Dhaanto

Somali young women and men performing the traditional dhaanto dance-song in Jubaland.

Dhaanto is a style of traditional Somali music and folk dance. It is a cultural folk dance native to Somali people in the Horn of Africa.

History

According to Somali gabay dhaanto was believed to have been created by the nomadic Ogaden clan. The origin of dhaanto could be traced back to Ogaden Somali region. The dhaanto dance-song was revived in the early 20th century and it was used to raise the 'spirits' of soldiers and was often sung on horseback. Dhaanto became popular in the Somali Region (Somaali Galbeed) and quickly spread to other Somali territories in the Horn of Africa. In the Somali region, this dance is very popular and annually you will see ethnic Somalis perform versions of the dhaanto at the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day in Jigjiga. Additionally, the genre was employed in Islamic poetry. ^[1]

1. Johnson, John William (1996). Heelloy: Modern Poetry and Songs of the Somali. Indiana University Press. p.  31. ISBN   1874209812.