Faysal Aw-Cabdi Axmed was born in Hargeysa in 1968. He left Somaliland after secondary school, and moved to London to attend university. He now owns a restaurant and works part-time as a TV presenter. He’s written over 200 poems and 350 songs to date.
Axmed Shiikh Jaamac, was born in Las Anood District in 1942 and completed a degree in Journalism at the National University in Mogadishu. Ahmed was an Arabic teacher at the Ministry of Education of the former Republic of Somalia. Following the collapse of Siad Barre
Jaamac Kadiye Cilmi is a traditional poet whose work addresses a range of social and political issues. He is renowned for the creation of the ‘Saar’ rhythmic poetry form. Born in Las-Anod, Jama became a prominent poet throughout the Somali region and one of the few poets who compose and perform this form of art.
Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf is one of the most exciting poets in the Somali diaspora. Although she has lived in exile in the UK for over twenty-five years, through recordings, TV and the internet her poems are well-known among Somalis both at home and abroad. A powerful woman poet in a literary tradition still largely […]
Said Salah is a highly-esteemed playwright, poet, and educationalist who has used his skills as a writer to press for peace in his country. His famous play, Aqoon Iyo Afgarad (Knowledge and Understanding), was written in collaboration with other major Somali poets, including Hadraawi and the late Gaarriye and Musse Abdi Elmi. Said’s work has […]
Muse Cali Faruur is steeped in Somali heritage and culture and is widely esteemed for his expertise Somali tradition and folklore. Famous for his phenomenal memory, he acts as a living storehouse for many of his culture’s most precious and highly-regarded poems and traditions. His courage as a foremost social and political activist is also […]
The leading Somali poet, Faysal Omer Mushteeg Faysal 1945-2012), tragically passed away on 20th September in Dacarburuq on his way to Addis Ababa to apply for a UK visa to attend Somali Week Festival 2012, where he was eagerly expected. Unfortunately, he became very unwell and he had to be taken back to Hargeysa. Sadly […]
Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaarriye’ was born in Hargeysa in 1949 where he continued to live until illness forced him to leave for Norway in 2011. Gaarriye died in Oslo on 30th September, 2012. Gaarriye attended school in Sheikh in Somaliland and then graduated with a degree in biology from the Somali National University, following which […]
Maxamed Ibraahin Warsame ‘Hadraawi’ was widely regarded as the greatest living Somali poet. Born in 1943 in Togdheer, he is known to Somalis as ‘Hadraawi’, a name meaning ‘the master or father of speech’. Interweaving striking imagery and metaphor with philosophy and social commentary, Hadraawi’s poems explore universal subjects and specificities of Somali culture and […]
Xasan Daahir Ismaaciil ‘Weedhsame’ is widely regarded as one of the most promising young Somali poets of his generation. Thanks to his close relationship with leading poet Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaarriye’, Weedhsame is steeped in the long and complex history of Somali poetry and, as a notably gifted practitioner, is committed to continuing its traditions. […]