Poets and writers
Salaan Carrabey (Salaan Maxamuud Xirsi)
Salaan Carrabey (Salaan Mahamud Hirsi, about 1841/1850–1943) was a Somali poet, philosopher and trader from Beer, near Burao. He traded in Aden, India and East Africa, spoke many languages, and brought foreign words into Somali verse. He is best remembered for 'War Toolow Colka Jooja' and 'Tolnimo Waa Dugsiye', poems that called kinsmen to stop fighting. Many of his sayings are now Somali proverbs.
Salaan CarrabeySalaan Carrabay · Salaan Arrabey
- Lived
- c. 1841–1850 to 1943
- Known as one of
- Poets and writers
- Places
- Burco and Togdheer
- Era
- Partition and the Dervishes, 1884 to 1920; Toward independence, 1920 to 1960
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who was he?
Salaan Carrabey was a Somali poet (Wikipedia, Salaan Carrabey). Castagno calls him "a poet and philosopher" whose sayings "are now regarded as proverbs" (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Salaan Arrabey").
Early life
His name was Salaan Mahamud Hirsi (Wikipedia). Wikipedia gives his birth as 1850 in the town of Beer, near Burao (same source). Castagno gives about 1841 (Castagno 1975). His family is Habar Jeclo (Isaaq) (Wikipedia). He finished his Qur'an schooling in Beer (same source).
Trader and linguist
He worked as a merchant in Aden, India and East Africa (Wikipedia). Castagno adds that he worked as an interpreter and guide in Aden and Kenya (Castagno 1975). He learned Arabic, English, Swahili, Hindustani and Amharic (Wikipedia). See Somalis in Yemen.
New words for Somali
He used foreign words in his poems and coined new Somali words (Castagno 1975). He also took part in the Guba, a famous chain of poems traded between poets of the north (Wikipedia). The scholar Musa Galaal wrote down many of his works (same source). See Somali poetry.
"Stop the war"
A long feud had divided two branches of his own kin (Wikipedia). As the men gathered to fight, a sheikh, Fiqi Hasan, walked between them reading the Qur'an (same source). Salaan stepped forward and recited "War Toolow Colka Jooja" ("Oh Kinsmen, Stop the War") (same source).
"Kinship is a shelter"
An elder told him to recite a full gabay or leave (Wikipedia). He then composed "Tolnimo Waa Dugsiye" ("Kinship Is a Shelter") (same source). It is told that the two sides then turned away and went home without fighting (same source). The poem lists past feuds and teaches that kinship is a bond of strength (same source).
Death
He died in Burao in 1943 (Wikipedia).
In short
A poet of the 19th century whose verses are quoted as sayings.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Salaan Carrabey · en.wikipedia.org
- Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Salaan Arrabey" · archive.org
Salaan CarrabeySalaan Carrabay · Salaan Arrabey
- Lived
- c. 1841–1850 to 1943
- Known as one of
- Poets and writers
- Places
- Burco and Togdheer
- Era
- Partition and the Dervishes, 1884 to 1920; Toward independence, 1920 to 1960
- Sources
- 2 sources
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