Somalia's poets keep hope alive for storytelling and for peace
Somalia is often called a nation of poets, but decades of conflict have left its cultural heritage in jeopardy. Now, a fading generation of masters is offering a message of peace and trying to keep oral poetry alive.
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00:01Somalia is often called a nation of poets, but decades of conflict have left its cultural heritage in jeopardy.
00:10Now, a fading generation of martyrs is offering a message of peace and trying to keep oral poetry alive.
00:19There may be no greater art in Somalia than oral poetry, which is recited in the most remote outposts and even by militants in the bush.
00:27One common thread among all Somali poets, whether in Jigjiga or in Somalia, is their commitment to peace.
00:36These poets focus solely on promoting peace and not engage directly in politics.
00:41Instead, their work emphasizes security, good governance and community integration.
00:46In 2003, seven poets travel across Somalia to preach reconciliation. That kind of journey is impossible now.
01:00The federal government has little hold on territory outside of Mogadishu, and at least two semi-autonomous regions are seeking secession.
01:07As poison singers, we initiate a program called Messengers of Arts, where we travel to various districts to spread a message of peace.
01:18Eventually, we held drama and poetry exhibitions at Mogadishu Greenlight, a site that once divided the city and was an all-go zone.
01:28When we set up our music band there and promote our message of peace, we witness a remarkable change in just ten minutes.
01:34People who had previously been unable to connect began to move freely again.
01:40Poets flourished during the reign of Siad Bahari who ruled Somalia with an iron hand, but was known to respect the intellectual work of artists.
01:47Traditional poets still perform at community gatherings, but is a far cry from how they were once viewed.
01:53The current administration does not treat poets and singers well, whereas during Siad Bahari's reign, we were treated like royalty and received everything we desired from the government.
02:05Some poets, like Hadrawi, the Shakespeare of Somalia who died in 2022, have achieved universal recognition.
02:11Hadrawi's poems depicting love songs and laments of war have widely been recognized by Harvard University.
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