# Poets and writers | Calankii Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/poets-writers/ Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) # Poets and writers All 37 pages in Poets and writers, from A to Z. Last checked **2026-11-12** - [Aadan-Gurey Maxamed CabdilleAadan-Gurey Maxamed Cabdille (1840-1920): Galgaduud poet of Todobaatan iyo Toban, taught in Somali schools.](https://calankii.com/en/people/aadan-gurey-maxamed-cabdille/) - [Abdi Sheik-AbdiAbdi Sheik-Abdi, born 1942: US-based Somali author and historian of short stories, two novels and fables.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdi-sheik-abdi/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdourahman-waberi/) - [Abdulle Raage TaraawiilAbdulle Raage Taraawiil (1932-2000): Radio Mogadishu poet and actor from Eeldheer, jailed in 1982.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdulle-raage-taraawiil/) - [Abshir Bacadle (Abshir Nuur Faarax)Abshir Bacadle (Abshir Nuur Faarax): Somali poet of religion, war and reconciliation, active from the 1970s to 2010.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abshir-bacadle/) - [Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid (Aag)Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid (Aag), born 1953 in Garbahaarreey: Somali writer and columnist, author of Somalia: A Reciprocal Curse?](https://calankii.com/en/people/ahmed-abdullahi-gulleid/) - [Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja' (Axmed Faarax Cali Idaajaa)Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja': Somali literary scholar, folklore publisher and broadcaster with the BBC and VOA.](https://calankii.com/en/people/ahmed-farah-ali-idaja/) - [Ali Jimale Ahmed (Cali Jimcaale Axmed)Ali Jimale Ahmed (1954–2026): Mogadishu-born poet and CUNY professor, editor of The Invention of Somalia.](https://calankii.com/en/people/ali-jimale-ahmed/) - [Amran Mohamed Ahmed (Camraan Maxamed Axmed)Amran Mohamed Ahmed (born 1954): Somali poet and journalist, Finland's Refugee Woman of the Year 2005.](https://calankii.com/en/people/amran-mohamed-ahmed/) - [Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf (Caasha Luul Maxamuud Yuusuf)Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf: London-based Somali poet, author of The Sea-Migrations: Tahriib (2017).](https://calankii.com/en/people/asha-lul-mohamud-yusuf/) - [Diriye Osman (Diiriye Cismaan)Diriye Osman (born 1983): British-Somali author of Fairytales for Lost Children and The Butterfly Jungle.](https://calankii.com/en/people/diriye-osman/) - [Elmi Boodhari (Cilmi Boodhari)Elmi Boodhari (1908–1941): Berbera baker-poet, the 'King of Romance', first Somali poet to write only about love.](https://calankii.com/en/people/elmi-boodhari/) - [Farah Awl (Faarax Cawl)Farah Awl (1937-1991): first Somali novelist in the Latin script, author of Aqoondarro waa u nacab jacayl.](https://calankii.com/en/people/farah-awl/) - [Fatima Ahmed (Faadumo Axmed)Fatima Ahmed (born 1949): Cambodian-born Italian-Somali writer of Shanti and Aukuí.](https://calankii.com/en/people/fatima-ahmed/) - [Gaarriye (Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac)Gaarriye (1949–2012): Hargeisa poet, starter of the Deelley poem chain, first to explain Somali metre, and voice of reconciliation.](https://calankii.com/en/people/gaarriye/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/hadraawi/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mumin/) - [Hawa Jibril (Xaawo Jibriil)Hawa Jibril (1920-2011): Somali buraanbur poet and Youth League member, later of Toronto.](https://calankii.com/en/people/hawa-jibril/) - [Jama Musse Jama (Jaamac Muuse Jaamac)Jama Musse Jama (born 1967): ethnomathematician, founder of the Hargeysa International Book Fair.](https://calankii.com/en/people/jama-musse-jama/) - [Knowmadic (Ahmed Ali)Knowmadic (b.1984): Mogadishu-born poet, Edmonton's Poet Laureate 2017 to 2019.](https://calankii.com/en/people/knowmadic/) - [Ladan Osman (Ladan Cismaan)Ladan Osman: Mogadishu-born poet of Exiles of Eden, winner of a 2021 Whiting Award.](https://calankii.com/en/people/ladan-osman/) - [Maxamed Daahir Afrax (Mohamed Dahir Afrah)Maxamed Daahir Afrax: Somali novelist of Maana-faay and editor of the literary journal Hal-Abuur.](https://calankii.com/en/people/maxamed-daahir-afrax/) - [Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali (Maxamed Cabdikariin Cali)Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali (born 1985): Somali-Canadian author of the 2019 memoir Angry Queer Somali Boy.](https://calankii.com/en/people/mohamed-abdulkarim-ali/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/mohamud-siad-togane/) - [Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (Muna Axmed)Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (b.1972): Djiboutian novelist, author of Les enfants du khat (2002).](https://calankii.com/en/people/mouna-hodan-ahmed/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/nadifa-mohamed/) - [Naima Qorane (Nacima Qorane)Naima Qorane: poet sentenced by a Somaliland court in 2018 over her pro-unity poetry.](https://calankii.com/en/people/naima-qorane/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/nuruddin-farah/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/said-salah-ahmed/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/saida-hagi-dirie-herzi/) - [Salaan Carrabey (Salaan Maxamuud Xirsi)Salaan Carrabey (d. 1943): poet and trader from Burao whose peace poems and sayings became Somali proverbs.](https://calankii.com/en/people/salaan-carrabey/) - [Sofia SamatarSofia Samatar: novelist (A Stranger in Olondria), daughter of historian Said Samatar.](https://calankii.com/en/people/sofia-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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/timacadde/) - [Ubah Cristina Ali FarahUbah Cristina Ali Farah (born 1973): Italian-Somali novelist and poet who grew up in Mogadishu, author of Madre piccola.](https://calankii.com/en/people/cristina-ali-farah/) - [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/warsan-shire/) - [Yamyam (Cabdulqaadir Xirsi Siyaad)Yamyam (1946–2005): Somali poet and playwright, winner of the 1972 Hargeisa poetry contest, co-author of Dabkuu Shiday Darwiishkii.](https://calankii.com/en/people/yamyam/) - [Yasmine Allas (Yaasmiin Callas)Yasmine Allas (born 1967): Mogadishu-born Dutch actress and novelist, author of Idil, een meisje.](https://calankii.com/en/people/yasmine-allas/) Last checked 2026-11-12 **Seen a mistake?** Fix this page ## Toosoo! 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