Dhaanto is a style of traditional

Somali music The Music of the Somali people () is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people. Overview Traditional Somali music Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore. Soma ...

and folk dance. It is a cultural folk dance native to Somali people in the

Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...

History

The Dhaanto was believed to have been created by the nomadic abaskuul clan in the now Somali region of Ethiopia. The Dhaanto dance-song was revived in the early 20th century and it was used to raise the 'spirits' of soldiers and was often sung on horseback. Dhaanto became popular in the

Somali Region The Somali Region ( so, Deegaanka Soomaalida, am, ሱማሌ ክልል, Sumalē Kilil, ar, المنطقة الصومالية), also known as Soomaali Galbeed (''Western Somalia'') and officially the Somali Regional State, is a regional state ...

( Somaali Galbeed ) and quickly spread to other Somali territories in the Horn of Africa. In the Somali region, this dance is very popular and annually you will see ethnic Somalis perform versions of the Dhaanto at th
''Nations'', ''Nationalities and Peoples’ Day''
in

Jigjiga Jijiga (, am, ጅጅጋ, ''Jijiga'') is the capital city of Somali Region, Ethiopia. It became the capital of the Somali Region in 1995 after it was moved from Gode. Located in the Fafan Zone with 70 km (37 mi) west of the border ...

. Additionally, the genre was employed in

Islamic poetry Islamic poetry is a form of spoken word written & recited by Muslims. Islamic poetry, and notably Sufi poetry, has been written in many languages including Urdu and Turkish. Genres of Islamic poetry include Ginans, devotional hymns recited by I ...

. Modern exponents of the Dhaanto style include the Great Dhaant Singer, Poet and Concert Writer and performer Abdirahman Ali, and the Somali singer-songwriter Abdullahi Abdulle.

Notable musicians

Famous dhaanto artists include Ahmed Budal, Ali Dhaanto, Bashir Carab, Nuur Caraale, Kafeya Sarhay Isaaq, Hodon Ma'allin, Bashir Jaawi, Abdi Dhaanto and Hani UK.

References

Somali culture Somalian music African dances {{music-genre-stub