Ever since Siad Barre’s regime was overthrown, Somalia has been gripped by political instability and turmoil. For the past 30 years, no amount of foreign intervention has proven successful in bringing peace to the country.
Despite all the tension and terror, the Somali art and media industry has continued to thrive. It’s famously said that Somalis are born orators. All elders are expected to capture and hold an audience’s attention, talking to them for hours—speech laid with rich quotes, proverbs, and poetry.
The same is true for drama and music too, which have remained popular forms of cultural expression. In fact, the political turmoil faced by the population in the past three decades is well recorded in Somali art and literature.
In this blog, we’re going to explore all the cultural nuances in Somali poetry, music, and drama and all the factors that have shaped it over time.
Somali Oratory
Somalis have a unique talent for oration and have used their speech to appeal to international audiences. This talent stems from years of tradition of speaking to big groups of people. In the early 90s, it was the poetry and oratory skills of Somalis that ended the hostility between clans in Somaliland. Even today, this tradition continues despite all the social upheaval.
Somali Poetry
Richard Burton, a well-known English explorer from the 19th century, said that Somalia is a nation of poets. Somalis have used poetry to record their political and social history, define their national identity, and communicate their values to the rest of the world.
Somali poetry is a mix of classical poetry called maanso, which is composed of poems and folklore heritage songs. In fact, poetry like hees-hawleed is sung along with everyday chores such as feeding camels, getting water out the well, and more. For centuries, Somalis have used poetry to influence other people’s behavior and attitude, and history is witness to how poetry has been used to bring peace (and sometimes to add fuel to the fire).
Somali Drama and Music
Somali theatre uses dance, music, drama, poetry, and visual arts to depict cultural nuances. It has also been one of the primary media of expression for all artists who used it to communicate political views, especially before the civil war. Like oratory and poetry, the theatre has also been a way of keeping the peace, especially during the clan conflicts in the early 1990s. In fact, over time, drama has been used to denounce the civil war and promote the country’s stability.
Want to Learn More About Somali Culture and Media? Head to The Somali Link Newspaper
Are you looking for more interesting facts about the culture of the Somali community? Visit the Somali Link Newspaper.
Our online Somali newspaper site aims to facilitate and serve the Somali community in Ohio. We frequently update the newspaper with the latest information about Somali refugee news. Our newspaper also has several other sections such as business news, entertainment, and sports making it the ultimate source of reliable information.
Get in touch with our team to learn more.
