Interior of one of Somalia’s ancient Masjids (taken 1937). Bit disturbing to see colonial flags hoisted inside the mosque. Either it was hoisted specifically for the picture (part of Italy’s propaganda campaign) or it was a norm. Allaahu Aclam
Soomaali waa Kuma? / Who is Somali? – Abwaan Cabdulqaadir Xirsi Yamyam
Cabdulqaadir Xirsi Siyaad (Abwaan Yamyam), beautifully defined the meaning of Soomaalinimo in a poem that he devised during the 1977 war. A master piece, that professes the Somali ethos, leaving out our bad characteristics hehe Cabdi Maxamed and Shaafici Saciid eloquently translated the Somali version in to English, although, one can never truly render Somali […]
Saddex kolkaan bartay baan ka gaboobey
Murtidan hoosta ku qoran oo laga heli karo buugga la yiraahdo Madhaafaanka Murtida (The essential wisdom – pub. 1973) oo uu qoray Yuusuf Meygaag Samatar, waa buug xambaarsan murti iyo maahmaahyo. Yuusuf wuxuu ka mid ahaa Xubnihii Guddigga Far Soomaaliga (1972). Saddex kolkaan bartay baan ka gaboobey:- 1. Dab ololintii. 2. Awr carraabinteed. 3. Carruur […]
Ina Faarax Jaamac Siyaad – Somalia
Ina Jaamac Faarax Siyaad (1930 – 1993), a Pan-Somalist and a poet from Djibouti, wrote the following in 1954 as part of a series of poems celebrating Pan-Somalism: The distant plains of our loving land Rise forth into the night O’er the green vales a sad plaintive moan Distinctly sounds the light From the heart […]
Poem – Sheekh Cabdiraxmaan Ismaaciil Jabarti
See below for a poem attributed to Sheekh Cabdiraxmaan Ismaaciil Jabarti, also known as Sheekh Daarood (one of Somalia’s clan progenitor). The poem, originally in Carabic (cannot seem to locate it), was translated by the late Polish scholar Prof. B. W. Andrzejewski: A house does not shelter a saint of God: He finds it detestable […]
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