“Deelley”—A Book On The Longest Known Somali Poem—Launched

In a spectacular and well-organized event attended by more than five hundred guests, “Deelley”, a new book by Somali author and the Academy’s Programs Coordinator was launched at Maansoor Hotel on Friday night, 9 April 2009

“Deelley” is a collection of 67 poems composed around the letter ‘D’ in sequence by some the most prominent Somali poets. It took Mr. Boobe, winner of 2006 Somaliland writer’s Association book of the year, 27 years to complete the book.

“Tonight, I am extremely happy because the burden of a 27-year odyssey has finally come to an end”, said Mr. Boobe while describing the long strenuous stretch which it took him to finalise the book. “The hardest part was finding the background history of the poets that had composed the series of poems”, he added.

Mr. Boobe stated that the book is a response to an earlier book on the same sequence of poems written by poet Ahmed Faarah Ali (Idaajaa), who despite composing a portion of the series, was highly supportive of Siyad Barre’s regime.
“A nepotistic dictatorship was destroyed,’ asserted Mr. Du’ale in response to Idaajaa’s infamous commentary that the “Deelley” series of poems was used to destroy a nation.

Boobe Yusuf Du'ale, Author of the Book		Mohamed H. Dhamac (Gaariye), and Mohame I. Warsame (Hadraawi), first two poets who innitiated the 'Deeley'		Muuse Ali Faruur and Abdi Qays, Notable poets and members of Deeley composers

A group photo of the 10 poets who were among Deeley composers		Large audiences attended the book launch		Western academicians and authors who were also present in the event

Out the fifty-one poets that participated in the composition of the sequence—the longest known Somali poem—ten were present at the event. Among them were two of the most celebrated Somali poets Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame (Hadraawi) and Mohamed Hashi Dhamac (Gaariye) both of whom delivered keynote speeches at the event.

Also present were Mohamed Mohamud Yasin (Dheeg), Hassan H. Abdilaahi (Ganay) Mohamed Ali Jama (Masmas), Mohamed Aadan (Dacar), Muse Ali (Faruur), Abdi Aadan Qays, Mohamed Jaamac Gaahnuug, who, upon entering the launching hall, were welcomed with a long boisterous applause.

“Tonight it’s as if I’m born again”, bellowed renowned poet Mr. Gaariye, one of first two to initiate the series. Explaining the history of the series, he said that “Deelley” was a comeback to another series of poems—composed around the letter ‘S’—which poets from respective clans—with Siyad Barre’s endorsement—had used to launch hateful attacks against other sub-clans sometime in the mid-1970s.

Mr. Gaariye described how “Deelley” was born out of the dire need to initiate another sequence of poems which sought to fulfill a different kind of necessity—opposition to dictatorship. In effect, as explained by all of the speakers at the event, “Deelley” was the launching pad for the armed struggle that toppled the regime in 1991.
Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame (Hadrwaawi), the most famous living Somali poet, explained to the audience the context under which the sequence was composed starting in 1979.

“At the time everyone hated the regime. It was a time when there were lots of unwarranted arrests and senseless killings,” reminisced Mr Hadraawi, also one of the first two to initiate the sequence. “But, as poets, we were inspired by the big support we had received from the public” he added.
Nevertheless, pointed out Mr. Hadraawi, there were divisions among the composers of “Deelley” within who were those who supported the government and those who were against it.

Also speaking at the event was Dr. Martin Orwin, Professor of Somali and Amharic studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. Speaking in Somali much to the delight of the audience, Dr. Orwin highlighted how astounding Somali oral literature is in comparison to written literature of particularly his home-country—Britain. Dr. Orwin urged all Somalis to preserve this very important tradition for future generations.

Boobe is the author of two other books: “Diwaanka Timacadde” and “Dhaxal Reeb”. “Deelley” is available at all major bookstores in Hargeysa.

» Home