SUFI POETRY IN SOMALI

ABSTRACT

Somalia has been a Muslim country probably for over

a thousand years and has a well developed Sufi movement

"\vhich plays an important social role and has been a

stimulus to creativity in the field of poetry composed

both in Arabic and in Somali. Somali Sufis have always

regarded Arabic, the sacred language of Islam, with great

love and reverence, yet they have found it unsuitable as

a means of reaching wider audiences, since only a limited

number of Somalis can fully understand it.

Inspired by the desire to communicate their spiritual

fervour and their knowledge of Islamic doctrines to every-

one, Somali Sufis have composed oral poetry in their

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mother tongue and used it as a form of religious instruction

and praye'r. The appeal of their poetry to Somali audience

lies in the cultural syncretism which it represents. Its

themes are taken from the universal teaching of Islam and

from Sufism while its imagery is predominantly drawn from

the natural environment and traditional culture of Somalia.

Furthermore, it follows the pattern of versification used

in secular alliterative poetry, which is totally unaffected

by the Arabic models of scansion.

The secular alliterative poetry has a long tradition

and is a living all-pervasive force in Somali culture;

Somali Sufis have thus used a well established channel of

artistic communication to convey their spiritual message.

Their success has been considerable and their poetry in

Somali, far from waning under the impact of the modern age,

has been increasing in its popularity even in recent years.

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