equality occurred recently when woman, for the first time, began to compete with men in these contests. Traditionally, men and women have had separate poetic traditions, and only men gained prestige and political power through their skill in poetry. The most famous Somali poet is Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan, a national heroe as a warrior and as a poets. Below is a translation of a recent poem, written just after the Ethiopian border was shut to Somalis fleeing from the civil war in their homeland. Somalia is an oral society with poetry as an important aspect of the culture. Somali poetry is a major component of Somali studies. It was customary for Somali poets to mention the names of composers, in obedience to a kind of unwritten copy right law. Whenever a poem is performed, its author's name must be recited merrily as artists. Poets comment on current events can be influential, and in a country where everyone irrespective of education or occupation loves poetry, it can have the same powers the mass media has in an industrialized society. The prestige of the Somali poet is noted with interest by the European explorers in the 19th century. |
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