Poets and writers

Abdulle Raage Taraawiil

Abdulle Raage Taraawiil (1932 to April 2000) was a Somali poet and actor from Eeldheer who joined Radio Mogadishu in 1960 with guuroow poems on national politics. He was jailed for four years from 1982 over his poetry, and in the late 1980s wrote verses warning of the violence ahead.

Last checked 2026-11-12 1 source Reading time: 1 min

Abdulle Raage TaraawiilAbdulle Raage Tarawiil

Lived
1932 to 2000-04
Known as one of
Poets and writers
Era
Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
Sources
1 sources

Who was he?

Abdulle Raage Taraawiil was a Somali poet, born in Eeldheer district in 1932 (Wikipedia). He died in Mogadishu in April 2000 (same source).

Radio and stage

He joined Radio Mogadishu in 1960 with a collection of guuroow poems on national politics (Wikipedia). He also acted, and in the 1960s play Shabeel Naagood he recited verses mocking the government's policy of non-alignment: "Why stand in the middle: may the ground swallow you!" (same source).

Prison and later poems

In 1982 he was accused of anti-government activity and held for four years (Wikipedia). In the late 1980s he wrote a poem warning that respect and trust were being lost and that innocent people would suffer as fighting spread (same source). See Somali poetry.

In short

A radio poet and actor whose verses challenged governments and foresaw the war.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org

Abdulle Raage TaraawiilAbdulle Raage Tarawiil

Lived
1932 to 2000-04
Known as one of
Poets and writers
Era
Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
Sources
1 sources

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