Buraanbur is a
poetic form within traditional
Somali poetry
Somali literature is the literature used by the ethnic Somalis of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Somali poetry
Nation of Bards
Due to the Somali people's passionate love for and facility with poetry, Somalia ...
. It is usually composed by women. This traditional
Somali art form is often recited with drums and paired with a dance. It is commonly performed at weddings and other gatherings.
Overview
Somalis
The Somalis ( so, Soomaalida ππππππππ, ar, Ψ΅ΩΩ
Ψ§ΩΩΩΩ) are an ethnic group native to the Horn of Africa who share a common ancestry, culture and history. The Lowland East Cushitic Somali language is the shared ...
have a long tradition of poetry, with several well-developed forms of verse. Of these, the ''gabay'' (
epic poem) is considered the height of poetic attainment, and is usually composed by men. Its female counterpart is the buraanbur, which is of a lighter measure (''miisaan'').
[Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, ''Culture and Customs of Somalia'', (Greenwood Press: 2001), p.75-76] It serves as the highest women's literary genre, and is subdivided into the ''hoyal'', ''hoobeeyo'' and ''sitaat'' (religious song) verse forms.
The buraanbur traditionally served as an important and powerful medium used by women throughout
Greater Somalia
Greater Somalia ( so, Soomaaliweyn, ar, Ψ§ΩΨ΅ΩΩ
Ψ§Ω Ψ§ΩΩΨ¨Ψ±Ω ''As-SΕ«mal al-Kubra'') is a concept to unite all ethnic Somalis comprising the regions in or near the Horn of Africa in which ethnic Somalis live and have historically inhabited ...
to share their thoughts, experiences and aspirations.
Such poems are typically centered on topics relating to females, including child-rearing and marital relations. The poems can also deal with social and political issues in general, and are sometimes accompanied by drums, clapping, and dancing.
Buraanbur has traditionally been an important part of local culture in Greater Somalia. Historically, the verse form was employed during the independence movement. It continues to play an important role by conveying political, social and educational messages and general awareness raising. Poems composed by
Halima Godane
Halima Mohamed Yusuf, better known as Halima Godane ("the stooped one") (1935β1994) was a Somali poet and activist.
Biography
Born in Kismayo, Godane was married at age nine to Bulqaas of Ali Seleebaan. She moved to Mogadishu in the later 1940s ...
,
Raha Ayaanle Guled and
Hawa Jibril were powerful instruments in mobilizing constituencies against the colonial authorities. In this vein, Jibril explained why women joined the struggle against colonialism:
:We wanted to break away from our seclusion,
:We wanted to have the responsibility,
:To express our feelings and our views,
:We wanted to show our concern for our country
[Jama 1994, op. cit., p. 179.]
See also
*
Somali literature
Somali literature is the literature used by the ethnic Somalis of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Somali poetry
Nation of Bards
Due to the Somali people's passionate love for and facility with poetry, Somalia h ...
References
External links
An Anthology of Somali Poetry
{{Authority control
Poetic forms
Somalian literature
Somalian women
Culture of Somalia
Society of Somalia