Hadrawi

Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame
محمد ابراهيم وارسامي هدراوى
Born Maxamed Ibraahim Warsame
1943
Burco, British Somaliland
Pen name Hadrawi
Occupation poet, songwriter
Nationality  Somalia
Ethnicity Somali
Alma mater Lafole University
Subject patriotism, love, faith, mortality
Notable works Siinley, Tawaawac, Isa Sudhan, Sirta Nolosha, Hooya la'aanta

Hadrawi (born Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame in 1943) (Somali: Maxamed Ibraahim Warsame (Hadraawi), Arabic: محمد ابراهيم وارسام هدراوى‎) is a prominent Somali poet and songwriter. He is considered by many to be the greatest living Somali poet, having written many notable protest works. Hadrawi has been likened by some to Shakespeare,[1] and his poetry has been translated into various languages.[2]

Biography

Hadrawi was born in Burco, situated in the former British Somaliland protectorate. He hails from the Isaaq tribe.[3] His family was poor and consisted of one girl and eight boys. In 1953, at the age of nine, he went to live with an uncle in the Yemeni port city of Aden. There, Warsame began attending a local school where he received the nickname "Hadrawi" (Abu Hadra), a pseudonym by which he is now popularly known. In 1963, he became a primary school teacher.

Return to Somalia

After Somalia gained its independence, Hadrawi relocated from Aden to Mogadishu, the nation's capital, and began working for Radio Mogadiscio. In Mogadishu, he both attended and later taught at Lafoole (Afgooye) University. He also worked for the government's Department of Information.

In addition to love lyrics, he was a powerful commentator on the political situation and critic of the then military regime in Somalia. Imprisoned between 1973 and 1978.[2]

In 1973, Hadrawi wrote the poem Siinley and the play Tawaawac ("Lament"), both of which were critical of the military government that was then in power. For this dissent, he was subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Qansax Dheere until April 1978.

Somali National Movement

Following his release from prison in 1978, Hadrawi became the director of the arts division of the Academy of Science, Arts, and Literature in Somalia. when he joined the opposition Somali National Movement based in Ethiopia. He was a very powerful voice in the ensuing years of civil war and the repressive military regime, and continues to be a very important poet commenting on the predicament the Somalis face.[2]

Hadrawi relocated to Great Britain in 1991. During this period, he traveled frequently throughout Europe and North America to participate in folklore and poetry festivals.

In 1999, Hadrawi returned once more to his native Somalia, this time settling in Hargeisa. The following year, the mayor of Chicago invited him to participate in the latter city's Millennium Festival.

Hadrawi now lives in Burco, and has reportedly made the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).

Contributions to popular music

Besides volumes of poems and dozens of plays, Hadrawi has participated in numerous collaborations with popular vocal artists. His lyrical corpus includes:

Awards

In 2012, Hadraawi was awarded the Prince Claus Award for his contributions to peace through his poetry.[5]

Works

References

  1. ↑ Ditmars, Hadani (30 September 1994). "Somali Shakespeare". The Independent. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 McConnell, Tristan (12 February 2010). "Inside Somalia: Where poetry is revered". GlobalPost. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  3. ↑ HADRAWI (MOHAMED IBRAHIM WARSAME)
  4. ↑ "Maxamed Ibraahim Warsame 'Hadraawi'". Modern Poetry in Translation (17 - 2001). ISSN 0969-3572.
  5. ↑ "Prêmio Principal Príncipe Claus 2012 para cooperativa editorial argentina Eloísa Cartonera". PR Newswire. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
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