Sheikh Abdurahman Sheikh Nur (Sheekh Cabdiraxmaan Sheekh Nuur)

Who was he?

Sheikh Abdurahman Sheikh Nur was a Somali religious leader and qadi, a judge of Islamic law (Wikipedia, Sheikh Abdurahman Sh. Nur). He devised the Borama script, also called the Gadabuursi script, about 1933 (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Gadabursi Script").

Early life and family

He was born in Zeila and grew up in Borama, in the Gadabuursi community (Wikipedia). His father, Sheikh Warsame, was a well-known qadi for many years (same source). As a young man he taught the Qur'an in the British Somaliland protectorate (same source).

Qadi of the north

He followed his father into the law. He later became qadi for the whole northern region of British Somaliland (Wikipedia). He was also known for his knowledge of the history of his own community (same source).

The Borama script

In 1933 he devised a new way of writing Somali with its own letters (Wikipedia). It fitted Somali sounds closely (same source). Castagno writes that he used it for writing his own poetry (Castagno 1975). Religious poems (qasidas) in the script survive (Wikipedia).

A modest aim

He did not expect the whole nation to adopt it. In a text printed in the script, he wrote that he published it "with no intention of attempting to contribute to the already abundant confusion" over a standard (Wikipedia). Castagno notes it was never seriously considered for national use (Castagno 1975).

One of many efforts to write Somali

His script stands beside other Somali-made scripts. These include the Osmanya script of Osman Yusuf Kenadid and the work of Shire Jama Ahmed and Musa Galaal. In 1972 Somalia adopted a Latin alphabet. See the Somali language written in 1972 and the Somali language.

In short

Creator of the Borama, or Gadabuursi, script for Somali in the 1930s.