- Aadan-Gurey Maxamed CabdilleAadan-Gurey Maxamed Cabdille (1840-1920): Galgaduud poet of Todobaatan iyo Toban, taught in Somali schools.
- Abdi Sheik-AbdiAbdi Sheik-Abdi, born 1942: US-based Somali author and historian of short stories, two novels and fables.
- Abdourahman Waberi (Cabdiraxmaan Waabberi)Abdourahman Waberi: Djiboutian novelist and poet writing in French, author of In the United States of Africa and Passage of Tears.
- Abdulle Raage TaraawiilAbdulle Raage Taraawiil (1932-2000): Radio Mogadishu poet and actor from Eeldheer, jailed in 1982.
- Abshir Bacadle (Abshir Nuur Faarax)Abshir Bacadle (Abshir Nuur Faarax): Somali poet of religion, war and reconciliation, active from the 1970s to 2010.
- Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid (Aag)Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid (Aag), born 1953 in Garbahaarreey: Somali writer and columnist, author of Somalia: A Reciprocal Curse?
- Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja' (Axmed Faarax Cali Idaajaa)Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja': Somali literary scholar, folklore publisher and broadcaster with the BBC and VOA.
- Ali Jimale Ahmed (Cali Jimcaale Axmed)Ali Jimale Ahmed (1954–2026): Mogadishu-born poet and CUNY professor, editor of The Invention of Somalia.
- Amran Mohamed Ahmed (Camraan Maxamed Axmed)Amran Mohamed Ahmed (born 1954): Somali poet and journalist, Finland's Refugee Woman of the Year 2005.
- Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf (Caasha Luul Maxamuud Yuusuf)Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf: London-based Somali poet, author of The Sea-Migrations: Tahriib (2017).
- Diriye Osman (Diiriye Cismaan)Diriye Osman (born 1983): British-Somali author of Fairytales for Lost Children and The Butterfly Jungle.
- Elmi Boodhari (Cilmi Boodhari)Elmi Boodhari (1908–1941): Berbera baker-poet, the 'King of Romance', first Somali poet to write only about love.
- Farah Awl (Faarax Cawl)Farah Awl (1937-1991): first Somali novelist in the Latin script, author of Aqoondarro waa u nacab jacayl.
- Fatima Ahmed (Faadumo Axmed)Fatima Ahmed (born 1949): Cambodian-born Italian-Somali writer of Shanti and Aukuí.
- Gaarriye (Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac)Gaarriye (1949–2012): Hargeisa poet, starter of the Deelley poem chain, first to explain Somali metre, and voice of reconciliation.
- Hadraawi (Maxamed Ibraahin Warsame), 1943 to 2022: the master of Somali speechHadraawi, Somali poet (1943 to 2022): his songs and poems, five years in prison from 1973, exile, the 2004 peace march, the Prince Claus Award and his legacy.
- Hassan Sheikh Mumin (Xasan Sheekh Muumin)Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1931–2008), author of the play Shabeelnaagood (Leopard Among the Women), poet and Radio Mogadishu broadcaster.
- Hawa Jibril (Xaawo Jibriil)Hawa Jibril (1920-2011): Somali buraanbur poet and Youth League member, later of Toronto.
- Jama Musse Jama (Jaamac Muuse Jaamac)Jama Musse Jama (born 1967): ethnomathematician, founder of the Hargeysa International Book Fair.
- Knowmadic (Ahmed Ali)Knowmadic (b.1984): Mogadishu-born poet, Edmonton's Poet Laureate 2017 to 2019.
- Ladan Osman (Ladan Cismaan)Ladan Osman: Mogadishu-born poet of Exiles of Eden, winner of a 2021 Whiting Award.
- Maxamed Daahir Afrax (Mohamed Dahir Afrah)Maxamed Daahir Afrax: Somali novelist of Maana-faay and editor of the literary journal Hal-Abuur.
- Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali (Maxamed Cabdikariin Cali)Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali (born 1985): Somali-Canadian author of the 2019 memoir Angry Queer Somali Boy.
- Mohamud Siad Togane (Maxamuud Siyaad Togane)Mohamud Siad Togane (born 1947): Somali-Canadian poet of The Bottle and the Bushman, co-founder of Montreal Somali House.
- Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (Muna Axmed)Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (b.1972): Djiboutian novelist, author of Les enfants du khat (2002).
- Nadifa Mohamed (Nadiifa Maxamed)Nadifa Mohamed, born 1981 in Hargeisa: author of Black Mamba Boy, The Orchard of Lost Souls and the Booker-shortlisted The Fortune Men.
- Naima Qorane (Nacima Qorane)Naima Qorane: poet sentenced by a Somaliland court in 2018 over her pro-unity poetry.
- Nuruddin Farah: the Somali novelist who won the Neustadt PrizeNuruddin Farah, Somali novelist born in Baidoa in 1945: his novels and three trilogies, his years of exile, and his 1998 Neustadt Prize.
- Said Salah Ahmed (Saciid Saalax Axmed)Said Salah Ahmed: Somali poet, playwright and director of the 1984–85 film The Somali Dervishes, later based in Minnesota.
- Saida Hagi-Dirie Herzi (Saciida Xaaji Diiriye Xirsi)Saida Hagi-Dirie Herzi: Somali feminist short-story writer, among the first to write fiction in English.
- Salaan Carrabey (Salaan Maxamuud Xirsi)Salaan Carrabey (d. 1943): poet and trader from Burao whose peace poems and sayings became Somali proverbs.
- Sofia SamatarSofia Samatar: novelist (A Stranger in Olondria), daughter of historian Said Samatar.
- Timacadde (Cabdillaahi Suldaan Maxamed)Timacadde (about 1920–1973), poet of Somali independence: his life, the flag poem of 1960 and his message of unity over clan.
- Ubah Cristina Ali FarahUbah Cristina Ali Farah (born 1973): Italian-Somali novelist and poet who grew up in Mogadishu, author of Madre piccola.
- Warsan Shire (Warsan Shire)Warsan Shire, born 1988: British Somali poet, London's first Young Poet Laureate, Brunel Prize winner, and voice in Beyoncé's Lemonade.
- Yamyam (Cabdulqaadir Xirsi Siyaad)Yamyam (1946–2005): Somali poet and playwright, winner of the 1972 Hargeisa poetry contest, co-author of Dabkuu Shiday Darwiishkii.
- Yasmine Allas (Yaasmiin Callas)Yasmine Allas (born 1967): Mogadishu-born Dutch actress and novelist, author of Idil, een meisje.
Poets and writers
All 37 pages in Poets and writers, from A to Z.
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