Poet emblematic of the Somali language and culture, Hadraawi nicknamed the “Somali Shakespeare” died Thursday, at the age of 79, in the Republic of Somaliland where he lived. Hugely popular throughout the Somali world, in 2012 the bard won the prestigious Prince Claus Grand Prize from the Dutch foundation of the same name for all of his work. It is composed of dozens of songs and epics in verse. Interview with Somali writer Nuruddin Farah, friend and colleague of Hadraawi.
RFI: How did you feel when you learned of Hadraawi’s death?
Nuruddin Farah: I was saddened to learn of the passing of this great poet. He made Somali poetry shine in the world. It is not for nothing that it is called the “Shakepeare of the Horn of Africa”. Hadraawi had been in poor health for some years, which caused him to withdraw from public life. He will be missed by our people. He was truly revered by Somalis. Many consider him the greatest poet in the Somali language. However, for me, he was above all a friend.
When did you last meet him?
I remember going to see him in the early 2000s in the Somaliland, in the small town of Burao where he lived with his wife. We then left together for Djibouti to take part in a literature festival. I was able to see with my own eyes the prestige he enjoyed with the general public. His poetry, rich in metaphors and alliteration, aims to be a bridge between classical poetry and modern poetry. It is taken up, set to music by today’s singers and rappers, and widely broadcast on the airwaves. It clearly speaks to contemporary youth.
What do you think made Hadraawi’s poetic approach unique?
Hadraawi was a committed poet. We know of his troubles with the military dictatorship of Siad Barre. He spent many years in prison. His poetry combines philosophical themes and social and political commentary. What, in my opinion, made his poetic approach unique was his pan-Somali approach. His poetry spoke to all Somalis across their political divides. Hadraawi was speaking on behalf of all of Somalia, even though he himself was born in what is now Somaliland and where he had chosen to live. Unlike other men of letters, he always kept away from any partisan politics and never composed poems praising a particular clan or political family. In 2003, he even initiated a march for peace which took participants to the port city of Kismayoin the south of the former Somalia.
What were the main themes of his work?
The themes of his poems, which range from history to contemporary issues, including the question of peace, human rights and philosophical reflections on the life and destiny of man. This work testifies to a concern for the defense of a certain common historical consciousness and a certain universality, which meant that even in a period of dictatorship, the collections passed from person to person, secretly.
- An English-language Somali novelist, Nuruddin Farah is the recipient of the Neustadt International Prize for Literature and several times nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His most famous novels are titled: Territories (1995), Born from Adam’s rib (2000), exiles (2015).